Introduction
“XCOM: Enemy Unknown” is a highly praised turn-based strategy game developed by Firaxis Games and published by 2K Games. Released in 2012, the game acts as a modern reinterpretation of the 1994 cult classic “X-COM: UFO Defense” (also known as “UFO: Enemy Unknown”). The game has been praised for its deep strategizing, story line, and extremely tense tactical fighting. Throughout the years, “XCOM: Enemy Unknown” has made its way onto numerous platforms, thereby presenting the challenging gameplay to slimmer audiences. This review will analyze the different platforms that “XCOM: Enemy Unknown” has been released on while weighing the pros and cons and how different hardware can affect the essence of the game.
PC (Windows, macOS, Linux)
Performance and Graphics:
In terms of its existence on the platform, the general opinion states that “XCOM: Enemy Unknown” is the definitive edition of the game, offering superlative performance and graphics options. On a good gaming rig, it simply can not be better; running smoothly at high framerates, with all the textures glowing with glories stated by the artists themselves, and crisp animation. The naked eye can see a much greater resolution on PC; thereby enhancing clarity and fine detailing, transferring the overall experience of the game. The game’s art design style-think stylized character models, moody environments, and dramatic camera angles-is best appreciated on a high-end PC.
Controls and User Interface:
Keyboard and mouse input on the PC provides such precision and responsiveness so greatly needed in a turn-based strategy genre where every move must count. The UI has been designed to suit this input method well; menu-control is intuitive, with tactical maps that are easy to navigate and quick access to unit abilities. You can zoom in and out, rotate the camera, and toggle a multitude of display options-all of which add to the tactical awareness of any player, making the PC version a real delight for those wanting to be ruthless in controlling what they see on the battlefield.
Modding Community:
The other big reason to play “XCOM: Enemy Unknown” on PC is being able to tap into the vibrant modding community around the game. Firaxis Games set down the modding toolkit for the game, thus spawning masses of user-generated content, ranging from new missions, enemies, weapons, or even entirely new gameplay mechanics. Some mods, like “The Long War,” have become so popular that they earned a cult status, extending the replayability of the game tremendously while adding more layers of depth to an already enriched experience.
Multiplayer Experience:
The PC port also has sturdy multiplayer support, with players able to compete in matches online. Online matchmaking and connection reliability are generally solid, but the number of players has dwindled, with buried years gone. On the contrary, the hardcore fans still organize tournaments and events to keep the multiplayer community alive.
Updates and Expansions:
Updates went through in timely fashion for PCs and in this lineup, “XCOM: Enemy Within,” being the major expansion for the title, was released simultaneously on this platform. This expansion added new units, abilities, and gameplay mechanics to deepen the experience.
Verdict:
In totality, “XCOM: Enemy Unknown” on the PCs is all-around the most complete and modifiable version of the game, offering better graphics, intuitive controls, and the largest amount of user-created content, making it the top option for all strategy lovers wanting the full XCOM experience.
Consoles (PlayStation 3, Xbox 360)
Performance and Graphics:
The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions of “XCOM: Enemy Unknown” provide a decent experience but with some compromises as compared to the PC version. The game manages on these platforms with a steady frame rate; however, the graphics suffer a bit, with down-scaled-res textures and fairly simple character modeling. The difference will mostly be noticed in the environmental detail and the legibility of the in-game text, but overall, the game looks and feels good on these older consoles.
Controls and User Interface:
One of the main hurdles converting a turn-based strategy game like “XCOM: Enemy Unknown” to consoles is the adaptation of controls from keyboard and mouse to gamepad. Firaxis Games should be commended for engineering an elegant control system-that is, intuitive and responsive. The left stick moves the camera around while the right stick is for rotation and zooming. Unit selection and movement have been mapped to the face buttons and triggers, allowing for prompt issuing of commands.
The UI has been adapted for gamepad controls, with larger buttons and menus for easy controller navigation. Players, however, who are used to precise control of a mouse may find some operations trickier, such as designating exact tiles or fine-targeting enemies in crowded situations.
Multiplayer Experience:
Being its console variants, “XCOM: Enemy Unknown” provides the players a chance to compete in multiplayer matches. Of course, the multiplayer base on these platforms has since dwindled, while it has become increasingly difficult to find matches. Age has also caught up with the online infrastructure of PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, with the consequence that occasionally connection might fail and loading times may seem to drag a bit.
Updates and Expansions:
The expansion major, “Enemy Within,” had also seen the console release, adding further content and reckoning to gameplay. However, in the absence of a modding community like that supported by PCs, the amount of post-launch content console players can enjoy is significantly curtailed.
Verdict:
The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 ports of “XCOM: Enemy Unknown” are a faithful translation of the original game, with solid controls and enough performance for enjoyment. Though ostensibly lacking in graphical fidelity and customization features when compared with PC, these console versions do provide everything required for the core XCOM experience, thus offering a worthy alternative for gamers who prefer gaming on a console.
