I just played my first X-COM game ever, UFO Defense.
I basically had no idea what I was doing. Figured out most of the buttons I guess. I have no idea what any of the equipment actually does or what is worthwhile to even use.
Brought an alien corpse from the first mission into my lab and researched it. Died on the second mission since aliens were hiding in a farmhouse and I suck at strategy games.
Any general tips (general strategy) for a total beginner?
The most important tip for a total beginner is: you're going to lose. Probably dozens of times. And I don't just mean you'll bork a mission and have to recruit a whole new squad (which you will also do dozens of times), I mean you will actually get a GAME OVER state and have to begin again. It's awesome.
Other than that:
- Smoke grenades and flares aren't just for show, you need to use the former to safely move between cover points and the latter so you don't get murdered by aliens you can't see.
- Research research research. Personal Armour and Plasma weapons are where you want to be focusing your r&d and manufacturing at the start.
- Build multiple bases even if some of them only house interceptor class vehicles, otherwise you will miss a lot of attacks and world governments will get mad at you.
- Keep an eye on soldiers who freak out on missions and fire them. Or give them a rocket launcher if you feel sadistic.
- Reserved time-units > Aimed shot. Ambushing aliens is essential to your squad's survival.
Further to the research comment, keep in mind that the game is running on a timer. At set points during that duration the aliens will get tougher; you start out seeing mostly Grays and Hovercraft but that won't last long. This can be a bit frustrating for a new player but the reward is a game which stays extremely fun and challenging at every level, so you won't mind having to start over a million times.