Save the world from invading aliens (again) with XCOM: Enemy Within

By

Manage your troops, destroy all aliens, save the world. Again. Photo: 2K Games
Manage your troops, destroy all aliens, save the world. Again. Photo: 2K Games

The excellent strategy game, XCOM: Enemy Within, is out now for mobile devices as an entirely new standalone game for $12.99. If you haven’t played an XCOM game yet, this is a fantastic place to jump in – the graphics are stunning and the gameplay is addictive; like Civilization, you’ll battle it out with alien invaders in turn-based, tactical maps that offer some thrilling alien-busting fun.

In the new game from developer Firaxis and publisher 2K Games you’ll manage the XCOM global headquarters and send your troops out to fight, dealing with both battle mechanics as well as resource allocation and research into new weapons and gear for your soldiers. The new game adds a “rogue” human faction, EXALT, that will offer even more battles and maps.

“XCOM: Enemy Unknown for Mobile proved that turn-based strategy games are a natural fit for touch interfaces,” said lead designer, Firaxis Games’ Ananda Gupta in a statement. “In XCOM: Enemy Within, players can return to the XCOM universe, where they’ll encounter an assortment of new content including powerful new weapons, abilities and strategies, and confront a host of dangerous new alien threats.”

Originally a console-based expansion to XCOM: Enemy Unknown (which released on iOS in June of last year), Enemy Within promises the same fantastic turn-based tactical science fictional gameplay as Unknown, only with a ton more stuff, like gear, character classes, extra maps and more gameplay.

This new version of XCOM: Enemy Within will include new soldier abilities, including genetic modifications and mechanized cybersuits, new weapons, extra enemy threats, and a new alien resource you can gather, called Meld, that lets you upgrade your gear to even more powerful levels. There are new multiplayer maps, too, letting you create custom troop squads to send against your opponents in turn-based matches via Google Play and Apple’s Game Center.

New plot-based story missions appear, as well, including one set in an abandoned fishing village and a mission that tasks you with defending the XCOM headquarters itself from a devastating alien attack. Here’s a video to get you excited.

The game is compatible with iPad 3, iPad mini 2, iPhone 5, or later iOS devices, and will not run on earlier generations, even though you can buy it on them, so beware. While it will be available on the Google Play store, 2K games notes that “Multiplayer will not be offered to mobile users on Amazon devices.”

All in all, this looks like a stellar game to grab for that new iPad Air 2 you just bought — with the cutting edge graphics and highly addictive gameplay, this is one deep, strategic experience you won’t want to miss.

XCOM: Enemy Within will invade your iPad on November 13, 2014.

Source: App Store

Newsletters

Daily round-ups or a weekly refresher, straight from Cult of Mac to your inbox.

  • The Weekender

    The week's best Apple news, reviews and how-tos from Cult of Mac, every Saturday morning. Our readers say: "Thank you guys for always posting cool stuff" -- Vaughn Nevins. "Very informative" -- Kenly Xavier.