5 Massive Improvements - Xenonauts vs Xenonauts 2

[@UnkimTV]

Xenonauts 2 is NOW OUT! Buying Xenonauts 2? Consider getting it from my Nexus store to support me 🛒 www.nexus.gg/unkim/xenonauts-2 - Same price, Steam game but I'll get a % cut instead of Valve/Steam 🤩

[@OzoneGrif]

There *is* a zoom in Xenonauts 2. It's page-up / page-down by default. It's not a photo mode tho. Also note that most of the new content is not available in the Early Access, sadly. My biggest change, that is more subtle, is the balance of the game: it looks a lot more balanced, with lots of tiny changes which makes the game more enjoyable.

[@CowCommando]

My favorite new feature from the last public demo was that engineers and scientists who weren't doing anything generated income. I still want to see the return of multiple simultaneous research projects.

[@UnkimTV]

I’d like to see that as well. Really enjoyed being able to dedicate a specific number of resources for different projects. Pretty much like classic XCOM did it. More power to the player 😅

[@DeathDefiant]

I liked the way the background art for the scientists and engineers changed as technology progresses in X1. It doesn't look like they do it in X2 though (the scientists have flatscreens from the beginning). Just a little detail which i liked.

[@tyrongkojy]

Still early access. This might likely be a thing they update.

[@MildyHistorical]

I mean considering it’s also 2009 I think it’s fair for them to have flatscreens in the beginning, but yeah I hope they bring that back too.

[@DeathDefiant]

@@MildyHistorical Oh, I thought it took place in the cold war like X1. If it takes place in 2009, then that makes sense. It Would be interesting to see modern tech progress to future.

[@johnathangoodwin3610]

It's still Cold War@@DeathDefiant . It's an alternate history, where the aliens prevented the downfall of the soviet union through political puppets. So it's a Soviet Union still alive in 2009.

[@northernsoul0127]

​@DeathDefiant In the universe the Cold War never ended.

[@Gliese380]

The OG gfx are just fine, though. They have their charm.

[@NikovK]

If I could see anything in Xenonauts 2, its great circle navigation on the world map. It bothers me that a game from the 90's was the only one in the series to properly model a radar base on the north pole covering both Canada and Russia.

[@feonor26]

Never even heard about the first Xenonauts so I'm looking forward to this

[@UnkimTV]

Consider yourself lucky then! You can play X2, play the whole X1 for the first time, get back to X2 and finish it later in 😅

[@roninghostgaming7240]

Unfortunately, side by side comparison’s actually highlight how little they updated the visuals. In every side by side example I struggled to figure out which one was X2.

[@tyrongkojy]

That's why I wanted a vid like this. What has actually been added. The additional missions and aliens are big to me. The visuals... honestly had they been kept the exact same I'd have been perfectly happy. Pretty game does not mean good game. Where did your development effort go, the gameplay, or the graphics? Fortunately that LACK of definitive visual difference is a good thing to me. It means they didn't spend TOO much time/money on making a set of shiny keys to jangle in front of my face and call it a day thinking that would be enough.

[@tyrongkojy]

Basically, this looks to be what Xeno 1 SHOULD have been, which while really good, didn't QUITE overcome xcom in most ways, only some.

[@TheKiroshi]

The * visuals * absolutely have been updated. But the * art style* has not. Combat gameplay alone certain doesnt look much different until you see the new enviroment biomes, thats for sure. They recreated a lot of X1 In a pretty close fashion. Just a bit cleaner. I do agree, it can look a bit hard to distinguish which is which from still shots and missions, but the rest is distinct enough, specially the 3D space

[@cisarovnajosefina4525]

The visuals are definitely better but they kept the art style

[@Chonicle2]

While this is super minor one of my favorite upgrades is to the unit portrait art for the soldiers, its like 1000% better then Xenonauts 1

[@UnkimTV]

Agreed! It’s a very welcomed improvement 👌

[@unclemestor]

The portraits really make a difference!