PlayStation 4 and Xbox One
Performance and Graphics:
“XCOM: Enemy Unknown” was re-released as part of the “XCOM: Enemy Unknown Plus” edition on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. These versions of the game placed further emphasis on performance and graphics, bestowing upon them via the more powerful hardware of the newer consoles versus that of the earlier PS3 and Xbox 360 editions: higher resolution and more stable frame rates offered a limp-wristed visual treat.
Controls and User Interface:
The controls for the PS4 and Xbox One remain essentially the same as those on the last-generation consoles, with very minute tweaks to take advantage of the newer controllers. The gamepad controls are intuitive and responsive; still, players used to mouse precision may find the gamepad unsuitable for certain operations.
The UI has been polished even further for these editions, with small enhancements for a seamless experience. The higher resolution also helps to make all in-game texts and menu options clearer, enabling easier unit management and strategy planning.
Multiplayer:
One of the inconveniences for players is the lack of common servers. However, from the versatility offered by the initial console versions, the concurrent player base is still less on PlayStation and Xbox when compared to PC. Nevertheless, the online infrastructure, given that it is a dedicated one on the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, opens into a smooth multiplayer experience, with exceedingly few connection drops or relatively shorter periods for player matchmaking.
Updates and Expansions:
In “XCOM: Enemy Unknown Plus,” the “Enemy Within” expansion is included, along with all previous DLCs, thus giving a complete set to the console players. Since, like previous versions on consoles, the edition does not allow mods, a large chunk off additional content being released post-launch is lost.
Verdict:
Backed up by better performance, graphics, and online stability, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions are an improvement over the prior versions of “XCOM: Enemy Unknown.” Hence, for the console player who wants to enjoy the whole gamut of gameplay, including the “Enemy Within” expansion, without needing a powerful gaming PC, these versions are worth going for.
Mobile (iOS, Android)
Performance and Graphics:
The porting of “XCOM: Enemy Unknown” in the realm of mobile platforms meant making a surprisingly robust mobile iteration of the game. On the mobile ends, the graphics are considerably scaled down owing to the hardware capabilities of smartphones and tablets; the textures are simplified and the environmental details least considered. Nevertheless, the game retains the core visual style and atmosphere, and given the constraints of the platform, the graphics are considered very impressive.
There is some variation with respect to performance on mobile devices, depending on hardware. On the highest-end devices, the game tends to run smoothly with no lag or stutter with occasional lags. However, on older or less capable devices, players might encounter occasional, lengthy load times, accompanied by dips in frame rates during larger battles and whenever there is an excessive number of units present on-screen.
Controls and UI:
Probably the biggest change in XCOM: Enemy Unknown was that controls had to be adapted to touchscreen input. The touch controls allow you to tap an entity to select it, drag it to move it, or use two fingers to rotate in many views. The UI has been created in such a way to be usable on the much smaller window of mobile phones, with big buttons and clear menus appropriate for touch input.
The touch controls work seamlessly, with very few glitches. One scenario I noticed where control precision is required happens when selecting a particular tile or an entity amongst many others in an environment. The other thing is the smaller screen size making it difficult to catch a full view of the battlefield; endless zooming and panning in keep the arbitrary awareness.
Multiplayer Experience:
Mobile versions of “XCOM: Enemy Unknown” offer functionality for multiplayer, but it is a diluted experience when compared to desktop and console versions. One might experience a skewed matchmaking experience due to the limited players and sometimes unstable connections over mobile networks. Secondly, the mobile multiplayer community doesn’t enjoy a great reputation for organizing events or tournaments.
Updates and Expansions:
Mobile versions of “XCOM: Enemy Unknown” do not include the “Enemy Within” expansion nor any post-launch DLC. This means shorter content for mobile players who are not treated to the extra units, missions, and gameplay mechanics introduced by this expansion.
Quality Control:
The mobile version of “XCOM: Enemy Unknown” stands out and well reflects the original game on the move. Despite the lower graphics, controls, and interface, the essence of the strategy that defines “XCOM” is intact and provides a fulfilling strategic experience on smartphones and tablets. Owing to the lack of the “Enemy Within” expansion and greatly reduced multiplayer capabilities, these versions of the game also lack some of the finer frills of their PC/console counterparts. Convenience is the best selling point of these versions of the game for mobile players. However, if they’re really craving the complete XCOM experience, they should probably look elsewhere.
Performance and Graphics:
“XCOM: Enemy Unknown Plus” was released for the PlayStation Vita, cementing the title as an excellent one for the handheld. The visuals and performance are again similar to the mobile versions: scaled-down graphics with compromises to texture quality and environment detail. The game runs pretty well on the Vita, with frame rate drops occasionally noticeable and somewhat longer load times than on other platforms.
