Xcom 2 war of the chosen last mission

Introduction

XCOM 2: War of the Chosen is an expansion to the acclaimed XCOM 2, adding new layers of complexity and depth to an already challenging turn-based strategy game. One of the most anticipated and intense moments in the game is the final mission, “The Alien Fortress,” which serves as the culmination of the player’s efforts throughout the campaign. This mission is a true test of the player’s strategic acumen, resource management, and ability to adapt under pressure.

In this review, we will dive deep into the final mission of XCOM 2: War of the Chosen, examining its design, challenges, and the strategies that can lead to success. We will also explore the narrative significance of this mission, its impact on the overall game experience, and how it compares to the final missions in other strategy games.

The Build-Up to the Final Mission

The journey to the final mission in XCOM 2: War of the Chosen is a long and arduous one. Players must navigate through numerous challenging encounters, manage scarce resources, and make critical decisions that can significantly impact the outcome of the campaign. The game introduces the Chosen, powerful alien adversaries with unique abilities and personalities, adding another layer of complexity to the campaign.

The final mission is unlocked after completing the Avatar Project, a central plot element where the aliens are working on a mysterious project that threatens humanity. As the player disrupts the aliens’ plans and defeats the Chosen, the path to the final mission becomes clear. This mission is the ultimate showdown, where the player must infiltrate the alien fortress, defeat the remaining alien forces, and finally confront the Avatar in a battle that will determine the fate of the Earth.

Mission Overview

“The Alien Fortress” is a multi-phase mission that takes place in the heart of the alien’s base. The mission is divided into several distinct stages, each with its own challenges and objectives. The mission begins with the player’s squad infiltrating the fortress, navigating through heavily guarded corridors, and facing off against powerful enemies, including Sectopods, Andromedons, and Elite Advent troops.

As the player progresses deeper into the fortress, they encounter increasingly difficult encounters, requiring careful planning and execution. The mission’s final stage is a showdown with the Avatar, a powerful psionic entity that serves as the culmination of the aliens’ plans. This final battle is one of the most challenging encounters in the game, requiring the player to use all of their skills and resources to emerge victorious.

Strategic Considerations

Squad Composition

The composition of the player’s squad is crucial for success in the final mission. Given the variety of enemies and the challenges presented, it’s essential to have a well-rounded team that can handle different situations. A typical squad for the final mission might include:

• Ranger: Equipped with a powerful shotgun and the ability to move quickly across the battlefield, Rangers are excellent for flanking enemies and dealing high damage up close.
• Sharpshooter: With their ability to deal significant damage from long range, Sharpshooters can take out high-priority targets before they can pose a threat to the squad.
• Specialist: Specialists are invaluable for their healing abilities and the ability to hack enemy mechanical units, turning the tide of battle in the player’s favor.
• Grenadier: Equipped with powerful explosives, Grenadiers can clear out groups of enemies, destroy cover, and deal heavy damage to armored units.
• Psi Operative: Psi Operatives bring powerful psionic abilities to the battlefield, such as mind control and stasis, which can neutralize dangerous enemies or protect squad members in critical situations.

Each class brings unique abilities to the table, and the player must use them strategically to overcome the challenges of the final mission.

Tactical Approach

The final mission requires a careful and deliberate approach. Rushing into encounters can quickly lead to disaster, as the enemies in the fortress are among the toughest in the game. Players should use the following tactics to increase their chances of success:

• Conserve Resources: The final mission is a long and grueling battle, and players should conserve their resources, such as medkits, grenades, and special abilities, for when they are most needed.
• Maintain Cover: Maintaining cover is crucial in XCOM 2, and the final mission is no exception. Players should always ensure their soldiers are in cover, preferably in high ground or behind full cover, to minimize damage from enemy attacks.
• Focus Fire: When engaging powerful enemies, it’s important to focus fire and eliminate one target at a time. This reduces the number of attacks the player has to endure during the enemy’s turn.
• Use Overwatch: Overwatch is a valuable tool for controlling the battlefield and dealing with enemy reinforcements. Players should set up their squad in advantageous positions and use Overwatch to deal with enemies as they advance.
• Manage Willpower: The final mission can be mentally taxing for soldiers, and managing their willpower is crucial. Players should avoid situations where soldiers could be overwhelmed by enemy attacks, as this can lead to panic or even the loss of control over the unit.

