BERSERKERS and COMMANDERS // XCOM Enemy Within // Impossible Difficulty

We are playing through XCOM Enemy Within, followed by XCOM 2 WOTC! Buckle up! Become a KZbin member: / @christopherodd
/ discord XCOM EW 2024 Campaign Playlist: • XCOM Enemy Within 2024...
👇🏻Other XCOM Playthroughs👇🏻
• I Still Have PTSD From... • Not Your Mama's Gatecr... • FLIPPING THE FORMULA |... • 6 NEW Classes, NEW HIV... • HEROES and ZEROES - XC... • XCOM 2 WAR OF THE CHOS... • XCOM 2 - Part 1 - Firs... • X-COM Enemy Unknown - ... • XCOM: Enemy Within - P... • Let's Play XCOM Enemy ... • Let's Play XCOM Enemy ... • Let's Play XCOM Enemy ...
👇🏻Character Pool Info👇🏻
TO BE SUBMITTED ON PART 1 IN THE COMMENTS.
KZbin 'Set The Vibe' members and Patrons in the 'custom soldier tier', submit on discord. When you submit a character, you’ll need to submit:
Name: First name, Nickname, and Last Name
Visual description: Hair/Skin/Armor Color
Who were you before the invasion?
Why did XCOM recruit you?
Limit the answer to the above two questions to 150 words total.
👇🏻Mod List👇🏻
All mods on default settings unless specified in brackets.
Abduction Map Manager www.nexusmods.com/xcom/mods/735
Compact HP Display www.nexusmods.com/xcom/mods/735
Custom Sorting of Soldier Lists www.nexusmods.com/xcom/mods/735
Game Speed www.nexusmods.com/xcom/mods/735
Improved Enemy Icons www.nexusmods.com/xcom/mods/735
Kills Counter www.nexusmods.com/xcom/mods/735
Limit Chain Panic (ignore soldier wounded, ignore ally mind controlled) www.nexusmods.com/xcom/mods/735
Line of Sight Indicator (gold disc, .80, .30, enemies only) www.nexusmods.com/xcom/mods/666
Map Image on Squad Select www.nexusmods.com/xcom/mods/735
Mini UI Helpers www.nexusmods.com/xcom/mods/735
MoreGlamCam
Officer's Iron Will www.nexusmods.com/xcom/mods/735
Scout Sense www.nexusmods.com/xcom/mods/735
Sequential Overwatch www.nexusmods.com/xcom/mods/735
Show Squad Selection Progress www.nexusmods.com/xcom/mods/735
Soldiers' Respec Training (10, 14, 20, 2 Squad Size II)
Strip Gear Anytime www.nexusmods.com/xcom/mods/735
HUD Cleaner (Mouse Controls) www.nexusmods.com/xcom/mods/572/
Enable Camera Pitch www.nexusmods.com/xcom/mods/444
Camera Zoom Levels www.nexusmods.com/xcom/mods/444
Camera Yaw Angle www.nexusmods.com/xcom/mods/444
QE Free Rotation www.nexusmods.com/xcom/mods/444
XCOM EW Toolboks www.nexusmods.com/xcom/mods/79
Colored Aliens Content www.nexusmods.com/xcom/mods/817
Colored Aliens Script www.nexusmods.com/xcom/mods/817
New Colors for Aliens www.nexusmods.com/xcom/mods/734
SweetFX www.nexusmods.com/xcom/mods/445
Corpses Destroy Time www.nexusmods.com/xcom/mods/474
Hunker Down and Overwatch Delays www.nexusmods.com/xcom/mods/474
Remove Death Animation Delay www.nexusmods.com/xcom/mods/474
Mini Mods www.nexusmods.com/xcom/mods/735
Sightlines www.nexusmods.com/xcom/mods/666
Geoscape Pause on Notification www.nexusmods.com/xcom/mods/474
PatcherGUI www.nexusmods.com/xcom/mods/4...
UI Mod Manager www.nexusmods.com/xcom/mods/766
👇🏻Second Wave Options👇🏻
New Economy
Not Created Equally
Hidden Potential
Absolutely Critical
More Than Human
Total Loss
Mind Hates Matter
Thumbnail Design by / boultonjeff
🤓 SOCIAL MEDIA 🤓
bit.ly/OddsTwitter
bit.ly/OddsDiscord
bit.ly/OddsInstagram
bit.ly/OddsPatreon
🎮 BUY AND DOWNLOAD THIS GAME 🎮 store.steampowered.com/app/22...
🎞️ Check out Tube Buddy to help you optimize your KZbin Videos 🎞️ www.tubebuddy.com/christopherodd
💼 Business Inquiries Only 💼 [e-mail]
- - - - -
#xcomenemywithin #xcom #impossible

[@therealcap8598]

Ever since xcom 2 released, I played it atleast once every year. I always update the character pool with new soldiers based on new friends in real life. Seeing the soldiers based on my friends running around, fighting aliens, getting promotions, dying, causing each other to die, having their own little story arches with different classes and roles. It's almost like playing dnd by myself and it continues to entertain me year after year. No other turn based has caught that magic for me

[@derkhart6019]

Totally agree I even have some of my local football players in xcom.

