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[Pops Maellard]

Developer: 2K Marin
Publisher: 2K Games
Platforms: Xbox 360 | PC | PS3
Genre: Tactical Shooter
Release Dates:
• August 20th, 2013 (U.S)
• August 23rd, 2013 (PAL)

Price: $59.99 | €59,99 | £34,99

PC Minimum Specs:

• OS: Windows Vista Service Pack 2 32-bit
• Processor: Intel Core 2 DUO 2.4 GHz / AMD Athlon X2 2.7 GHz
• Memory: 2 GB RAM
• Graphics: DirectX9 Compatible ATI Radeon HD 3870 / NVIDIA 8800 GT
• Hard Drive: 12 GB available space
• Sound Card: DirectX Compatible

The Bureau: X-COM Declassified is a squad based tactical third person shooter set in the X-COM universe circa 1962. The Bureau explores the origins of X-COM, and tells the story of special agent William Carter of the U.S Bureau of Strategic Emergency Command, tasked with investigating and covering up extraterrestrial activity. The Bureau has been in development since 2006, and was originally a first person shooter until fan backlash and the critical and commercial success of X-COM: Enemy Unknown led 2K to evolve the game into what it is today. The game features several core tenets of the X-COM franchise, most notably permanent death for Carter’s squad. Although little is currently known about the narrative, 2K has said that in addition to exploring the origins of X-COM and following the exploits of Agent Carter, it will explore the struggles of a scientist named Dr. Weir who is persecuted for both his homosexuality and political views.

Using “Battle Focus”, you can issue orders to you squad, make use of equipment, and more. Several UI elements and base mechanics from Enemy Unknown make a return, seemingly to help new players who have experience with the aforementioned Enemy Unknown.

While the game does retain and indeed embrace the strategic roots of the franchise, there is no base building or research as was present in Enemy Unknown.

Kotaku - "Yes"

Polygon 7/10

Official PlayStation Magazine: 7/10

GamesRadar: 3/5

GameSpot: 6/10

Official Xbox Magazine: 7/10

TheSixthAxis: 8/10

Escapist 3/5

Destructoid 4.5/10

IGN 5.5/10

Videos

Giant Bomb Quick Look EX

E3 2013 Demo

Live Action Series

Dev Diary - Narrative

Dev Diary - Art

Dev Diary #3

Gamespot Feature


Screenshots

Green Man Gaming is offering 10% off, a $12 credit or $8 cashback, an “exclusive” DLC mission as well as all of the previous X-COM games (including Enemy Unkown and DLC) and Spec Ops: The Line. This is for the PC version obviously, and everything redeems on Steam.

Steam is offering the same deal ($45, X-COM franchise, DLC and Spec Ops: The Line) minus the credit, and the preload was made available today.

Amazon is offering a $10 promotional credit for pre-ordering the console versions, but the DLC mission available with the PC pre-order does not seem to be available with the console versions through any retailer.

Random Thoughts

I'll leave you with two things:

A) The idle animations in this game are incredible.

B) Agent Carter looks a lot like Archer. I'd be willing to part with any sum of money for a DLC voice pack from H. Jon Benjamin.

 

[Boss Riovane]

Good Job. Hopefully this will drum up some support for this game. Thanks for this. Subscribed.

also found a vid of some gameplay that was released a couple days ago.

The Bureau: XCOM Declassified Feature

 

[SlasherJPC]

This comes out on Monday and not Tuesday like normal? Different. Excited to play though.

 

[reptilescorpio]

The Random Thoughts are making it harder and harder not to pick this up soon, don't have the money for it though sadly.

Hope it's a success for Marin!

 

[Polymath]

Looks interesting enough to try it out.

 

[Alex Connolly]

The Danger Zone many are going to eat crow on. Sectoid crow, to be exact.

 

[TUSR]

Assholes. The name XCOM alone is an instant purchase.

 

[Trose]

I hope this is a sleeper hit like Enemy Unknown was.

 

[Leks]

Haha, I didn't see the likeness of Carter with Archer! The game is interesting, but I will wait for a Steam sale.

Nice OT, by the way.

 

[TransTrender]

Wait. The game is coming out on Tuesday and didn't they just have the big reveal a few weeks ago?

Where's the marketing?

This thing has been sent to die.

 

[Addnan]

Heh, I was going to wait for this game to bomb, but just over £20 with all the XCOM, Spec Ops and that DLC thing was too much to resist.

 

[flotilla]

I'm really interested in preordering this game, but I'm nervous that I can't find any reviews. (release day review embargo + heavy preorder incentives = mediocre game?) Is there anyone out there that has played the whole game and can give a general yay/nay?

 

[Benedict]

They still haven't fixed the Spec Ops/Xcom steam-code issue on GreenManGaming...

 

[Miles Quaritch]

Heh, I was going to wait for this game to bomb, but just over £20 with all the XCOM, Spec Ops and that DLC thing was too much to resist.

I was thinking of doing this, but I don't want to risk forgetting about it like I did with Spec Ops and many other games. Will pick it up day one and play it between sessions of SR4.

Still upset about the move from FP to TP, but I can live with it if the gameplay is as good as I hope it is.

 

[Benedict]

How do You get the real code for The Bureau from GMG?
Both of my codes in the account goes to Spec Ops the Line...

 

[Auskeek]

That box art is pretty ballsy and awesome.

This wasn't on my radar at all until I played XCOM Enemy Unknown on Playstation Plus this month. It was all part of their plan.

 

[diamount]

They still haven't fixed the Spec Ops/Xcom steam-code issue on GreenManGaming...

What issue is that? I don't remember having any issues with my code.