[@johnd3124]

good UI and UI presentation is so important, even things like font... its why I just cant get into games like Spacebourne 2

[@rory8182]

Even if it is a Rogue Legacy thing of not needing the first once we have the second, it still means we get a better xenonauts

[@CrabQueen]

Prehapes the biggest issue X2 has is that it /looks/ so similar to 1. but all this little changes really add up into a much more fleshed out package. 3D also is much easier to add more stuff to faster, so I can expect we'll see a lot more new stuff in the not-so-distant future

[@rjramrod]

I'd imagine that on top of the official content the 3D engine opens up the door to much more extensive modding, since the creation & manipulation of 3D assets is so much less time consuming than having to hand draw every individual frame of animation But I agree that I was really disappointed when I found out X2 was going to be essentially a remake of the first game-I had always wanted a proper sequel continuing the story from the end of the original Still, looks aside, the fact that A.) it's such a drastically improved reimagining in every single other way, combined with B.) how long it's been since the first game came out, has left me really excited to finally get my hands on this game & play the hell out of it

[@koghs]

I don't see an issue with game looking the same as first one. On the contrary, I think that many new assets are borderline goofy compared to old ones and it's kinda dumb

[@hoorayforhawksbills]

You're not wrong but the genre pretty much DEMANDS the original scenario. You're building the infrastructure to reverse engineer alien tech, and you're building the air defense network to engage them. In a hurry, because we don't believe in aliens till we suddenly do. Twenty years after Xenonauts the aliens could very well return, but there is going to be a pair of Corsairs at every major airport, a hovertank and a squad of power armored troopers at every city police department and the average citizen is probably trained to shoot an assault rifle in high school. The aliens could invade sure, but not like they did in X-Com or Xenonauts. Doesn't mean we can't have a real sequel some day, but we once again need an update to the graphical engine for X-Com and this qualifies. 🤣

[@rjramrod]

@@hoorayforhawksbills idk man I feel like XCOM 2 is a great example of a sequel that actually continues the story really well instead of just being a straight up remake

[@stefannicic6509]

@@rjramrod Here's an explanaiton way back in 2015 when they dropped new IP Pathfinder for X2 Why a remake rather than a sequel? I've been considering ideas for sequels to Xenonauts for a while. Sadly the tech level of the humans at the end of Xenonauts is so powerful that narratively I don't think there's anywhere we can go that would not take the series into completely different territory (e.g. dealing with a societal collapse caused indirectly by alien technology, fighting aliens across different dimensions, fighting a Skynet-style entity etc). If we're going in a different direction, we may as well start with an entirely blank slate rather than tenuously tying the game to the events of Xenonauts. We'd get much more freedom that way, so in my mind there's no sense in making a Xenonauts 2 that covers different events. You can find it here www.goldhawkinteractive.com/forums/index.php?/topic/12900-debating-xenonauts-2/

[@alexanderthegreat8644]

7 years just to get early access is insane! Imma still buy it, just feels like it's been forever.

[@OdeeOz]

Yawuul, and boy howdy does this ever look like a great Update to X1. Thanks for sharing the info with us all, Unkim! 👍👍 100⭐💖

[@UnkimTV]

My pleasure! 🫡💙

[@M.F.Hafizhan]

I like the EXALT expies. Can't wait to finally play this!

[@CoIdHeat]

The visual differences are there .. but they aren’t as huge of an improvement as stated here or otherwise people wouldn’t be asking in the first place if there are any huge differences at all. But that’s okay. The graphics were already sufficient in the first part. The main plus to me is the new story and being able to play another high quality UFO-clone without just having to replay old versions again like Xenonauts 1.

[@ShadowdaleA]

I want to see a guided Blaster Bomb because its sad that it hasn't been recreated since X-Com UFO defense.

[@UnkimTV]

Truly the most iconic weapon in classic X-COM! I’d love to see a comeback of it. Maybe with modding!

[@Orosian5]

I'd really like to see fully destructible terrain, like they did in X-Com Apocalypse. Taking out a whole building was so gratifying.

[@Dracowinges]

Are you *Sure* you want that firing into a group of squadmates? That thing blew up the whole screen. It'd definitely make for a 'ah sh*t Chryssalids!' moment from OG xcom

[@cwam1701e]

It is back in the official X-Com games from Firaxis, which I avoided for a long time but finally tried about a year ago. It is not a bad effort; a different game to be sure, but much of the ground combat gameplay is there, if simplified, and the blaster launcher makes it's welcome return (and it is a joy to watch it go gently sailing off round corners and into the middle of the aliens to ruin their day!)