[@jimulatt7215]

I have my favorite TV characters as my soldiers and I try to have them a certain class depending on their personalities.

[@sanuhan1]

I recommend Wildermyth!! scratches a verx similar itch for me.

[@ConnorLinley]

The emergent stories are what keeps me. I have a support who squared off against the last advent captain on my second mission, everyone else was dead (blasted through full cover😡). In an act of revenge for her squad there was no evac, she was to stay till the captain died or she did. It took 10 turns of running around in the subway tunnels, breaking sightlines, overwatching, aid protocol to protect in weak cover, flanks, height advantage shots. She refused to relent and the captain died for it. As she's grown with the campaign, that story follows her through the whole thing and i remember those we've lost.

[@KnitterX]

You guys make new friends every year???

[@adriant1654]

16:00 the sniper missing 79% at a critical moment.... that's what keeps us coming back to XCOM!

[@armelior4610]

I think what makes Xcom so addictive is several things : - the double gameplay combat / base management is really well integrated (no surprise here, Firaxis also makes Civ so "one more turn = digital crack" is their thing) - the well balanced progression between your new toys and the new creatures the enemy throw at you so you have power spikes but a bit later you're back having to be very careful again, without feeling like you've been nerfed - the AI is pretty good - the soldier customisation means you get attached to them so the stakes are higher And of course despite all the screaming at 90% shot that fail, our brains are hopelessly addicted to random chances, but Xcom is hardly the only one that exploits that.

[@suddenlysarablog]

"What is it about XCOM?" - For me it's basically that you very clearly love it so much. I enjoy watching you in general, but the love and care and passion you put into your XCOM playthroughs is so palpable, it's infectious. You play it like Kasparov might play chess. Every move feels consequential. The whole thing drips with narrative and emotion.

[@exequielgaleano9947]

Completely agree with you, Odd's enjoyment is 100% contagious!!! Can't help but love his content. 😁

[@Lukuigi]

For me, xcom and xcom2 have a certain magic with their story telling that allows YOU the player to create the story during a campaign and make YOU feel like your band of soldiers saved the world. For Xcom2 You could spend more hours creating soldiers and backstories than it takes you to run through a campaign, which creates a true bond that shatters your soul when/if they bite the dust. Each campaign could a different Hunter could plague you early on and cause more problems. There’s so many dynamics that change and evolve every time you play, modded and with Covert Infiltration, there’s no other game out there with the same replay ability value. Love what you’ve done for the xcom community ODD! Thanks for continuing to keep on giving.

[@wilshireanasurimbor3068]

I think what makes XCOM so fun is the high stakes. XCOM does this in a number of ways, but I think a big part of it is the randomness of the % shots. Since you never really know if your 70% shot will hit, or if your high cover is going to be enough, basically every turn in a fire fight feels so intense. This is also what drives a lot of complaining about the game, but I think all the hidden multipliers and advantages/disadvantages that affect your hit chance, that are handled completely out of view of the player, are actually what keeps people coming back again and again. I also feel like the progression feels really good in these games. You start weak. The beginning of the game is hard, soldiers will die and there's little you can do about it. This makes you deeply attached to your surviving soldiers, which only increases the intensity of firefights. Because of all this, even when you hit power spikes and you are steamrolling a few missions, you dont lose the feeling of high stakes. Its just unrelenting, very well built from start to finish, in ways that other "xcom-like" games just dont capture.

[@ConnorLinley]

I still remember many of my soldier deaths and last stands. Battles usually play out differently with every mission and playthrough so the game doesn't get old.

[@0o0ification]

I played the Microprose games when young, and it's always a nostalgia spike for me. Tactical battles, exploring UFO and city maps, strategic problem solving on the geoscape... it's just all of the familiar ingredients of a recipe that settles my rambunctious brain into a satisfying mantra. And, the Firaxis games have such an intoxicating soundtrack as support.

[@PackAddict]

I freaking love this play through of yours! I come back for the 76% misses, your optimism and pessimism, the backstories, and your reactions and responses to wins and losses.

[@ausSwiffer]

