The Bureau: XCOM Declassified - 20 minute IGN gamplay video

Woah, it's not a FPS!? Cool. Borrowing from Mass Effect seems like a better fit. Then again Star Trek tried to do that too and it didn't turn out so well. If 2K is smart they will go with a price range of $30-$50.
 
I got a kick from the part where they called the "texture work" "detailed." Graphically, this game is totally unimpressive to me and, for the most part, looks at least two years behind the best console games of the moment. I wish they would have stuck to the FPS idea, but their ambitious combat mechanics probably would have been out of place in that genre.
 
I'm starting to get rather pessimistic about whether the tactical layer is anything more than superficial. Watching the gameplay, it seems like the optimal gameplay is to just ability spam, since there doesn't seem to be a restriction (besides cooldown) on how many times abilities can be used in a mission. I also winced when the creative director said that they intentionally want to make all squad compositions viable. Where's the long-term decision-making that is supposed to be emblematic of XCOM? They mentioned that there are ways to customize agent abilities and equipment, but I'm worried this is more to cater to a variety of playstyles rather than create any meaningful decisions.
 
I watched the Giant Bomb Quick Look and came away quite impressed. It seems like a highly evolved Brothers in Arms: Road to Hill 30 type of game with some nice Xcom hooks. Definitely on my radar.
 
The Giant Bomb video looked great. I'm glad they moved away from the FPS approach-that game looked like a buddy shooter disaster, escape from wanna-be AAA urban oil spills is not exciting.

I do miss some of the weird monolith enemy designs but it's not a big deal. The tactical combat looks fun and I get a lot of the "franchise" monsters. Along with an explanation as to why 50 years later Dr. Valhen is scrounging the backseat of alien cars for weapon fragments while 1960's Carter is sportin' hot plasma action.

edit: also dat sweater. Carter is going to be a popular cosplay target for years to come even if the game isn't that good.
 
kvothe said:
Here's the Giantbomb Quicklook.

Don't think the negativity in this thread is warranted.
Click to expand...

Based on what? They keep repeating the "tactical action" mantra but they haven't really demonstrated how decision-making really factors into the gameplay.

I just can't get over the fact that the XCOM branding for this game seems to be all about checking boxes rather than capturing the essence of what makes the franchise great. There's agent permadeath, but no opportunity for emergent narrative that makes those deaths impactful. There's research progression, but because you don't direct it there are no meaningful decisions about what to prioritize with your limited resources. There's a technologically advanced enemy, but there's no feeling the odds are against you because three guys in business casual can ability spam their way through hordes of them. And so on. At least in the original version, they recognized that the feeling of tension and the sense of the unknown was what make XCOM engaging, and tried to deliver that via the first-person exploration elements.

I want to like this game, because 2K Marin is at least trying to to make a shooter with more interesting mechanics, but this Mass Effect-clone isn't doing it for me. Maybe the secondary missions we've seen in these previews aren't representative of the depth of the game as a whole, but right now they're not doing a great job of selling it to me.

Fragamemnon said:
edit: also dat sweater. Carter is going to be a popular cosplay target for years to come even if the game isn't that good.
Click to expand...

The agent wardrobe in the battlefield looks ridiculous. Carter looks like he belongs in a hotel bar.
 
I just watched the Giant Bomb quicklook. The game looks polished and really well put together. Bumped up on my radar for sure.
 
Just watched the GB QL. The more I see of this game, the more I like it. Will definitely check it out when it hits a sale on PC.

More dapper men on the battlefield!
 
Yep, definitely looks good but I'll forever wish we got the FPS instead.

Still, I'm pumped for this. Although I do think it's a big mistake releasing this at retail for $60, would do much better as a $25 -$30 digital release. I'll never understand why more publishers/developers don't go digital for games like this.
 
Wow this game got a ton of hate in this thread, it doesn't look bad at all. I really enjoyed xcom eu and this game looks to be pretty fun as well. I have to agree with the discounted sentiment though, if this was 40 or less itd be a first day cop as it is though I'll wait for reviews and price dro
 
I don't really understand why their turning it into a TPS required them to abandon the cool 50s vibe. I know they felt they had to bring it in line with the new XCOM but the design in the new XCOM is actually kinda bad.
 
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