[@TurnBasedLovers]

Great video. Congrats my friend. Just started the game last week :)

[@UnkimTV]

Thank you! Means a lot :)

[@Ryan_yg]

Jagged alliance 3 coming and now Xenonauts 2, where am i gonna find the time 🥲

[@anenthusiast6942]

I don’t consider this to be a problem

[@UnkimTV]

I’m with you! Time is of the essence 😅

[@Zoey--]

Obviously we don't know the end game scenario for the win condition yet but I'd rather they were more ambitious this time. Perhaps we capture an alien battleship spoof its friend or foe ID, crew it with a psionically enslaved high tier alien and our squad and fly out to the aliens forward operating base on Mars for a do or die showdown and nuclear detonation. The alien leadership coming to Earth always struck me as a bit unlikely :D

[@samuelgibson780]

Actually, there are multiple mission objectives in Xenonauts 1. In the alien base missions you can blow up reactors and skidaddle if you don't want to kill all the opposition. In UFO landing missions you can kill all the enemies in the UFOs and then hold them for 5-ish turns. There is also the occasional side-objective of capturing them alive.

[@maytt07]

Awesome overview and info, incredible presentation which is perfect, congrats unkim, hope you get lots of views with this one.🤩

[@UnkimTV]

Thank you so much 🥹💙

[@AR-GuidesAndMore]

Soldier Perks similar to battle brothers with stat modifiers after heavy injury or exceptional feets in combat.

[@jamenta2]

What I would like to see: More expandable base designs, i.e. like more squares to expand into, more modular build types to enhance your organization.

[@UnkimTV]

That’s a good one! More in depth management side of the game for the geoscape/base

[@unclemestor]

Thanks for posting this! I'm glad you mentioned the part about the publisher, I feel like they've done a fantastic job about picking up interesting strategy titles that other publishers would traditionally ignore. I'm not crazy about every game they publish, but I can appreciate the new ideas from even the ones I'm not interested in. Never would have thought of myself as a "fan" of a publisher before... but they're quickly becoming a good way to cheat by looking at their catalog to find new upcoming strategy titles I wouldn't have heard of otherwise.

[@garyswift9347]

Thanks again. Great job. I'd like to see a lot more conversations and choices in conversations between missions. It would give the game better context. I think this aspect is missing from all of the xcom games as well.

[@UnkimTV]

Thank you! It still isn’t exactly what you’re aiming for, but at least now there’s some ongoing conversation lore-wise before the first missions which I can appreciate.

[@etienne8110]

Yeah X2 is better than X1. Is it better than X-division? remains to be seen. I must say that, after 7-8 years of dev, I find the result to be quite disappointing (at least in what is shown so far). Hope it gets better and more gameplay mechanics are available in futur videos. As of now it is a no buy for me, not sure about the pricetag, but so far I can't justify spending 40$/Eu on this.

[@Ayay01]

Moment i heard .. Now with Time limits ..i went ..oh well buy on a sale it is lol. There is not words for how much i hate turn limits in turn based games lmao

[@libiroli]

You mean " grab meld in 8 turns" kind of thing? I didn't understand clearly from your comment.

[@Ayay01]

@@libiroli yea you got 8 turns untill box explode and mission fail ..Xcom 2 as an example .

[@UnkimTV]

Understandable! I’m not a huge fan of turn limitation but I will say that it really changes things up when you mix all of those different missions types together, and I think that’s a nice thing

[@matthewjones39]

The time limits shouldn’t make you fail the mission. It should just be something you can do for extra funds or materials.

[@cwam1701e]

So far there is only one mission type you can fail by running out of time - you have to release at least 5 captured civilians out of 10 and do it within 7 turns. The other missions where the number of turns come into play (so far) is just enemy reinforcements that appear every so many turns potentially making the mission harder, but you can still take as long as you like/need to complete it.

[@ShirakamiKaiser]

tbf Xenonauts 1 does include VIP capturing (i.e. capturing higher ranks of aliens for interrogation) in order to advance on the main story.