Emela 'Herald' Winds, Personal Log #22 July 10, 2245 Well, I got the last laugh with my CO. The Skyranger had barely returned from India (which I was still present for, medical leave be damned!) when a UFO was spotted over the UK. Some skilled work by one of our pilots saw it crash down in some remote countryside and the Skyranger was back in the air. When I was given permission to still sit in on missions during my medical leave, I don't think my CO had a full day and multiple missions in mind. For the first time since the invasion began, I was almost thankful that the aliens gave us no time to rest. As hard as it has been to turn my brain off to try and reduce my stress, the India mission showed that I *can*, with some effort it must be said, be around for mission critical moments without driving myself into the ground on a constant basis. Luckily, despite a few worrying moments for our Cutter, our newest MEC, the UFO was secured without much worry. A new type of Muton took the field that somehow looks even angrier than a regular Muton but the team made sure to give it something to be angry about by capturing it; I have no idea what an alien scientist looks like, but even I would toss up who to deal with between them and Vahlen. The team also brought back one of those big brained sectoids. I laughed in the middle of the mission when the Muton was stunned and captured as the image of a child being calmed from a tantrum with a new toy came to mind, except it was Vahlen and an alien body. I don't think I will try and explain that to anyone. Maybe the psych. What my medical leave did mean that as soon as the mission was wrapped up, I was allowed to leave. I know I will have to catch up on the debriefing notes once I return but for now, my leave means no debriefs, which gives me more time even when the aliens are this active. Enough time to have some actual, proper social contact beyond trying to keep injured soldiers spirits up with sweet treats. Jayko, one of the 'blueshirts' as base security calls themselves was on break at the same time and we got to chatting. It was a little awkward at first; I am not too proud to admit that I am *terrible* when it comes to conversing with others, so much so the psych is convinced my 'doughtnut fairy' thing is some kind of defence mechanism. Once the ice was broken, though, it was...good. Really good. I actually enjoyed talking with someone else about what is happening. It turns out, I am not the only one on base that has issues. Shocking right? I was familiar with Jayko from his public logs, which the strategy team always read because multiple perspectives are important. While he doesn't seem to be suffering the fatigue that has weighed me down, as base security his function is one that often seems hardly necessary. Base security where the biggest trouble we have ever had are loud mouths like Valentino big noting themselves? One thing I have never had to deal with is feeling like what I do doesn't matter or seems pointless. He feels the dread of anticipation that never seems to pay off, though; we are both fairly certain that one day the aliens will find this base and will attempt to do what we did to theirs but between us, only he has to assume that it will happen imminently every time he clocks on to work. I (begrudgingly) accepted his point that down time is important and that having *something* that isn't work to occupy ones thoughts with is helpful. I suppose in a small way, that is what these logs have been, even if I know (or at least hope) no one else will ever see them. It was also nice to know the worries I have about my parents are shared. I mean, of course they are and that seems obvious now, but when you spend as much time in your own head as I have done in my life, getting that perspective can be hard at times. He is lucky enough to have his dad on base, but has plenty of other family and friends back in Canada and they pulled out of the Xcom project while we were still getting our feet under us. Australia at least still holds faith and has been (mostly) left alone. I feel better than I have in a long time and, for once, the success of our soldiers and the quality of my work only makes up a small part of it. Now if only these aliens would go away so. What a birthday present that would be! -E AUTHOR NOTE: As noted in his log, collaborated with Deadput for this one and it was a lot of fun to develop the situation around the base a bit more beyond Emelas own mind.

[@TheSaberra]

What I love about XCOM... I adore it's estetics, cartoony nostalgic aliens from older sci-fiction movies, with flying saucers, big eyes and heads, oversized guns etc. It doesn't try to reinvent science fiction alien genre, it captures what we all love about it. The balance of power is really nice, it feels like a battlefield where soldiers are struggling yet chances are still even (if you dont make mistakes), it's anyones game as both yours and alien guns are real and deadly. Additional changes like unsure shots and missed opportunities are an extra dose of adrenaline, as at an exam where you may have come prepered yet you are still unsure. The most important thing is, however, game mechanic. It's easy to understand and to follow. You have view from above, cover, percentage to hit... Just like a sport game in tv or on a stadium, you instinctively know the rules, follow the ball and have fun. It's easy to realise what is being done and planned, what's a good move, where was a mistake made. Game's pacing is perfect, you have, as a viewer just enough time to realise what's going on without getting bored.

[@dengkeunlimited]

I keep coming back to XCOM, especially when watching good XCOM being played because of the stakes in the game that keep it exciting. It's an emotional rollercoaster and a story being written together. The mechanics for the game are also deep, so there's always plenty to learn and master to get better. In other games the stakes aren't really there. If you lose a stage, you just replay it. Here, if you lose a mission, you keep going.

[@EdwardSwardt]

Regarding your question: XCOM is, simply put, the most well-rounded and well developed title amongst others in its genre. My only wish is that they would come out sooner, since games like Phoenix Point and Gears Tactics have some really nice features that have evolved from those in XCOM, but with added clunk. In other words, I want to see these evolutions (or better) in newer XCOM games since XCOM just seems to run the best and be the most accessible.

[@steelvenom8479]

I love XCOM because it rewards you for playing well, while punishing every last mistake.

[@edgarrobinson1474]

and that's what makes it "fun"

[@derkhart6019]

Totally agree,if it was easy,we wouldn't ome back.

[@gingja]

I love xcom but I don't play it often but when you play it it's like I have to as well because your joy of it is so infectious

[@bazou2263]

'lastly cutter, or whats left of you' well he certainly did get cut alright 😆

[@darkokat]

The only thing that I can think of is there was some bug with your mods (probably the auto target) that allowed you to hit the sectoid commander even though he wasn't on screen

[@reav3rtm]

Or LoS mod.

[@hiroshihull8826]

I like the personality, of the enemies, the base members, and that the audience can imbue into their characters. I also like a large amount of audience interaction in your campaigns specifically. To see other people in the game itself, and to see their reactions to these turns of events. very fun. Also the off chance of hearing "OH MY ATLANTA" as you experience a total squad wipe.

