Info about XCOM®: Chimera Squad: Official game description: _XCOM: Chimera Squad_ delivers an all-new story and turn-based tactical combat experience in the XCOM universe. After years of alien rule, humanity won the war for Earth. But when the Overlords fled the planet, they left their former soldiers behind. Now, five years after the events of XCOM 2, humans and aliens are working together to forge a civilization of cooperation and coexistence. Welcome to City 31, a model of peace in a post-invasion world. However, not all of Earth's inhabitants support interspecies alliance. Chimera Squad, an elite force of human and alien agents, must work together to destroy the underground threats driving the city toward chaos. Your agents are unique: each of them equipped with special tactical abilities and driven by a different motivation for joining Chimera Squad. Deploy targeted team members to investigate and combat the dangers that pervade the districts of City 31. Lead Chimera Squad through a new experience that innovates on XCOM's turn-based legacy, utilizing strategy, teamwork, and new breach-and-clear gameplay to complete your mission objectives. The future of City 31 depends on you. Unique Alien and Human Agents ----------------------------- Each of the 11 agents have their own distinct personality and tactical abilities, including species-specific attacks like the Viper’s tongue pull. Specialized and Complementary Classes ------------------------------------- Execute devastating combos by teaming the right agents and utilizing cooperative actions. The difference between mission success and failure can depend wholly on team composition. Re-Envisioned Tactical Combat ----------------------------- Missions are structured as a series of discrete, explosive encounters, keeping the action intense and unpredictable. Breach Mode ----------- Shape the battlefield to your advantage with a new combat phase that injects your squad right into action. Strategically assign your agents to different entry points and coordinate their assault with a range of Breach-specific skills. Interleaved Turns ----------------- An automatic initiative system slots individual agents and enemies into an alternating turn order, creating new strategic possibilities based on what unit is queued to act next—and what unit is at the greatest risk when they do. Suspenseful Strategy Layer -------------------------- Outside of combat, manage the operations of a high-tech HQ, where you must prioritize competing tasks, investigations, and agent assignments in the face of a ticking clock: the constantly rising unrest in the city’s various districts, driving City 31 closer and closer to total anarchy. Release date: Apr 23, 2020 Categories: Turn-based Tactical, Character Customization, Tactical Combat, Story-driven Gameplay, Squad Management, Breach Mode, Interleaved Turns, Strategy Feature scans: - MTX: score 85; verdict: Predatory Monetization; summary: The game is perceived by many users as a cash grab, with concerns about its value for money. These perceptions significantly impact the user experience and suggest a focus on monetization over quality. - Steam Deck: score 55; verdict: Tinkering Required; summary: The Steam Deck experience for this game is marred by several significant issues. Intrusive software and anti-cheat measures raise privacy concerns. The 2K launcher is buggy and complicates the game launch process. Additionally, the lack of controller support and offline mode issues further detract from the user experience. - Hardware Profile: No data Feature extractions: - Community Price: No data - Playtime Metrics: No data - Time-to-fun: No data - Player Archetypes: No data Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category. Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews. What players like: - Positive reception of gameplay (weight 0.97): Many players found the gameplay to be solid, fun, and enjoyable. The game offers a mix of tactical combat and RPG elements that are well-received. The gameplay is seen as a good introduction to the XCOM series and is praised for its faster pace and strategic depth. - Engaging story and characters (weight 0.79): The story and characters are highlighted as strong points. Players appreciate the well-written characters, their banter, and the light-hearted, humorous tone. The story is considered well-paced and engaging, with a good variety of character abilities and personalities. - Good value for price (weight 0.76): Many players feel that the game offers good value for its price. It is seen as a budget-friendly option that provides a satisfying and enjoyable experience without requiring a significant investment. - Positive reception of visuals and sound (weight 0.62): The game's visuals and sound are generally well-received. Players appreciate the cartoony aesthetics, good graphics, and the heroic soundtrack, which add to the overall enjoyment of the game. - Unique breach mechanics (weight 0.3): The breach mechanics are frequently mentioned as a positive and innovative addition to the game. Players enjoy the strategic depth and the fresh twist it brings to the gameplay, making missions more dynamic and interesting. - Enjoyable missions and replayability (weight 0.27): Players find the missions to be enjoyable and varied, with a good amount of replayability. The branching storylines and different team combinations add to the game's replay value. - Suitable for