[@blah3189]

Turn limits will always suck

[@impguardwarhamer]

Honestly the 2D engine looked a lot cooler than the new one imo. The old UI was nicer too.

[@deno2649]

Time limits on missions. I’m gonna have to wait till the modders mod that annoyance out before I get it.

[@HomeworldChanal]

Lol, you had me till the "eliminates any doubt"

[@UnkimTV]

That still means a compliment on my book 😅 Either way, I know it’s a matter of opinion, but I really have no doubts regarding that. We need to be more positive and hopeful 🫡😜

[@MrGiantSwede]

for me, it is not a problem that the sequel is similar to the first, what will matter is the tactical experience/gameplay/and story as compared to the first, while the first game is not for everyone, for me it is very appealing and excellent, if they can give me this feeling with improvements im sure i will enjoy this title and feel as though the money was worth spending

[@HalIOfFamer]

Xenonouts 1 was very good. Almost perfect when it comes to what they wanted to make and what they made. Thus, xenonouts 2 doesn't have that many improvements over the 1st game. But for the fans of the genre, what is there should be absolutely worth it.

[@cideltacommand7169]

This is the early acess version, there will be updates and modding. It will have better improvements later on

[@DarkSlayer010]

The influence of Enemy Within is unmistakable. But it’s not a bad thing at all. On the contrary, borrowing ideas and implementing them correctly should be applauded.

[@tyrongkojy]

I'd like something that was missing in 1, the ability to skip techs and rush to the uber guns. In 1 you HAD to research in order, effectively, while in xcom you can rush to plasma. Sure, in month 3 you'll be getting murked, but by month 5 or 6 you'll dominate and make up for it.

[@sm901ftw]

I loved the first game and I'm sure this is just as good, but really struggling to see how it's taken them 8 whole years to reach this stage (and they aren't even done!). Especially given how much of the game seems to be a one-to-one remake of what they already had. Even the UI looks largely unchanged. Sure, "if it ain't broke" and all that, but at least try to convince me I'm getting something new for my money. Plus even some of the new stuff (Cleaners/Mission types/etc.) seems very similar to ideas we've already seen from Firaxis way back in XCOM:EW and XCOM 2. I'm sure Goldhawk have added their own spin, but it doesn't seem like there are many original ideas here which is a big shame.

[@danimcfly5992]

Looks like a great game, but very Low on the upgrade in Graphics, looks like X 1.5 to be honest. Should've done something similar to Phoenix Point.

[@alnm951]

Just finished playing X2 (early access). I've never played X1, but I did play all XCOM games. I really liked X2 approach, but there is still much more work needed before I could recommend buying it (at the current price tag). From what I can tell, the only major improvement from X1 is the graphics overhaul, so match your expectations if you come from X1.

[@Taffy84]

I don't know, looks too much the same as the previous version. Probably buy it anyway but more excited for Jagged Alliance3.

[@WhatWillYouFind]

I loved the original UFO games, actually played through most of them. I couldn't finish Xenonauts and that was during a major XCOM addiction where I was motivated to play it. That addiction took me through XCOM, the XCOM fps shooter that was actually not half bad, and half a playthrough of XCOM2. Weeks and WEEKS of watching lore and development video. It wasn't that I felt burnt out, it just felt off. UFO was jank, absolutely nutty and tough . . . Xenonauts felt better, but it didn't feel RIGHT. I think Xenonauts 2 will be amazing once it is finished, I can't wait to support them again when they get out of Early Access.

[@liquidrock8388]

Unfortunately we've been waiting for what feels like forever and finally we can buy something but it's still work in progress. :( Is the main plotline done at least? Can we finish the game or do we only get to play some missions and then the campaign is stuck until new content is released?

[@UnkimTV]

No, you cannot finish the game when it releases into early access because the campaign won’t be done. You’ll have to wait a little longer for updates for that to be possible.

[@VMX1.]

Xeno 1 compared to Xeno 2 is like comparing a Honda civic to a Acura NSX

[@shutensarubachababa5072]

I would like soldiers gain skills each time they are promoted

[@Scalespirit121]

Feels to me like they missed a time deadline with x2. They spun the hype early in development and it managed to die out then gets 2nd wind in alpha now. IMO if they started spinning the marketing hype month prior to early access it would have broader reach. Depending how the final product looks we will see if its X2 or Xenonauts 1.5. I'm witholding judgement until final product is available.