[@bhe915]

I come back because I remember playing X-COM: UFO Defense with my friend when it first came out in 1994 when we were 13 / 14 years old on PC. We had loads of fun. I still watch some people play the old versions.

[@hairlip2112]

Right after you asked the question about why we love X-Com. A main part of the question was answered when the Berserker, Mutons and Thin Men appeared, LoL.

[@billtang79]

@12:14 When the two extra pods shows up making the game from a strategy game to a horror game. And then at @18:33 when somehow RNG gods showed a little kindness. That makes Xcom so amazing.

[@BroadMeadowLuck2]

Each soldier is as unique as you want to make them and each campaign writes a unique story about those unique soldiers that can be a story of overcoming difficult situations.

[@bfwebster]

Netflix, Amazon: Watch our many fine series! Me: Meh. (checks KZbin) Has Odd released a new EW video yet?

[@kungfumidget]

The line of sight indicator uses an invisible sectoid

[@shreknet]

The reason why both the old and new XCOMs work is because of the fantasy... They replicated the idea of defending the Earth against an alien incursion so well. The gameplay on both is insane as well.

[@derpdailygaming1414]

This is one of the best parts of my day, made me go back and watch xcom2 playthrus. Thank you Mr odd.

[@Andrew.gribbin]

Watching XCOM reminds me of my childhood watching a friend play on their Amiga, I didn't own an Amiga but loved watching them play this and Syndicate wishing I had a computer. This ultimately led to me getting a PC back in 1997 when my parents could afford one :D.

[@SarahCharles92]

@7:00 What other games lack is purely the level of detail at both layers of the system: tactical and strategic. I love the base building AND the turn-based combat. I love the variety of enemies that you can have with "aliens" and the different styles of approaches that different aliens warrant. I also love the modding community around XCOM. Long War and Long War 2 both make XCOM 1 & 2 so much better at being even more XCOM

[@davetinks1787]

Bradford @36:21: "Things are heating up out there - we're tracking multiple unidentified targets". * gets base defense tingles *

[@OutlawDin0]

What I love about Xcom is the power creep. I love how insanely powerful fully kitted out units can be.

[@jppauley9969]

In this episode: The aliens learn the meaning of the phrase, "That's XCOM baby!"

[@OnlineKenji]

Hehe, after watching from the beginning and seeing how brutal the campaign was at the start, I'm enjoying seeing things be a little less bleak 😀

[@absentialucci]

Interceptor Pilot, Claudia Seamus Log 15 I made good on my word to myself, I waited until the Skyranger returned, everyone unharmed. I called attention to Colonel Laitinen, said I needed to speak with him, he told me to follow up with him later, he needed to finish his debriefing first. I was almost relieved... I could put it off for a bit longer. It's... intimidating, speaking with a colonel. I'll probably find him at the range later on, he spends a lot of time there. End Log.

[@jimulatt7215]

Xcom is a game you continuously learn as you play. Its like a 3 credit college course. I remember the first time I found out flashbangs in Xcom 2 will break mind control or how special ammo works with pistols. They dont tell you everything about the equipment, guns, or skills. They just let you figure it out on your own. This makes for great replayability--especially on a tougher difficulty setting / Ironman mode. Its like you as the player is leveling up to colonel (leg/Ironman+mods)!

[@biffgordon5866]

It's the narrative, the stories. Every campaign is different, you never know who's going to be the heroes or even legends (looking at you Locksley). Either playing with a random character pool or entirely your own the stories will be written. That's the quintessence of XCOM.

[@TheSuperColonel]

Support with deep pockets gets 3 arch thrower uses and with a sprinter and skeleton suit can also move very far. Flashbang grenades can be very useful to aid capture or to prevent dmg due to -50 aim. Againts weak enemies you can facetank a shot. Especially MECs in Xcom 1 you only take wound time if your health is damaged, armor dmg is fine.

[@herrikudo]

7:20 ish To answer your question Odd, I adore tactical games like XCOM. But this game in particular allows me to play with my friends and make characters for us all. We set up on like skype or discord and stream the game and make decisions together about how to tackle missions, research, base building, etc. Its an absolute blast.

[@heysamuelhere2733]

I personally love XCOM being the sci-fi alien "souls-like" turned based game. Might sound strange. But I love the difficulty and how unforgiving the game can be. I love all the options and customization, in both classes and looks of your soldiers. Besides, it's all just cool.

[@busybard]

"Oh, I forgot about that!" -- it's the thing we all come here for. ❤ That, and the educational tidbits about the French language.

[@MazeMouse]

I suffer through all the little annoyances with XCOM (and XCOM2) because no single other game captures the feel in a tactical turn-based SciFi combat game. There's different games I enjoy, like Battletech. But that's just different enough to scratch a completely different itch. The emergent storylines mean no two playthroughs are the same. When stuff goes right you can snowball our of control. When it goes wrong it can quickly spiral out of control. And both can happen in a single playthrough. And it can all happen by losing your most experienced (and upgraded) soldier due to a stupidly overconfident move. Or making the wrong choice early in research which causes you to fall behind.

