If there was going to be an XCOM: Enemy Unknown sequel, what changes would you like to see?

[scorptatious]

I'm really enjoying XCOM: Enemy Unknown right now. It's more than likely a contender for game of the year for me.

That being said, it's far from perfect, and I would love to see some improvements via either a sequel or an expansion. What about you guys?

For me, I would like to see:

1. Larger squad size.

From what I've seen, the original game allowed you to command a large amount of soldiers. Meanwhile, the game we have only allows up to six. I'm not unhappy with the current size, but it would be nice if I could control eight or ten soldiers at the very least.

2. Base Defense.

Sometime during my first playthrough, I thought: "Wouldn't it be cool if the aliens found where my base was and tried to attack me?" Sadly, I didn't get anything like that. The original X-COM I found, did have a Base Defense style mission. Even if it's simply a story mission, I would like to have a base defense style mission.

3. Better customization for soldiers and more varied accents.

A lot of people complained that despite the fact the soldiers in the game came from several different countries, they all share an American accent. Personally, it's not a huge issue with me, but it would be nice if we at least heard at least some different kinds of accents. Not enough for every single country in the world, just enough to have some variety.

Also, I didn't really like the fact that you had to pay to get the extra armor customization options. I would have liked it if I at least had the option to change my soldier's armor color from the get go.

Well that's my list. What about you guys?

 

[Saviordd1]

Like you said, base defense.

Also I'd want real inventories back, the ability to trade weapons in the field, ability to free fire on structures, and actual god damn interception.

 

[ShinyCharizard]

Well apparently it was successful in terms of sales so we should be getting a sequel.

As for what I'd like to see:

All your suggestions plus

1. More alien types.

2. More technology and weapons to research ect.

3. More maps.

4. A less linear narrative so replays are more diverse.

5. Larger fights.

 

[MammothBlade]

All your suggestions and:

1.More flexible inventory and skill system, possibly doing away with classes altogether.
2.More complex battle tactics
3.More weapons, armour, and items.
4.Melee combat.

 

[Pat8u]

I actually hope they don't add an accents as they will most likely be stereotypical accents (no game has a Australian accent that I can stand(maybe I just can't stand Australian accents))

anyway here is my list

1)Less Bugs
2)More Maps
3)Less scientists annoying you on the field of battle (by the way its funny how she has the only non-american accent of the entire crew,unless that's a speech impediment)
4)More troops per mission I want to have expendable soilders goddammit
5)More Proactive ways of attack rather than just sitting around
6)Ability to have more than one sky ranger
7)Less Bugs...again
8)Better DLC
9) maybe a remake of the underwater Xcom which sounds interesting (I've never played it so I don't know the quality of the second instalment of XCom I've played UFO defence and this one)

there done
EDIT: Apparently the second one sucked so ignore point 9

 

[KarmaTheAlligator]

More troops, or the ability to have them all shoot more than once per turn, and on different targets. We're heavily out-numbered by the aliens on the field, and most late ones take 2+ shots to kill, meaning I can kill 2-3 per turn, which is not enough to take care of most groups.

Also, the possibility to move after shooting, in case you need to jump back in cover (and out of sight, since cover is useless on higher difficulties) after a shot.

The ability to fire at walls to make shortcuts.

Squadsight for everyone! If someone sees an enemy, everyone with a line of sight should be able to shoot it. The soldiers in XCOM are seriously near-sighted.

More missions per month, or at least the possibility to intercept the UFOs before they cause abductions or terror sites.

More items per missions; one grenade per non-Heavy is ridiculous, considering the low damage they do.

 

[Pink Gregory]

Three words.

JUST MORE STUFF.

I like the smaller squad sizes, maybe remove having to unlock 5/6 man squads though.

Been said many times, but multiple skyrangers, I mean, the barracks are big enough for that many soldiers, why not?

That would mean more missions/more time to respond to them though.

Perhaps more of a tactical element to interception too, it's never been that well fleshed out, but the ability to send perhaps two interceptors out from different hangars to intercept from two directions, give an advantage.

 

[Smooth Operator]

You know I would try to go with 20-30$ expansion packs that slowly creep in greater flexibility / feature set, because the base game feels quite railroaded.

And then after about 3 expansion packs you collect the things that worked / didn't and move onto the next game.

 

[dvd_72]

You're supposed to be some elite organisation whose goal is to stop the alien invasion right? So how is it that a group with that kind of money and backing can only have a single group out at a time?

So yea, the ability to field multiple squads on multiple missions. Maybe have the ones not under your control succeed or fail on a probability influenced by the experience and equipment of the soldiers you send out.

 

[Sam17]

More bases in different parts of the world, if you have the money why not?