[@Anu242Bis]

Very, very underwhelming. Especially since it’s releasing in Early Access with most of the “new content” locked off for later. Not taking full advantage of the 3D engine and limiting the view of the tactical scenes to only a single z-level was a terrible idea. It makes the game look no different to the first one. At least the Firaxis Xcom games actually take advantage of their visual fidelity and their 3D engine to give you camera angles and an actual sense of situational awareness. Mission variety also doesn’t seem all that extensive, given it has gone the Phantom Doctrine route of side objectives. Those for pretty repetitive too.

[@cwam1701e]

Well, I was certainly very doubtful but I loved X1 so I took the plunge anyway and I am glad I did; when you look at screen shots or even videos of gameplay it doesn't seem like it is much of a change visually but when I played it, it feels much nicer to play than X1; and going back to X1 after playing X2 you really feel the difference. I have the Firaxis X-Com games and really enjoy playing those also, but the visual style of Xenonauts is one of the things that separates it from Phoenix Point and Firaxis X-Com etc. If I want that style I play those games; I want Xenonauts to maintain its own style. (I don't know what Phantom Doctrine is so I can't comment on that!!)

[@TheBlackBladder]

Stop there , you had me at modding XD

[@UnkimTV]

Ahah 😅

[@amsfountain8792]

I cannot wait for it.

[@ojgfhuebsrnvn2781]

Xenonauts is my favorite game amongs those games of same idea that came out but unfortunately Xenonauts 2 sucked the soul out of the game by desire to improve it with engine change. It led to some design problems that make me choose x1 over x2. Thanks to this comment section i found that there is zoom in button and it became a little bit better but characters in game still look like you play 3d chess, they don't look like they are prepared to fight, while sprites were able to provide such view. Movements of characters are unnaturally fast and it ruins immersion. It became more difficult to see what weapon character is holding. Those are major things that already put me off and i couldn't enjoy the game but there are also things like destructible environment. It became too destructible, i feel like everything made out of carton in that universe and those aliens just aren't able to hide behind anything because simple rifle fire can destroy its cover completely. 3D plane also has another one major downside. Now the game looks and feels like new x-com games but cheap version of it. Like someone liked new games, decided to make them in their garage but wasn't unable to match graphics, animations etc. Sprites gave this game chance not to be compared graphically and be able to say that it is just a drawing style There are many impovements are really good and i would gladly have them in first game but it was a lot of little things that made x1 better.

[@AR-GuidesAndMore]

No matter what anyone says for me there is enough difference that i wouldnt buy 1 over 2, algthough the reapers looked cooler in one.

[@rauchgranatorsmoky5021]

You sound like the Kilian experience

[@UnkimTV]

I didn’t know what that was and just searched it. Thanks… I guess? 😅

[@dominikandreasemmerich9559]

There is a Zoom in the game! A pretty cool one! =))))))))))))) Thank you very much! A must buy for me! Can`t wait =)))))))))))))

[@user-cs1dk2ug7l]

For the algorithm gods

[@jamesschmames6416]

So they decided to import exploding vehicles from XCOM. Le sigh

[@Xyg0t]

This looks a lot like xcom UFO defense.

[@hoorayforhawksbills]

Wow, it does! 🤣

[@Xyg0t]

@@hoorayforhawksbills I like this game though, it's like an updated version of the game, very similar in a lot of ways.

[@One.Zero.One101]

I really want to play Xenonauts 1 but I'm lost with all the mechanics. There's no tutorial and they just drop you in the action. I've searched some videos but they're more like tips and tricks, I'm looking for something that explains combat, cover system, what the buildings do. Can you create something like that please?

[@peterknutsen3070]

Why no zoom function? Being able to zoom out and get a greater view would be extremely useful.

[@koghs]

Is it true that first xenonauts was made on an ancient engine for point-and-click games? I remember finding out about it but I cannot find it now.

[@lastburning]

I like time pressure because it prevents boring, dominant playstyles. Inch forward, overwatch, repeat.

[@UnkimTV]

It’s a nice change of pace for sure!