[@roberthill5549]

XCOM is never the same game twice. The AI is good. You have an idea of what the enemy is capable of, and what they will probably do, but you can be surprised by them often. The enemy units have distinct personalities, and the game gives short little cutscenes when you see them that can be quite intimidating. All the tactical cutscenes are integrated well, and you see *your* characters in them. Great for immersion. All supporting chatacters are unique and consistent. They are also well acted. The physics are pretty impressive. Agile units appear agile. Heavy units move and *feel* like they have weight and momentum behind them. If a Muton or Berserker moved like an Advent soldier, they would be less intimidating. The sound design is fantastic. The music and sound effects always seem to blend together correctly. Honestly, the only thing that would enrich XCOM more would be variation in the endgame. Everything always comes down to the exact same ending. I'm sure there could be a handful of endings that could be written that would all make sense for the next installment.

[@gosiapawowska5053]

I knew XCOM since Enemy Unknown and Terror from the Deep that my big bro was playing (and I tried myself but I was a kid and the game was to hard for me). Nevertheless, turn based tactic games were never my thing. I've always been fan of more story-heavy games. However, a friend of mine recommended XCOM to me and I instantly fell in love with it. One of the reasons is this amazing feeling of constant arms race between you and enemies. I also loved learning how to deal with different types of enemies and this fear and excitement whenever new type showed up because suddenly there was huge unknown on the battlefield. But above all none other of the "xcom-type" games were able to create this feeling of attachment I had for the soldiers. I don't know how they did it but even though the soldiers are just bunch of stats and different types of armor, yet they always felt like they somehow develop personalities. There is always that one amazing sniper that somehow misses in the most crucial moments; that super reliable support that keeps team alive when shit hits the fan and everybody panics; or those two guys that somehow always seem to save each others lives... Before I knew it I was creating little stories in my head about them, little scenes that happen in-between missions or imagining scenes from the battlefield and little movie shots. Or the stories were writing themselves with in-game events. And I thought that it's just me and my obsession with stories that stems from consuming way too much cRPGs and TTRPGs. And then I stumbled upon your channel and saw all the logs and RP in the comments and I was even more amazed. That wasn't just me and my hyperactive imagination - it's just XCOM magic. And I fell in love in it even more. I replayed XCOM 2 (which for various reasons I prefer to first one) a few times and each and every playthrough felt like a new story. Almost like an TTRPG campaign :) And that is the real reason why I love XCOM and hope every year I'll hear news about next installment.

[@vikkiwax4992]

"What a freakin' gift..." said in near religious tones was by far my favorite part 😂

[@thecenturion4753]

I keep coming back due to the bonds you have with the soldiers you send into battle.

[@yunchunsa]

The RNG in XCOM is what makes it fun to watch. Kinda like seeing how a DND campaign plays out.

[@suggestiveartefacts3956]

Why I like XCOM - XCOM is art, and art imitates life. It's used the fictional premise of an alien invasion but has grounded it in real life nations, and (moreso in XCOM2, The Bureau and even Chimera Squad) also indirectly forces to player to confront surprisingly heavy real world themes like totalitarianism, police state surveillance, genetic modification, bigotry etc etc. Everything the aliens have done to humans in the games, we have done to each other in real life. We like to imagine that we can be better than this. That, and being able to create and share our characters. My next favorite XCOM-like game is actually Mutant: Year Zero, with a distinct, very fun and compelling setting and amusing characters, but it falls short because of the lack of character customization.

[@suggestiveartefacts3956]

Habiba ‘Squirrel’ Ibrahim Log 4 When I eventually recovered from my wounds, I spent the downtime at HQ going over the footage of the Alien base assault and the recent Operation Unceasing Thunder. Cutter as a MEC…for all his new mass and armor, was nearly lost; but the rest of the squad returned unhurt. I fully understand that the Commander wants to focus on mission success and honing the most experienced soldiers on the roster and am not keen on being rushed out into a firefight I’m too experienced for, but dang…all that juicy alien tech…I would have liked to have a closer look… I did get into one of the dead muton’s stuff though, and once the science team were certain I wasn’t taking some juicy new toy they had to dissect, got to keep a small packet of what turned out to be the brute’s field rations. I guess I should have expected that it would be some amorphous, nutritionally-complete, rectangular block of what’s-it, being compressed for easy storage and preservation for space travel. I took a tiny bite out of it first…it wasn’t terrible, I guess? The best description would be something like corn with a slightly fishy aftertaste. Waited a day to make sure I didn’t drop dead or poop my guts out, then chopped it into cubes, rolled it in batter, and deep-fried it with spring onion. That turned it from ‘not terrible’ to ‘okay’. I’m bringing it to the mess later to see what the others think.

[@wicklander855]

I love your enthusiasm Commander. Your at you very best when you play XCOM.

[@lordmuaddib]

the first time i played the original ufo xcom was on a very old, slow and monocrome(!!) 386 when working overtime. the fear in every corner, the creepy bgm, the base management and research. it was and still is an awesome experience. the remakes are different, lots has changed, something went lost but there's a nice tradeoff, and the original feeling is still there, amazingly so. if there are similar games with a similar game structure on a different setting.. (fantasy, whatever) i would love to try some!