 

[Benedict]

What issue is that? I don't remember having any issues with my code.

That the code belonging to The Bureau is for Spec Ops The Line instead.

I have two different codes for Spec Ops The Line, one that says Spec Ops The line and one that says The Bureau.

But It seems I had already bought Spec Ops The Line from GMG last year during a sale. That might explain things a bit.
Will we get a steam.-code for The Bureau later?
Won't you get another code for games you already purchased from GMG before?

Link to discussion regarding this on GMG/Playfire forum:
https://forums.playfire.com/gmg/thread/118188

 

[Wind's Howling]

This is one of those games where I am waiting on a review or two for this. I like the style and the tactical combat but there is no way I am dishing out 60 bucks for a mediocre game when GTA V is less then a month away.

 

[pelican]

The Summer drought is over. Picking this up with Saints 4, and Splinter Cell this week.

Doesn't seem to be too much excitement for this and I'm not sure why. 2K games are generally solid and it is xcom.

 

[fokkusu]

Heh, I was going to wait for this game to bomb, but just over £20 with all the XCOM, Spec Ops and that DLC thing was too much to resist.

Where is it £20?

 

[lexi]

I'm very, very likely to pick this up, Love the XCOM universe.

 

[Dead Man]

So, if I am a bad person and have never played an XCOM before, will I be able to pick this up and understand what is going on?

 

[Atraveller]

I don't know if I should buy this or not...

 

[peacemountain]

Looking forward to play it. Great OP!

 

[PaulloDEC]

I'm pretty keen for this. I liked Enemy Unknown, but I'm a real-time gamer at heart, so the mix of squad commands and real-time combat looks right up my alley.

 

[Majukun]

So, if I am a bad person and have never played an XCOM before, will I be able to pick this up and understand what is going on?

"aliens invade,are you a bad enough dude to stop the invasion?"

thats' pretty much all the background you need


by the way,yes,you are a bad person

 

[bodyboarder]

So, if I am a bad person and have never played an XCOM before, will I be able to pick this up and understand what is going on?

Spoiler

neither have I

 

[whassupbun]

That box art is pretty ballsy and awesome.

Agree, I prefer the box art below, but both are quite a creative risk considering other games had to design their box arts to cater for the dudebro crowd.

Going to wait for some reviews first to see if there's any game breaking bug, but it's a very likely purchase for me, love the 60s aesthetic.

 

[Addnan]

Where is it £20?

£20.25 at Greenmangaming with GMG25-OGRUH-7SM8H

 

[Toothless Spoon]

I'm actually really looking forward to this game - it can't come soon enough. I got it for $36 off GMG. Thats a steal for a game like this I think.

 

[theDeeDubs]

Can't wait for this to hit on Tuesday. If anyone is on the fence, I'd recommend the Giant Bomb Quicklook.

 

[Sleeplessnights]

Is the Quick Look EX played on an Xbox or a PC with an Xbox controller?

 

[Jintor]

Waitin' on them reviews

 

[anddo0]

That box art is pretty ballsy and awesome.

This wasn't on my radar at all until I played XCOM Enemy Unknown on Playstation Plus this month. It was all part of their plan.

I'm worried about the PS3 version.. Enemy Unknown really struggled at times.
I'd like to get it on PS3, but my laptop is more than capable (7970m).

 

[Deputy Dangle]

I have faith that 2k Marin will deliver a really solid game.

 

[CLBridges]

Nice OT Pops! I'm getting this day one. I'm really liking what I've seen so far, don't need any reviews prior to purchase. Also, since playing XCOM: Enemy Unknown, I'm purchasing anything with XCOM attached to it.

 

[NavyPharaoh]

I was on the fence but from the quick look I'm getting a dragon age origins feel from the tactical combat. Why is this trying to take away from my next gen fund? Lol

 

[Canis lupus]

Waiting on reviews, so far the feeling I'm getting from this is that its just another shooter.

 

[TheMan]

i'm not feeling that there's any hype at all for this game. personally, i'm not a fan of the 50's setting, but if the game turns out to be fun i may pick it up when it drops to 20

 

[Alcoholikaust]

Waiting on reviews, so far the feeling I'm getting from this is that its just another shooter.

I thought so too until I saw a few preview vids- the combat is actually a combination full spectrum warrior and mass effect, if that makes any sense.

Rev3 has a few

 

[fokkusu]

£20.25 at Greenmangaming with GMG25-OGRUH-7SM8H

Shows 44.99€ here.

 

[Labadal]

From the Quick Look, the game looked (hurhur) fun to play. I've got this pre-ordered.

 

[publicpwnerer]

Shows 44.99€ here.

Yeah it's bollocks, it's $45 for Australians. No ability to use a code.



I'll pick it up on sale.

 

[ThoseDeafMutes]

Need to see reviews and impressions from GAF.

There's still time to preorder for me.

 

[pauljeremiah]

pre-loaded my copy this morning on Steam.

 

[halfbeast]

I didn't follow any news on this - is there an explanation why they went from FPS to TPS?

 

[styl3s]

Carter looks nothing like Archer.

I was tempted to get the deal from amazon but my gut is telling me this game is going to be ok at best and i don't really want to spend $45 on "ok", especially considering there about 30 games coming out between now and November on top of next-gen consoles. I'll wait for some gaf feedback.

It looks fun and interesting don't get me wrong. It's just a matter of if i buy it at $10 for $45

 

[Rei no Otaku]

I'm picking this up along with Saints Row IV. Looks interesting enough that I'm willing to give it a try.

 

[Atraveller]

Need to see reviews and impressions from GAF.

There's still time to preorder for me.

Yeah, this. Don't know if it's going to be great.