[@swardinc]

i will wait, Xenonauts one storyline was almost a carbon copy of xcom, not sure i want that for 2 but i will just check and see

[@clement28300yip]

Why are the interceptors MiG-31s tho?

[@ValLeerKaa]

I WANT OVERPOWER!!! Where the f-ing human operatives psionics are?!

[@azalith8645]

Is it worthwhile to play Xenonauts 1 first?

[@UnkimTV]

Xenonauts 1 is a very good game with a lot of mods for you to spend countless hours on it. If you like the genre, I’d say it’s worth it because this one isn’t finished ;)

[@mrShot94]

Not a lot of massive improvement to me. Also it seems you quickly ran out of improvements as you started mentioning publisher. Pass for me. Better to play Jagged Alliance 3/Xenonauts 1/Ufo:Aftershock or old XCom games.

[@CaptScrotes]

In development since 2015 and just hitting early access. Yikes!

[@marekkos3513]

I wish this game had beutifule 2D mixed 3D graphics like Fallout tactics , or Pillar of Eternity :].

[@Frogygamer]

How did you get early access to the early access?

[@littleponygirl666]

Since this wasn't mentioned does it mean that we still have the shitty psionics mechanic as in the first game? 🙁

[@UnkimTV]

There are different aliens abilities depending on the type of alien in this game. So yes, I guess “shitty psionic” mechanics are still kind of in 😅 It’s already really well balanced though, so they aren’t hard to deal with.

[@TotallyNotAFox]

@@UnkimTV I think the important part is: Do those abilities still work across the whole map and make soldiers throw their guns away at turn 3?

[@UnkimTV]

@@TotallyNotAFox nope! But you’ll find out from the aliens autopsy reports :)

[@Hunnia000]

Is there a memorial wall?

[@UnkimTV]

Yes, there is!

[@ArtypNk]

The only thing I need to know is this: Is there still the BULLSHIT mind control that makes one of your guys do berserk friendly fire every fucking damn round despite all soldiers having 90+ stats in every stat?

[@blakehorsfield3379]

How does it play on Steam Deck? Anyone know?

[@carlitoroger9530]

X divison for xenonauts 1 its supreme overhaul better than the normal xenonauts i recomended for veteran players

[@Vony256]

Turn limits to missions is a massive negative.

[@paypercutts]

Like in Xcom 3, if aliens invade your base it'll be cool if it were laid out like it how you've built it

[@impguardwarhamer]

they did that in xenonauts 1 so presumably they do it here too

[@TheTwelfthRed]

new aliens new missions, lacking in areas to call it X2.

[@GameWatcher545]

Am I the only one having issues with starting alien ships all appearing with different alien species? Every ship has completely different species, and that makes little to no sense to me. Shouldn't there be some progression in that regard as well? mhm

[@TimoRutanen]

The progression is likely to be more armored versions of the same aliens.

[@cwam1701e]

I don't know for sure, but I think that because the EA game is limited to a certain number of months (you can continue to play after that but no new types of UFO/Aliens appear) they are putting a greater variety of aliens into those early months to give a better sense of variety. This is just speculation on my part.

[@Njordin2010]

To me 3D to 2D almost always feels like a downgrade. Here i see no difference. Good game though.

[@abc121xyz]

7 years, so sad, I knew this was going to happen, too much hype built and too much time waiting for something that can be a mod of xenonauts 1 (not counting the 3d engine, but you dont take 7 years to implement the 3d engine)

[@Pissedman]

Hey Unkim and the rest of you guys. I'm not really that impressed with this clusterfuck of a game. They got about £190.000 from the kickstarter and worked on this for like AGES!! And still charging 40 bucks for us to buy a fucking early, unfinished access version of it. Some say its buggy as hell, and you get about 70'ish % of the game. And with that progress, we will get the last 30% of the game in 2035 or something. It feels abit like a scam to me. Sorry bout the grumpy comment, but after all - I AM THE PISSED MAN! :)

[@UnkimTV]

I guess “username checks out” 😂 They still haven’t said what will be the price of the game though 🤷‍♂️ (other than what they initially stated in the Kickstarter campaign: £25/$30 when it leaves early access). One more week and I guess we’ll know 🧐

[@Pissedman]

@@UnkimTV My man. If you Google "Xenonauts 2 kickstarter", you will see that they had 6,827 backers, funding them with £191,107. Thats what I would earn in about 14.37 years as working as a forklift driver over here in Sweden! ;) .....and it says you have to pay 39.99 for this half assed made semi.version of something thing that should be called "Xenonauts 1.5"... or actually "Xenonauts 2 beta half ass made scam version". Fuck... these guys have been slacking like motherfuckers!