[@SockimusPrime]

I think a lot of XCOM comes down to the customizability and attachment to your soldiers, coupled with permadeath. A lot of games lift XCOM's combat system, but make the game about named characters who will come back the next mission if they go down. And that's not always a bad thing - I honestly think Catalyst Games is my runner up to Firaxis for best XCOM-like games. The Shadowrun Returns series has named characters, but the general RPG feel and the quality of writing really makes it one of the most memorable series I've played. Likewise, I think Battletech really brings a solid XCOM vibe - permadeath isn't quite as likely, but the threat is always present. A lot of other games can feel like XCOM with no teeth, you know what I'm saying? The stakes aren't as high.

[@Ghost0fTheNavigator]

So good to see the turbulence starting to subside with this campaign. Things are still tense, but I'm not anticipating a death every single episode... though I really thought Cutter might bite it with all those active enemies. Happy to be proven wrong. I love XCOM because it never really feels like it gets old, every campaign can be different, with different heroes, different situations, new strategies, and it's always fun. Plus, thanks to mods, the game really can be different with every run! It's the game that keeps on giving.

[@jeffreygriffith6157]

Unfortunate sequence of events and mistakes anyone could make. Only one person carrying a medkit, sending your only other Support trooper with triple medkits on an Exalt mission. I've been there and done dummer. I do question the dense smoke, some great perks just have to be ignored for the greater good. You play at nosebleed difficulty and do great; I hope not taking the triple medkit doesn't come back to bite you. Cheer up, I watched ;your XCOM 2 playthrough where you had one of your troopers get mind controlled and threw a grenade killing her and another; then later in the campaign you had a squad wipe. So hey it's not so bad. Buckle up!

[@allanpeter7700]

12:50 I think the better move was to shoot the berserker so it could come towards you instead of making the mech trooper run towards danger and possibly triggering more enemies

[@bjornnordquist1616]

X-Com is so emotional. Picture yourself staring at the Geoscape hoping that there won't be another mission. Which is absolutely crazy considering why would one want to play a game that you don't want to play? It's the same with the misses and deaths there's a feeling that I just enjoy to overcome and get that rewarding "I did it!" moment.

[@ItsCDoc]

Xcom has a undeniable cool factor that cannot be replicated too simple

[@twinodoom]

*-Justin Rodriguez, XCOM Science Team-* One of our Squads was able to capture a Sectoid Commander alive, along with a more aggressive Muton. The Muton Berserker was obviously modified from the other Mutons we've encountered, and less knowledgeable. But interrogating the Sectoid Commander gave us insight into their Psionic abilities. If we can find a soldier capable of harnessing those powers, the potential will be considerable. The nature of warfare will could change.

[@NexusTrimean]

Good news for you, it looks like the thin men have upgraded to actual plasma rifles, so more capture opportunities.

[@kylethetileguy521]

And 20 second later Odd" now we have serious issues" love this game.

[@NL2500]

The story line is so good, a pleasure to watch

[@MrPomwarlock]

For me, it’s the sheer level of customisation, personalisation, the complexity for squad builds, the diversity of enemies, and the fact it’s a turn based tactics game. But the cinematic action & the randomised chances is just amazing. All in all, it’s just a fantastic game

[@fencerdurandal1716]

That's a great question, Odd. I love this genre and have played a ton of games in it - Battletech being my other favorite - but it really boils down to a couple of things. First, XCOM is an incredibly polished game. Great performance, controller support, only a handful of rare bugs (including one seen in this video!), great visuals, great tactical gameplay, great strategic layer gameplay, and a great range of difficulty options that allows you to "climb the ranks" so to speak as your play improves. Second, XCOM is a very CONSUMABLE game: you can play a mission in around 20-40 minutes, typically, and then pause if you like. Loading up the game, loading into a mission, enemy turns, etc. are quick and painless - which I cannot say for Battletech. XCOM campaigns also have a disctinct end point where they are finished and you can decide to move on to a different game or start a new run; again, Battletech just continues until you decide you're bored with it. Now, don't get me wrong, Battletech has plenty of amazing things going for it too. I dislike XCOM's "you accidentally activated a pod, now pay the price" gameplay, and I also dislike how fragile your soldiers typically are. Battletech's combat slows things down on that front but also has no healing mid-mission - so managing your mechs' armor levels turns into another layer of tactics. My perfect game would likely be somewhere in-between these two extremes, and we did get a game that was close: Chimera Squad. I LOVED the systems implemented in Chimera Squad, from removing "pod activation" and replacing it with the breach sequences, to making turns rotate so every battle wasn't one-sided. However, the game felt closer to a tech demo than a full-fledged campaign like XCOM2. The replayability was just not there with Chimera Squad. And since it was less popular, we never really got any amazing mods for it either, like in XCOM2.

[@Oni1975]

For me it's nostalgia trip just watching others play XCOM. I cut my teeth on the original Microprose X-COM UFO Defense, and the sci-fi + aliens setting is squarely in my wheelhouse. Finally, the unique art style (including UI) makes a difference as well.

