Xeno Command
Last updated: 2025-09-12
- Hybrid RTS/Roguelike gameplay with high replayability
- Diverse factions and heroes, accessible for new players
- Simplified resource management, strategic locations
- Distinctive art style and high content value
- Simplistic controls and UI, lacks depth
- Not for traditional RTS players, limited enemy variety
Emotions
Players are satisfied with the game's enjoyable and often challenging gameplay, diverse content like unique commanders and factions, and overall value for money. The polished presentation, appealing art style, and convenient interface also contribute to a positive experience, making it a great time-passer with high replayability.
Disappointment stems from the game's perceived simplicity and repetitiveness, especially for an RTS, leading to a 'torture' like experience. Issues like a lack of detailed lore, limited content, and the game's mobile origins hindering its PC potential also contribute to this feeling.
Frustration is primarily caused by the game's control scheme, particularly the forced single-group control and mobile-oriented UI, which makes unit management difficult and leads to misclicks. Technical issues like black screens and regional bugs preventing the game from launching also cause significant frustration.
Players express a strong desire for more depth, content, and consistent updates, including additional heroes, levels, and Steam achievements. There's also a wish for improved controls, more distinct faction differences, and enhanced roguelike elements.
Excitement is generated by the discovery of the game on PC and the enjoyment derived from playing it. Players are also excited by the prospect of the game's long-term evolution and the addition of new features, recommending it as a worthwhile experience.
Verdict
Mixed
Summary
Positive 71% · Negative 29%. Score: 29 / 100
Positives:
- The game boasts excellent art direction, particularly with its mech designs, and shows a lot of care in its animations and gameplay elements. The interface is convenient and well-designed.
- Players feel the game offers substantial content, unique commanders, and detailed craftsmanship, exceeding expectations for its price point. It's seen as a great value compared to many larger, more expensive titles.
- Players note resemblances to games like StarCraft 2's co-op mode, Red Alert, and Iron Marines. While initially similar to Ironhide's games, players also recognize its unique differences.
- The game supports a good number of languages, enhancing accessibility for a global audience.
- After familiarization, the control logic provides a 'command' feeling, reminiscent of software like AUTOCAD, suggesting a unique and precise interaction method.
Negatives:
- Players find the controls overly simplistic, reminiscent of mobile games, leading to issues like misinterpreting attack commands as movement. The user interface is also perceived as lacking detail and polish, contributing to a less engaging experience.
- Many players feel the game is unfinished and lacks polish, citing issues like black screens, unclear transitions, and a general sense of being unrefined. This contributes to a perception that the game is not worth its price on PC.
- The game is criticized for its lack of depth in various aspects, including buffs, tech trees, and overall progression. Players desire more variety in resources, factions, and achievements to enhance replayability and strategic options.
- The game's mechanics and simplified controls are not suitable for players expecting a traditional Real-Time Strategy experience. It blurs the lines between RTS and tower defense, disappointing those looking for deep strategic gameplay.
Gameplay:
- The game blends real-time strategy (RTS) elements, such as base building and troop management, with roguelike mechanics like random levels and permanent progression. It's often compared to StarCraft 2's co-op mode or a simplified RTS with tower defense aspects, emphasizing aggressive expansion over static defense.
- Players can choose from four distinct factions, each featuring a unique hero, skillset, troop types, buildings, and upgrade paths. This variety significantly impacts gameplay and strategy, offering different experiences across playthroughs.
- The game offers substantial replay value through three difficulty levels, randomly generated levels, and varied hero level-up bonuses. The fourth campaign also utilizes random levels and modifiers, ensuring each run feels fresh.
- With its simplified mechanics and automatic formation system, the game is easy for RTS newcomers to pick up and enjoy. Experienced players can find challenges by increasing the difficulty.
- The game features a streamlined resource system, primarily relying on a single resource type. While this simplifies macro-management, it still requires strategic investment in troops versus workers, especially on higher difficulties.
Performance:
- Players desire more options for character appearance, including hairstyles, facial features, and body types, to enhance immersion and personalization. The current selection feels restrictive and doesn't allow for unique player expression.
- Many players found that quests often follow similar patterns, involving fetch quests or simple kill objectives, leading to a sense of monotony. More varied objectives and narrative depth are needed to keep the gameplay engaging.
- The combat difficulty spikes inconsistently, with some encounters being too easy and others feeling unfairly challenging, even for experienced players. This inconsistency disrupts the flow and enjoyment of combat.
- Players feel that their decisions within the game, particularly in dialogue and questlines, have little to no impact on the story or world. This diminishes the sense of agency and replayability.
Recommendations:
- Players consistently highlight the game's low price as a major positive, making it an easy recommendation for those looking for affordable entertainment. It's seen as a good option for casual play or as a time-killer.
- There's a clear interest in future updates, with players hoping for new units, commanders, and campaigns to expand the game's longevity and replayability. This suggests a positive core experience that players want more of.
Miscellaneous:
- Players find the current PC control scheme, which is heavily optimized for mobile, to be clunky and confusing. Specific suggestions include implementing conventional RTS right-click movement, adding middle mouse button drag, and a one-key camera return to base button.
- Players express interest in long-term game evolution, specifically hoping for the addition of a co-op mode and more commanders to enhance replayability and strategic depth.