casual and new players (weight 0.17): The game is seen as accessible and suitable for casual and new players. The simplified mechanics, forgiving gameplay, and easier entry make it a good choice for those new to the XCOM series or tactical games in general. - Innovative combat mechanics (weight 0.16): The game introduces several innovative combat mechanics, such as the interleaved turn system and unique character abilities. These changes are appreciated for keeping the gameplay fresh and interesting. - Streamlined and focused gameplay (weight 0.14): The game is praised for its streamlined and focused gameplay, which removes some of the more tedious elements found in previous XCOM games. This makes the experience more enjoyable and less overwhelming. - Removal of certain mechanics (weight 0.07): The game removes some mechanics from previous XCOM titles, such as the pod system and permadeath. These changes are noted by players, with mixed reactions depending on personal preferences. Common complaints: - Excessive technical issues (weight 0.76): The game suffers from numerous technical problems including frequent crashes, bugs, and glitches that affect gameplay and visuals. These issues range from minor graphical errors to game-breaking bugs that hinder mission completion. - Lack of customization and progression (weight 0.68): Players are disappointed by the lack of customization options for characters and the lack of progression systems. This reduces the sense of ownership and investment in the game. - Lack of strategic depth (weight 0.57): The game is criticized for its lack of strategic elements and simplified gameplay mechanics. Players feel that the strategic layer is weak and lacks the depth and complexity found in previous XCOM games. - Poor voice acting and dialogue (weight 0.5): The voice acting and dialogue are criticized for being cringe-worthy, repetitive, and poorly written. This detracts from the immersion and enjoyment of the game. - Short and unrewarding campaign (weight 0.43): The campaign is criticized for being too short and lacking in meaningful content. The limited number of missions and repetitive objectives make the campaign feel unrewarding. - Unbalanced difficulty and mechanics (weight 0.21): The game's difficulty is poorly calibrated, with some missions being too easy while others are frustratingly difficult. Enemy reinforcements and mechanics are often seen as unbalanced and unfair. Gameplay feedback: - Turn-based tactical gameplay (weight 0.38): The game features a turn-based combat system with a mix of traditional and interleaved initiative systems. Players can manage turns individually for each unit, allowing for strategic planning and tactical decision-making. The combat system includes mechanics like breaching, action commitment, and ammo management. - Character customization and progression (weight 0.37): Players can create and customize characters with unique abilities and personalities. The game includes character progression and upgrades, as well as a variety of character-specific abilities and interactions. - Simplified gameplay mechanics (weight 0.2): The game streamlines many aspects of traditional XCOM gameplay, including simplified research and upgrade mechanics, a simplified strategic layer, and a more compressed version of regular XCOM games. This makes the game more accessible but may remove some depth. - Pre-made characters (weight 0.08): The game features pre-made hero units with unique abilities and character traits. Players are forced to use a pre-set group of characters with fixed abilities, which can limit customization options. - Visual and animation issues (weight 0.04): The game has mixed comic book art style and some players find the animation of moving humanoid fighters unpleasant. There are also glitches with 3D animations. - Limited squad and equipment (weight 0.03): The game features a smaller squad size and limited equipment options. This can make the game feel more restricted compared to other XCOM games. Performance notes: - Frequent bugs and crashes (weight 0.13): The game suffers from numerous bugs, including visual glitches, combat issues, and frequent crashes. Players report a wide range of technical problems that significantly impact the gameplay experience. - Camera and physics problems (weight 0.1): There are notable issues with the game's camera and physics, leading to a less enjoyable experience. These issues contribute to the overall jankiness reported by players. - Performance inconsistencies (weight 0.04): Players experience varying performance levels, with some reporting smooth gameplay while others encounter significant jank and performance issues. Updates have been noted to sometimes break the game. - Compatibility with Linux and Steam Deck (weight 0.02): The game is compatible with Linux via Proton and works well on the Steam Deck. This is a positive aspect noted by players who use these platforms. - Incorrect abilities being used (weight 0.01): Some players have encountered bugs where incorrect abilities are used during gameplay. This issue, while less frequent, can significantly disrupt the gaming experience. Recommendations: - Worth buying on sale (weight 0.16): Many players suggest that the game is worth purchasing, especially when it is available at a discount. It is recommended for casual players and fans of turn-based strategy games. - Recommended for XCOM fans (weight 0.14): The game is often