[@Nick1979BN]

XCOM is memories for me - even if the game is totally different from its first in the 90s. The sciencing up the tech tree, the gathering of alien bodies and captees (?), building the base, equipping the soldiers - it just feels well done. After accepting the small and big changes they made to the gameplay I simply embraced it as a worthy reincarnation. It also for me has a very good balance between story and freeplay, the story flows into your game and in some places you can even avoid it - even though the game doesnt stop getting harder without you keeping up, but after doing all the research one could basically play endlessly with a fully equipped and skilled team just for funsies. The power spikes are usually not for long and even in the end you still have to think about how to get out of the mess your confident dumbass brain got you into at times. *) *) I typed this when you asked the question, not after what happened around 12:00 .. :o)

[@BroadMeadowLuck2]

Each campaign is a blank slate on which your team can make its unique mark!!!❤❤🎉🎉🎉

[@raider363]

For me it's the brutal difficulty and base management in addition to the tactical gameplay. The amount of mods are awesome too for different feelings with the same game. I do look forward to checking out more tactics games from you through for sure.

[@starjadiancloneinvestigato1772]

xcom just scratches that itch of team based tactics crossed with the satisfaction of "solving" a turn by making the most optimal decisions given many options. It's the exact same as another game I know you enjoyed, Into The Breach

[@michaelray3865]

For me, Xcom done well is truly well integrated both tactically and strategically. These firaxis games have even taken the role-play possibilities up two notches, while retaining the best elements of the classic microprose games.

[@jonmac1987]

That feeling when you make squaddies of your mates and they die in game then you see them in real life and you get sad all over again.

[@zistix1993]

Xcom just has such a great formula that I could legit play it all day and still wanna keep going, unlike other games where I might play a max of like 2-3 hours or something like Gmod where I pop into it for 30 minutes to try like 2 addons. I've been doing my own EW Campaign since I saw this one and my god is it so fun, I am only on Normal diff so the challenge isn't that much high but man it is still so fun. I plan on doing a Classic diff Campaign after this one, that should have some real challenge. Xcom 2 is an even bigger thing, what with the higher level of customization, the hero classes, the mods(especially the mods), it's honestly pretty overwhelming the power you have in Xcom 2 to do whatever you want with it, Make it Star Wars themed, fill it with 1000+ mods for maximum chaos, or what I sometimes do just spend 2 hours filling my character pool with friends family and characters from my favorite medias. I hope Xcom continues to live on for years to come, hell I'd love a EW remaster or something that gave it the same mod support as Xcom 2. That would be freaking gold. Kinda wish I gave you a soldier for this campaign but eh, there's always the Xcom 2 one which I'll have more freedom over. Can't wait for that

[@askfrex]

Last one Cutter.. or the rest of you. SAVAGE!!!

[@MisterWretham]

What is it about XCOM? I play it very casually, but I watch your xcom games fanatically. The risk that you can lose it all, that sense of little accomplishments and ... surviving that makes it so fun to be a part of. I just love it. Go save the world, Commander.

[@KatzeRegi]

33:06 Using the collateral damage on the 3HP Sectoid Commander was a misplay. Stun probability is 90% from 3HP. So a better play would have been Stun on 3HP, punch the other, clean up with sniper, if Stun fails

[@WanoReborn]

I love XCOM since Enemy Uknown. For me it is constant development / management, and of course the thrill of missions. I discovered you because of moded XCOM 2 campaigns, and have been enjoying your content! Keep it up, Commander!

[@exequielgaleano9947]

Above all what I enjoy the most is your style, especially when you're playing something you clearly like. The way you love Xcom feels absolutely real and I think that's what keeps me hooked. I really like how things turn into a horror movie every now and then, never knowing when. Of course I love the action too, but that aspect feels similar to other "xcom-like" games. Even if each has it's own flavour, the rush I get feels pretty similar. Although, the rush from Xcom always comes with that bit of dread looming around. That's the main difference I can think of. Then, the way you build the characters, the way they don't seem to be simply soldiers to you, the way you pretty much make a whole story around them even if it's not the main element of the videos. Well, all those are the main things I can highlight, but there's also other "smaller" things for me. So, many, many thanks for the series Odd!!! 😁

[@Shininku]

It's the customization (and modding which enhances it) that sets it apart from it's peers. I will never get as attached to "Main Character group" as I will to a character that I spent an hour customizing, thinking of names, writing a back story for, and sometimes even downloading a specific costume that is a waste of space just for that one character. However this is a sentiment I have to all games, not just "XCOM"-like games. Not to mention how much mods greatly enhance the replayability. I've been able to fight in a Star Wars theme, Warhammer40K, Mass Effect, and have so many different customization options from a shockingly high amount of different franchises; even Girls Frontline, Neptunia, Fire Emblem, and Persona; the latter three of which don't even fit, but having those voices and options still go a long way of making the campaign feel just a little different each time. Other games just seem to lack these options. It's why Crown Wars is the first that I'm excited for, because it has, at least, the customization aspect, if it has mods it might really be able to hit my all time installed list. But based on the demo, it feels like it might be too story heavy which, for me, specifically for these type of "XCOM" games, lowers replayability if the story is too heavily influenced. The story in XCOM is there basically only as objectives to win and it's still fairly vague with a lot of details which gives a lot of room that even say fighting the Galactic Empire or the Reapers (Mass Effect) could fit in and not feel completely out of place.

