Space Voyager, on 7th May 2007, 4:37pm, said:
Ok, I know a serious review shouldn't mention X-COM too much, but in a forum not much is forbidden. So could somebody plese "review" ET from with a comparison; what is better and what is worse from X-COM?
ET vs XCOM
PROs
-=- I think ET's AI is stronger. Enemies in tactical combat seem to use the best attack for the situation and do not always just sit around in their ship watching the Galactic News (though that does occasionally happen). Aliens are not always in the most remote building with a book, either - they are looking for the humans looking for them.
-=- I like the real-time of strategic spaceship fights. Always was difficult to get reinforcments for those battleship size UFOs.
-=- Not having to buy ammo for your interceptors. You still pay for it, but dont have to have the ammo on hand.
-=- Unlimited storage. No storeroom per se, so you just have room.
-=- In the short time I have played, difficulty increases constatly. First fight the rookies can hit an alien one time for it to die, by May/June it may take multiple rifle shots.
-=- Experience counts. No free rank advances for showing up, and you can pick what skills to specialize in.
-=- Aliens can take over areas, but you can take them back. Reportedly you can "free" an area from alien occupation- though I cannot yet confirm that.
-=- One barracks is enough for the whole army.
-=- Cannot sell laser pistols (or anything for that matter) for a 900% profit - guess you really do have to protect the planet to make money.
SIMILARITIES
-=- Still have to down ships to do tactical combat. I havent seen any landed ones.
-=- Heard rumors of terror missions, but havent experienced one yet.
-=- Beginning storyline sounds familliar to XCOM, but only time will tell.
-=- Research & Development remains similar - kill mob, dissect him, learn to use plastics (or how to counter his psionics).
-=- Bases remain similar. Instead of the ubiquitous elevator, you have energy controls, but its basically the same.
-=- Just like in XCOM, a rifle can bring down the whole building if you work at it hard enough. Course I havent tried to see if the 2nd floor will fall down in ET yet - we all know that buildings in XCOM didnt ever actually fall to the ground.
CONS
-=- If you TORE UP a spaceship in XCOM, there would be dead aliens, doesnt seem to affect it in ET. Guess they all know where their space suits are.
-=- Graphics engine could be upgraded. Definately not 4-color or 8-bit graphics, but nowhere near Doom3 either. Mulitipositional changes should be shown (ie if someone is kneeling have dont have them go from standing to kneeling immediately).
-=- Same goes for sound. Music and sound effects could be better and original.
-=- Many people complain of lack of hotkeys, I dont see it as an issue personally.
-=- Inability to hire new staff. Soldiers will just show up.
-=- Inability to have workshops /labs in other bases. Reportedly advanced workshops can be built, but I havent gotten that far.
-=- Use one shot from a magazine, you throw out the other 19 rounds when you get to base. MAN I miss that from AL.
-=- No overhead map of the tactical arena. Doesnt affect me much really, but some complaints about it.
Hmmm... Thats all I can think of right off hand.
ET is VERY similar to XCOM, even moreso than the AS/AL series. However, I feel it is a good game in its own right. If you are a fan of the series, you should give it a shot.