compared to XCOM and is recommended for fans of the series or those looking for a similar experience. However, it may not meet the expectations of die-hard XCOM fans. - Good for short gaming sessions (weight 0.03): The game is suitable for short bursts of gaming, offering quick and engaging combat sessions. This makes it ideal for players looking for a lighter experience. - Recommended despite glitches (weight 0.01): Some players still recommend the game even though it has glitches, indicating that the overall experience is enjoyable despite the technical issues. - Consider modding other games (weight 0.01): For those looking for a fantastic game, modding other titles might be a better option. This suggests that the game may not fully meet the expectations of all players. Other player notes: - Game received through bundles (weight 0.02): Some players received the game as part of a package or bundle, often with discounts. - Preference for classic gameplay (weight 0.01): Players expressed a desire for future games in the series to follow the style and gameplay of the first two installments. Emotions: - Disappointment (weight 0.34): Players feel disappointed due to the game's lack of depth and poor execution in various aspects. The game falls short in story, character development, and dialogue, which are seen as cringeworthy and lacking emotional weight. Additionally, the gameplay is criticized for being oversimplified and dumbed-down compared to previous XCOM games, with many bugs and uninteresting mechanics contributing to the overall disappointment. - Frustration (weight 0.25): Players are frustrated with the game's numerous bugs and technical issues, which hinder mission completion and overall gameplay. The lack of balance, excessive difficulty, and repetitive levels also contribute to this frustration. Additionally, the game's UI issues, long turn durations, and lack of customization options add to the players' dissatisfaction. - Satisfaction (weight 0.11): Players find satisfaction in the game's solid gameplay and new mechanics, such as the improved encounter and breaching systems. The varied characters and weapons, along with the focus on core tactical gameplay, contribute to a positive experience. Additionally, the game's accessibility for casual players and its performance on different platforms like Linux and Steam Deck are appreciated. - Enjoyment (weight 0.09): Players enjoy the game's fun and immersive characters, along with engaging gameplay and soundtrack. The tactical gameplay and squad banter, as well as the tight and short gameplay loop, contribute to an enjoyable experience. Despite some flaws, the game is found to be fun and different from other XCOM games, providing a unique experience. - Excitement (weight 0.03): Players are excited about the game's addictive and fun gameplay, which includes faster-paced gameplay and cool tricks. The unique characters and combination of themes, along with the game's fresh gameplay and charismatic characters, exceed expectations and create a thrilling experience. - Appreciation (weight 0.02): Los jugadores aprecian que el juego hace muchas cosas bien y trae aire fresco a la serie. La idea, la gráfica, la historia, la construcción del mundo y la jugabilidad del juego son aspectos destacados que contribuyen a una experiencia positiva. - Annoyance (weight 0.01): Players are annoyed by the general writing and DEI issues, as well as bad writing and annoying characters. These aspects detract from the overall enjoyment of the game and create a sense of irritation. - Happy (weight 0.01): Players are happy with the solid and engaging gameplay. The game provides a fun and enjoyable experience, contributing to a positive emotional response. - Disappointed (weight 0.01): Players are disappointed with the terrible story and characters, as well as the lazy story delivery. The game's missed potential and lack of depth in operators and post-launch support also contribute to this disappointment. - Disgust (weight 0.01): Players express disgust with the narrative style, describing it as cringeworthy and 'bluehair type narrative'. This negative reaction to the story and dialogue creates a sense of revulsion. - Nostalgia (weight 0.01): Players feel nostalgia due to mentions of characters from previous XCOM games and the overall connection to the series. This emotional response is tied to fond memories of past games. - Boredom (weight 0.01): Players experience boredom as the game becomes repetitive after a while. The lack of variety and engaging content leads to a sense of monotony. - Despair (weight 0.01): Players feel despair due to missions never finishing. This issue creates a sense of hopelessness and frustration. - Regret (weight 0.01): Players feel regret due to the lack of a refund request. This emotional response is tied to dissatisfaction with the game and the inability to get a refund. - Engaged (weight 0.01): Players feel engaged due to the story being engaging and the gameplay becoming fluid once familiar with the novelties. This creates a sense of immersion and involvement. - Frustrated (weight 0.01): Players feel frustrated due to the rushed and neglected feel of the project and the abysmal UI. These issues create a sense of irritation and dissatisfaction. - Joy (weight 0.01): Players experience joy from combining different unique characters and being the hunters. This aspect of the game creates a sense of excitement and enjoyment.}