The Final Battle

The climax of the final mission is the battle against the Avatar, the alien’s ultimate creation. This encounter is one of the most challenging battles in the game, requiring the player to deal with the Avatar’s powerful psionic abilities, while also managing waves of reinforcements from the aliens.

Avatar Abilities

The Avatar is equipped with several powerful abilities that make it a formidable opponent:

• Dimensional Rift: The Avatar can create a dimensional rift that deals massive damage to anyone caught in its radius. This ability can wipe out multiple soldiers if they are grouped together, so players must spread out their squad to minimize its impact.
• Mind Control: The Avatar can take control of one of the player’s soldiers, turning them against the squad. This ability can be devastating if it targets a powerful unit, so players should be prepared to deal with the controlled soldier or break the mind control using psionic abilities or flashbang grenades.
• Teleportation: The Avatar can teleport across the battlefield, making it difficult to pin down and attack. Players must be prepared to adapt to the Avatar’s movements and adjust their strategy accordingly.

Strategies for Defeating the Avatar

Defeating the Avatar requires a combination of careful planning and adaptability. The following strategies can help players succeed in this challenging encounter:

• Focus on the Avatar: While there are other enemies on the battlefield, the primary focus should be on the Avatar. Eliminating the Avatar ends the mission, so players should concentrate their firepower on bringing it down as quickly as possible.
• Use Psi Operatives: Psi Operatives are particularly effective against the Avatar, as their abilities can neutralize the Avatar’s psionic powers or deal significant damage. Abilities like Stasis can temporarily remove the Avatar from the battlefield, giving the player time to deal with other threats or reposition their squad.
• Exploit Weaknesses: The Avatar is vulnerable to critical hits, so players should use abilities and positioning to increase their chances of landing critical strikes. Rangers, with their high mobility and close-range damage potential, are particularly effective for this.
• Manage Reinforcements: Throughout the battle, the aliens will send reinforcements to support the Avatar. Players should use Overwatch and area-of-effect abilities to deal with these reinforcements quickly, preventing them from overwhelming the squad.
• Heal and Revive: Keeping soldiers alive is crucial in the final battle. Players should use their Specialists to heal wounded soldiers and revive any that are downed. Keeping the squad at full strength is essential for dealing with the Avatar’s relentless attacks.

Narrative and Emotional Impact

The final mission in XCOM 2: War of the Chosen is not just a test of the player’s tactical skills, but also a culmination of the game’s narrative. Throughout the campaign, players build a bond with their soldiers, watch them grow in strength and ability, and face the consequences of their decisions. The final mission brings all of these elements together, creating an emotionally charged experience that resonates with the player.

The Stakes

The stakes in the final mission are incredibly high. The fate of the Earth hangs in the balance, and every decision the player makes can mean the difference between victory and defeat. The mission’s narrative builds on the player’s journey throughout the campaign, as they have fought against overwhelming odds to reach this point.

The Chosen’s Influence

One of the most significant additions in War of the Chosen is the Chosen themselves, powerful alien adversaries who relentlessly pursue the player throughout the campaign. The final mission is influenced by the player’s interactions with the Chosen, as their presence and influence can be felt even in their absence. The player’s success or failure against the Chosen throughout the campaign can impact the final mission, adding another layer of narrative depth.

The Conclusion

The conclusion of the final mission is a triumphant moment for the player. Defeating the Avatar and ending the alien threat brings a sense of closure and accomplishment, as the player has successfully navigated the challenges of the campaign and emerged victorious. The final cutscenes and epilogue reflect the player’s choices and actions throughout the game, providing a personalized and satisfying conclusion to the story.

Comparison to Other Final Missions in Strategy Games

The final mission in XCOM 2: War of the Chosen stands out as one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences in the strategy genre. However, it can be interesting to compare it to the final missions in other strategy games to see how it stacks up.

StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty

The final mission in StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty is another memorable encounter, where players must defend against overwhelming odds while completing a critical objective. Like XCOM 2: War of the Chosen, StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty builds up to its final mission with intense narrative stakes and a significant challenge. In the “All-In” mission of Wings of Liberty, players must protect the artifact from waves of Zerg while completing various objectives. The sense of urgency and the need for quick thinking in managing resources and defenses mirror the pressure felt in the final mission of XCOM 2. However, the two games offer different experiences in terms of tactical depth. While StarCraft II emphasizes fast-paced real-time strategy, XCOM 2 allows for more deliberate and thoughtful planning due to its turn-based nature. Both missions are iconic in their respective genres, offering players a climactic and satisfying conclusion to their campaigns.

Fire Emblem: Three Houses

Fire Emblem: Three Houses is another tactical RPG that offers a memorable final mission, with the specifics varying depending on the route the player chooses. The game, like XCOM 2, focuses heavily on the relationships between characters, and the final mission often involves intense emotional stakes as the player faces off against former allies or insurmountable odds. The key difference is that Fire Emblem allows players to command a larger number of units and often involves more complex map navigation and positioning strategies. However, the intimate scale and the personal connection players have with their squad in XCOM 2 make its final mission feel particularly intense and personal.

Total War Series

The Total War series, particularly in its historical and fantasy settings, often builds up to final battles that determine the fate of entire empires. These final missions are grand in scale, involving massive armies and complex battlefield tactics. In contrast, XCOM 2 focuses on small-scale, squad-based tactics, creating a more intimate and detailed experience. While the final missions in Total War games are epic in scope, they often lack the personal stakes and character-driven narrative that XCOM 2 provides.

The Replayability Factor

One of the strengths of XCOM 2: War of the Chosen is its high replayability, and this extends to the final mission as well. The dynamic nature of the game, including procedural generation of maps, varying enemy compositions, and the player’s choice of squad members and tactics, means that no two playthroughs are exactly the same. This replayability is further enhanced by the game’s difficulty settings and the presence of the Chosen, who can alter the course of the campaign and the final mission.

Different Squad Compositions

Replayability in the final mission is significantly influenced by the player’s choice of squad composition. Experimenting with different classes and abilities can lead to new strategies and outcomes. For example, a squad with multiple Psi Operatives may approach the final mission differently than one relying heavily on Grenadiers and Sharpshooters. This variety keeps the final mission fresh and challenging, even for experienced players.

Difficulty Levels and Ironman Mode

The game’s difficulty settings also play a crucial role in how the final mission unfolds. Playing on higher difficulties, such as Commander or Legendary, introduces more enemies, tougher AI, and greater resource scarcity, making the final mission even more challenging. Ironman mode, which prevents the player from reloading saves, adds an additional layer of tension, as every decision is permanent and the consequences are more severe. Completing the final mission in Ironman mode is a true test of the player’s mastery of the game.

Conclusion

The final mission of XCOM 2: War of the Chosen is a masterclass in turn-based strategy game design, offering a challenging, intense, and narratively satisfying conclusion to the player’s campaign. The mission’s multi-phase structure, strategic depth, and emotional stakes make it a standout moment not just in the game, but in the strategy genre as a whole.

The mission’s design encourages careful planning, adaptability, and the effective use of the player’s squad, while the narrative stakes heighten the tension and make the outcome feel deeply personal. The battle against the Avatar is a fitting climax, testing the player’s skills and rewarding them with a sense of accomplishment and closure.

When compared to other strategy games, XCOM 2: War of the Chosen holds its own, offering a unique blend of tactical depth and emotional engagement that few other games can match. Its replayability ensures that players can return to the final mission time and time again, experimenting with different strategies and experiencing the thrill of victory in new ways.

In the end, the final mission of XCOM 2: War of the Chosen is more than just a battle; it is the culmination of the player’s journey, a test of their abilities, and a fitting conclusion to one of the best strategy games of its generation. Whether you’re a seasoned XCOM veteran or a newcomer to the series, the final mission is an experience that will stay with you long after the credits roll.