[@nashiffuadkhan9817]

How does this game's development be not finished in 7 years?

[@TheBelrick]

good question

[@CloseingStraw97]

Game design is one hell of a thing.

[@techpriestsalok8119]

Small studio, big game. Most games take many years to make, they just announce it close to the end so it looks like it only took a year. Skyrim took 15 years for example, with an estimated 100 minimum full time developers. Goldhawk has an estimated 11-50 total employees. Edit: removed misinformation (goldhawk=!pavonis, my bad)

[@SamuelGeist]

@@techpriestsalok8119 This exactly. The Elder Schools 6 has almost certainly been in development since before its official announcement on 2018. This AAA flagship game from Bethesda is unlikely to be been until 2026.

[@etienne8110]

@@techpriestsalok8119 Skyrim was AAA (maybe even AAAA seing how well it aged) This is A (not sure if it can make it to AA). So obviously the timescales aren't the same. As far as i know, Pavonis only works on Terra Invicta and it's extensions. Calling the long war mods a full fledged game is a bit of a stretch.

[@stevens9625]

The 3D engine makes everything look worse! X1 had the sprite charm (despite the headache it caused) but X2 just looks like a 3D game out of early 2000s. The terrain tiles are just so bland it's painful to look at. Also, why are the soldier characters in the inventory screen look like they all have stubby legs?

[@DeviousAzza]

Massive improvements? Xenonauts 1 was released in 2014…not only that it is 2023 and the improvement to this game is so fucking pointless and indistinguishable it makes me sick, anyone paying the $50 for this is getting straight ripped sideways

[@Rysdad1]

The game looks visually terrible. Literally the 1st game from forever ago looks better, that's pretty sad. Other that it seems ok. Just kindve crazy they made it look so bad in 2023 with so many assets to use.

[@grogsrevenge]

Prettier graphics is #1? Yeah, don't care about the rest then (logically, can't be better), because the first game had perfectly functional graphics.

[@cwam1701e]

You should try the free demo and then try going back to X1; I bet you change your mind ( I did!)

[@Zetler]

LOL I thought the game is releasing soon but its only coming to EA.

[@marine76a]

Xenonauts 2 is cash grab trash.

[@cyllananassan9159]

BS LOOKS THE SAME

[@AbstractObserver]

Meh, bullshit moving from OG sharp and stylish 2D to a generic 3D. Huge L for the game.

[@matthewjones39]

You liked your own comment. Also, you’re definitely around the age of 11-14.

[@noneofyourbuisness2539]

​@@matthewjones39so what if they are? Everyone has the right to an opinion and this 'mesmerising' improvement being talked about is nonsense.

[@Scapestoat]

I love pixel graphics, but Xenonauts 1 had some pretty rudimentary (and kind ugly) pixels.

[@qwertyram4598]

One thing I saw from closed betas... The game seemed far different earlier in development. And I mean that in a way of "gameplay was a bit different". Like, the base building was more similar to Xcom Enemy Unknown than OG one

[@UnkimTV]

There were already a lot of changes since it’s inception for sure. Some have stayed, other have disappeared. There’s still an early access ahead so bear in mind that many other changes will still happen.

[@qwertyram4598]

@@UnkimTV I'm aware of that, and I know that changes are inevitable... However, this seemed like shifts in design of gameplay... I just wonder what happened.

[@UnkimTV]

A lot of those were due to feedback from close beta testers and community so I guess it’s positive. It means they’re listening to players 😅

[@hoorayforhawksbills]

The base building in particular is pretty much something the folks that preferred X-Com to the modern reboots really would demand. Most of us like that it's "fiddly". Not only did they keep it but since you can make HWPs specific for base defense I'd argue they're actually expanding on it, which is great.