XCOM: Enemy Within Preview - The Human Threat of EXALT

[kajinking]

"Things are going great, panic levels are at an all time low and our advances in weapons tech are keeping the invaders at bay"

"Sir some hostile group calling themselves EXALT just stole all our funding for this month, blew up a workshop, and killed a Max Rank Heavy from the PSI division"

"..."

"Sir?"

"How many of those new Exosuits do we have?"

"4"

"Send in ALL of them!"

 

[Bindal]

"Things are going great, panic levels are at an all time low and our advances in weapons tech are keeping the invaders at bay"

"Sir some hostile group calling themselves EXALT just stole all our funding for this month, blew up a workshop, and killed a Max Rank Heavy from the PSI division"

"..."

"Sir?"

"How many of those new Exosuits do we have?"

"4"

"Send in ALL of them!"

Except when they appear, you're most likely still stuck with ballstic weapons yourself and don't even have met the Sectoid Commander as they seem to appear around Month 2 for the first time.

 

[Klaflefalumpf]

Twelve new maps? Is that twelve specific to the EXALT missions or twelve in general? Because I remember something about getting 50% more levels in this.

 

[chozo_hybrid]

Twelve new maps? Is that twelve specific to the EXALT missions or twelve in general? Because I remember something about getting 50% more levels in this.

They said that 12 maps will have the EXALT stuff in them too, so they have certain maps in mind for when you do stuff with them instead of the aliens, we're stilling getting lots more maps

Delayed...again...HOW MANY FUCKING TIMES ARE THEY GOING TO DELAY THIS?

Where does it say the expansion will be delayed?

There was an achievement listed that all but straight out says "there's going to be base defense missions", so that'll make a return, only question is whether it'll be against aliens, humans, or both.

The recently released trailer makes it pretty clear that it's against the EXALT.

Just watched that, cinematic stuff suggests it will be just EXALT, but they could make it so aliens do too. After all, it's been a much requested thing and Firaxis say they have been listening to fans. We'll just have to wait and see.

 

[chozo_hybrid]

Delayed...again...HOW MANY FUCKING TIMES ARE THEY GOING TO DELAY THIS?

Where does it say the expansion will be delayed?

This was originally supposed to be released in October, now it has been delayed for about 3 weeks.

Really? Because the date I've always heard was November something, I think you might have it mixed up with something else.

http://www.shacknews.com/article/80780/xcom-enemy-within-expansion-announced - Due Nov 12th, article from August.

http://www.pcgamer.com/2013/08/21/xcom-enemy-within-announced-a-huge-expansion-to-enemy-unknown/ - Due Nov 12th, article from August.


http://www.polygon.com/2013/8/21/4642424/xcom-enemy-within-expansion-announcement-release-date - Due Nov 12th, article from August.

It's always been the date since announcement.

 

[Tien Shen]

Is it me, or do the EXALT guys "uniforms" remind you of The Bureau? Could be either a tie-in to that game, or maybe a subtle jab. Or just coincidence, but that'd be boring.

Yeah I noticed that as well, very interesting.

As for the OT; the more I hear about this game the less excited I get. I could kind of understand human collaborators in nations the aliens subvert and stop funding you...

But a group actively working against XCOM while the world is being invaded and threatening everyone? I mean thats just fucking stupid...

"Hey guys the world is in danger of being overrun by genocidal aliens, think we should help out or something?"
"Nah lets try to sabotage the people who are dedicated to saving our asses and don't care about world politics. AND while we are at it try to take over the world!"

It might be stupid but when you look through several cases in human history, you find that humans have actually acted REALLY STUPID. Right now you got a small group of politicians of one branch of the US government actively working against the economic interests of the US and it's people, leading to the current shutdown fiasco and coming up against a looming debt default that would really put the US economy (and by default the world economy) into the shitter.

Also look up the Spanish Civil War which pitted the fascist Nationalists against the left wing Republicans. Mid-way through the war with the Nationalists gaining the upper hand, a group within the Republican side launched a rebellion against the Republican leadership, causing a civil war within a civil war, which only hastened their impending defeat. Now how incredibly stupid do you think that was? Nationalist forces control most of the country and surround the capital city we are in, "oh hey, lets make our already precarious position worse by fighting our comrades cause we ain't happy."

So it's not far fetched that a group of human extremists could be working against XCOM during the alien invasion thinking they could use it to gain power. Yes it's stupid, but it's not unrealistic or unbelievable.

 

[Kittyhawk]

This sounds cool. Gotta get back into playing it again. I'm still getting used to permadeath of my characters but its blast to play.

Bring me more X-Com, please.

 

[Skeleon]

Is it me, or do the EXALT guys "uniforms" remind you of The Bureau? Could be either a tie-in to that game, or maybe a subtle jab. Or just coincidence, but that'd be boring.

Hah! Good to see I'm not the only one who thought that. Yeah, the clothing (especially without much in terms of protective gear, just like in that game) really reminds me of them.

 

[Altar]

"the EXALT base is in a country you can play in Civilization V"

I seriously hope that one was a joke cause how am I suppose to know that since I don't play that game. Unless the game grays out countries that it can't be by itself...

Either way, looking forward to this honestly. Enjoyed XCOM EU.

 

[Bindal]

I personally would love to see them -really- differentiate EXALT from the aliens, for example, having them appear in missions you don't take, with the A.I. determining whether their missions were successful, and them getting some sweet Alien tech from it.

Or better yet, having them appear on the same map as the Aliens, and allowing commanders to work it out so both sides clash in the battle, with your XCOM squad coming in to sweep up the rest.

Sorry to disappoint you but neither will happen. The get their gear from YOU, basically (or from own research) and there will never be three-way-fights because EXALT will stay the heck away from direct conflicts with the aliens.

 

[immortalfrieza]

"In the situation room of XCOM base, I received word that an EXALT operation had stolen credits from the XCOM project. The surest way to piss me off is to take my money, and I was ready to take some action."

I can just imagine Greg in this situation.

"Hello, my name is Greg Tito. You took my money. Prepare to die."

So, we got evil aliens, evil humans (EXALT) and good humans (XCOM). So, am I the only one thinking that we could need a few friendly aliens now, either playable unit type or an indiependent faction like the Council?

What I'd love to see eventually is an "Alien Mode" for the game. I could get into a long rambling explanation as to how I'd make this work, but in short basically it would reverse the concept of the game and have the player play as the aliens trying to take over Earth.

 

[Ix Rebound]

So along with the MELD, MEC Troopers, Genetic modification, Mectoid and Stalkers.
We now have a new faction with even more units and new game modes?

My money will not be able to leave my wallet fast enough come November

 

[Canadamus Prime]

Is it me or do those three guys look like Ghostbusters?

 

[Bindal]

Is it me or do those three guys look like Ghostbusters?

Clearly just you as they don't wear a jumpsuit or anything even remotely resembling a proton pack.

 

[Canadamus Prime]

Is it me or do those three guys look like Ghostbusters?

Clearly just you as they don't wear a jumpsuit or anything even remotely resembling a proton pack.

Oh come on, you have to admit that one guy's backpack thing kinda looks like one.

 

[Battenberg]

Meh, all depends on how it works in the game. The story for XCOM's pretty bog standard, it's the gameplay that matters to me.