The Vita has a smaller screen than a regular PC monitor or television, but it holds a crisp and vibrant display that really complements the art style of the game. The combination of lower resolution and small screen size impacts the player’s ability to revel in the game’s visual details fully, and this sometimes acts as a hindrance to precise unit placement during gameplay.
Controls and User Interface:
A touch and button combination is used for control, playing to the strengths of the portable console hardware. With the touchscreen, unit selection, movement, and command can be issued, making it almost identical to the mobile versions. Contrasting with the controls on mobile devices, the added layer arising from physical buttons and analog sticks for the Vita can offer some players better comfort and precision.
The UI has been made specific to the small screen on Vita, with larger buttons and simplified menus. While the controls generally work well in most instances, the small-screen size inhibits witnessing the entire battlefield from a complete view; hence, one has to zoom in and use pan quite often to get a clear view of the ongoing action.
Multiplayer:
Multiplayer mode is available on the Vita version, but the player pool is quite small, much like the mobile versions. Thus, finding matches tends to be quite tricky, and the online infrastructure is not nearly as robust as on the PS4 or Xbox One. Those who do manage to find matches will enjoy a competitive multiplayer experience.
Updates and Expansions:
The Vita version carries the Enemy Within expansion, thus, offering the content package in its entirety to the handheld players. This alone puts it way above the other mobile versions, in that it allows access to all bonus units, bonus abilities, and bonus missions that the expansion introduces.
Final Verdict:
XCOM: Enemy Unknown on the PlayStation Vita is an excellent choice for anyone interested in taking the XCOM experience on the road, with a greater depth of content than its iOS counterparts. It may be less than perfect at times with its smaller screen and idiosyncratic performance-based hiccups, but the inclusion of Enemy Within, coupled with the future-oriented fusion of touch and physical controls, makes it an attractive option for the working strategy player.
Nintendo Switch
Performance and Graphics:
“The XCOM: Enemy Unknown” has not been officially released on the Switch, but the existence of an “XCOM 2” port on the platform begs one to speculate about the possible performance of “XCOM: Enemy Unknown” on the same Switch porting.
A port of the game would ideally have composite use of docked and handheld modes, wherein, because of performance issues, the game may be scaled down in resolution when used on the handheld screen. The hardware of the Switch should be able to allow a better visual and smoother frame rate than on the Vita or any other mobile platforms. However, by virtue of the fact that the Switch in docked mode would feature a resolution similar to the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions of the game, it should be approaching something near there, but never up to the hardcore PC-level performance.
Controls and User Interface:
The Switch’s Joy-Cons and Pro Controller would provide a comfortable control scheme for a game such as “XCOM: Enemy Unknown,” the button inputs still meaning the same on other consoles. The touchscreen, in handheld mode, could be enrolled for target unit selection and commands-the touchscreen input would allow the same level of control as the Vita version did. The UI would be optimized for both docked and handheld, in such a way that the menus and in-game texts remain legible and easy to navigate, regardless of which mode the game goes into.
Multiplayer Experience:
The increasing online capacity of the Switch and the ever-popular multiplayer games on the platform lead us to envision a rebirth of the multiplayer community, were there to be a version of XCOM: Enemy Unknown for the Switch. Nintendo’s online infrastructure has come far in recent years, and with such great portability, the Switch would be a fine choice for multiplayer wins on the go.
Updates and Expansions:
The Switch Port would likely incorporate the Enemy Within expansion and any other DLC for a whole package for the buyers. The Switch’s eShop would also make for easy access to any future updates or content packages.
Verdict:
Being absent from Switch at the moment, the possibly ported version would likely rank among the very best portable versions of the game. Combining portability, performance, and options for controls, the Switch would be an excellent platform to delve into the strategic depth of XCOM.
Conclusion:
“XCOM: Enemy Unknown” is one of those multi-platform games that fit easily into adaptations across all platforms. The individual ports give a slightly different experience depending on the particular strengths and limitations of the hardware.
PC remains the ultimate platform for the game, providing better graphics, precise controls, and a plethora of mods and user-created content.
Console versions for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 offer a fulfilling experience, with the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions offering increased graphic fidelity and performance.
For the smaller screen, the mobile versions present an appealing rendition of the game; however, they are missing some of the content and features present in the console and PC counterparts.
PlayStation Vita offers a limited form of portability along with the full “Enemy Within” expansion, though this comes with compromises to performance and screen size.
Nintendo Switch remains a potential platform, where the game can follow through on its promise of unique and rich portable experiences.
At the end of the day, it is all a matter of personal preference, namely, on what basis you like to play your games. Whichever platform you choose, “XCOM: Enemy Unknown” remains a timelessly engaging and challenging strategy experience that still manages to keep players enthralled years after its first release.