More accents

I'd also like to see more ballistic weapons before the jump into laser/plasma, for example you'll start with whatever that machine gun is and move onto another tier of ballistic weapons like XM8's or G36's then onto laser, would kinda build the tech-level feel imo

 

[Bostur]

I would like to see a fleshed out strategic layer. Upgrade paths that are less linear. I miss the whole simulation that the older games had. UFOs with flight patterns. The ability to put interceptors on patrol and actually scout areas for alien activity. More than one base, more than one skyranger.

On the tactical side, I'd want bigger maps that are more dynamic and more varied. The tactical gameplay is very good but really suffer from the cramped maps. Some simple inventory management. I don't think I would want the whole TU system back because it works quite well as it is, but the ability to pick up someone's medkit and help that soldier would be handy. Or even grab a pistol from a dead body. The game already allows for activating objects without a time cost, I don't think it would be unbalanced to allow for some free inventory management as well.

 

[ischmalud]

without sounding like a fanboy (i hope) the squadsize is a tool of balancing - yes you had larger squads in the original but it led to a point in the game where there was 0 challange left cuz U outnumbered the aliens and every individual soldier of yours was stronger then one of them so firaxis did that on purpose.
the voice acting FO SHO - ud think a small dlc could fix that - id fork out 5-10$ for that even. also trading weapons in the field to some degree - since e.g. heavies simple cant use sniper rifles but they should let u e.g. pass on grenades or something like that.....althought the more i think about the more i realise how limited that would actually be in situ.
now with the base defense idea; in the original story that was sort of the last ditch defense u overcome them there and than charge their mothership since u realise they will wipe out the xcom project now that they know where u r so not sure how i feel about the idea.
sure more maps in general but thats a bit easy to complain about that - id rather they fixed the pathing/clipping on the existing maps before they run of and make more

lol only wanted to comment on the squadsize and got sidtracked

 

[veloper]

More than 1 skyranger.
If I have the resources and the soldiers, I should be able to tackle multiple abduction sites all at once.

Make those skyrangers cost alot more than interceptors though.

 

[EmperorZoltan]

Just watched some of that Xenonauts video by total biscuit, and I've got to say I'm glad that a heap of mechanics were dropped in the new xcom.

Things like AP, stances, burst, concentration etc.... these are all decades old mechanics that quite simply overcomplicate the situation. They seemed great back in the original xcom, but by modern standards don't really add all that much to the package. Why implement complex mechanics? The core gameplay remains the same, you're just diluting the combat.

The issue I see with complex game mechanics is it can be a really big turnoff for potential buyers. When Xenonauts comes out, the only people whom are likely to play it are the hardcore old school XCOM fans. I hope I'm wrong, I truly do, but I don't think I am. I wish them all the best and hope they are successful, but honestly, I think alot of players are going to be turned off by the archaic mechanics. And from pragmatic standpoint, if a game doesn't sell well the fans won't see a sequel.

If I can hazard a comment on the state of gaming culture, we see the noltalgia rose tinted glasses being worn by many forum goers around the internet; just because your game was great 10 years ago does not mean a clone of that game will be great by todays standards. And because 99% of gamers whom enjoy a game don't go to the effort of commenting about it on the forums, there is an overwhelmingly deafening minority voice coloring the debate in a highly negative light.

Lets take a simular situation, where a remake of a classic franchise has been changed from the original formula, and another game replicates the original experience; Diablo 3 vs. Torchlight 2.

Diablo 3 is a good game. It's not as good as diablo 2 was, but it's still a good game. Alot of the complexity in Diablo 2's engine has been cut out to make for more user friendly and approachable game. You can still customize you character, get sweet loot, level up, etc. The experience has just focused to the point where the ARPG's archaic mechanics have been flayed away. Now look at torchlight; it's Diablo 2 with a fresh coat of paint, and upon comparing the two side by side it was clear to me that the refinements implemented by Diablo 3 were the right call. Both deserve money, and the market is big enough that both can fill their respective niche.

 

[EmperorZoltan]

Just realised I never actually answered the question... derp

As for new mechanics, I'd love to see more content generally, greater emphasis on and inclusion of civilian elements, more diverse weapons and maps, greater depth to the classes, a complete redesign of interception (to something more akin to a combat flight simulator), multiple bases and base defence missions, and most importantly squad social interation (talking to eachother in missions).

 

[Doom972]

1. More countries in the council - I'd love to be able to defend my own country as well.
2. The ability to have soldiers go prone - If a sniper is on top of a truck, he should be in the prone position and not just stand there and take fire.
3. The ability to use the action points system instead of the 2 actions system - It just feels too restricting.
4. Old School inventory system - Again, feels too restricting.
5. Being able to send multiple interceptors against one UFO - It just makes sense.

I can probably think of more, but these were my main issues. I love this game regardless.