[@millbrook33]

To me, it's that nothing else manages to balance on that knife edge between total success and utter disaster quite like XCOM. As this mission proved, things can go sideways at any moment. That "Oh god, we're all going to die" dread in the pit of your stomach and then managing to find a way out of it (or not). There's no other game that gives you that experience quite as well.

[@user-su3rf6po2r]

I honestly just come back because I enjoy winning after the hell it puts you through at the start

[@DavisCentis]

I enjoy you playing Xcom, and always catch all your replays of it, because I've played Xcom, so I know it. But it's ALSO because you have made it so that the soldiers listed here generate their own stories whilst being fan-submitted. When I watch you play other games, I don't get as connected to you or to the characters like I do with Xcom. I did love the Warhammer play through because I'm a warhammer junkie, but that's it.

[@martintyrmer5484]

For me, the most XCOM like game is Darkest dungeon 1. Doesn't matter on the type of combat. It's the suspense, fear of the unknown, careful map exploring, utmost importance of preparing for a mission, rng screwing you over and random characters that you customize and get attached to that can die permanently. High stakes, moments of triumpf and tragedy, overconfidence and anxiousnes and fear that upcoming challenges might be too much for your righteous soldiers. You can literally say this about both of these games and you would be right.

[@OnlineKenji]

To me Xcom is still the standard, because it was first and the mix of base management, field activities, and game rules are just magnificent. Now don't get me wrong, other games have innovated on the combat and made for some incredibly enjoyable experiences (e.g. JA3 - which I replayed immediately after finishing the campaign the first two times!) , but I don't think I've played anything else that has quite the same level in both the meta game and the combat as Xcom/Xcom2 (especially with WOTC).

[@Pr0digalKnight]

tactical chess, your soldiers are your buddies, the game mechanics are SO dam good

[@Trog16]

"Mech is in big trouble" After also saying, I was worried about moving forward, and then charging the mech, hmm. . . . and right after that comment, I see Odd totally survive! Well looks like I need a helping of humble pie for sure. :)

[@HMCS876]

Every time I play it’s always something different and keeps you thinking.

[@thewave2025]

I own the original XCom in the box and have played XCom LW a few times over the years (it's a LONG game!). One thing I like about the game that has not been mentioned so far (I wholeheartedly agree with other comments BTW) is there is some planning required for success but not so much to take away from the tactical experience. For this playthrough versus Odd's last XCom LW playthrough many years ago is that his lack of planning *pre-recording* which leads to mistakes at the base or his musings/questions on camera that detract from the experience. Compare these recordings with his ones before. A little effort pre-recording would mitigate this. I know he's busy (we all are) but I wish he would put in a little more focus/priority on this series. Thanks for reading.

[@kinglysandus]

What is it about XCom? For me it is the Asymmetrical nature of Aliens vs Soldiers. Each new Alien has new capabilities, and when combined with the darkness shrouding their moves,(especially with the intense, throbbing music in the Microprose original,) It leads to a truly unique experience. Combine that with the way that you are driving the way the missions happen with research, where you shoot down the UFOs, and it makes for an experience that I love, even when it is Xenonauts or Phoenix Point.

[@bhe915]

I like the tile based games you and others play.

[@RatoInsano]

What makes XCOM special to me is everything. Every time I see someone calling something "XCOM-like" it just means turn based combat on a grid with cover, and XCOM is so much more than that. • It's the mix of the strategy and tactical layers. • The random and procedural nature of everything, giving not only incredible replayability but also letting you tell different stories with each run. If a game has premade and fixed characters I instantly lose some interest in it. I like my random characters with random stats (never play without Not Created Equal), that get into random classes and that can die. • The research and development, I chose what to prioritize and what to build, sometimes I do the same thing, sometimes I prioritize different things, depending on how I find myself in the game with the random different things that happen. • The customization, not only of the soldiers, both in appearance but abilities, but as well as the base itself. • The constant scalating threat that needs you to keep up with it, with each new breakthrough in tech feeling like an earned power boost to keep up, if not to get ahead. • The varied soldiers and teams you can form. • The huge and awesome modding community doesn't hurt either. And more! To me the only games I would ever call "XCOM-like" are Xenonauts and Phoenix Point. There might be others like those out there but those are the ones I know.

[@u-jin2030]

I'm not playing xcom, in fact i once completed bouth games and done with it, but i do enjoy watching your runs from time to time.

[@jonpickens3965]

Not a clue on your glitch, sorry. On Xcom: Like the mix of interception, ground action, and base-building. Like both the player and modding communities. Really like your superb series (like Pokemon--gotta catch 'em all). And the original game was a particular favorite of mine, especially the old soundtrack, so there is a lot of residual good will from the original version. I'll play the wannabes (I include "Chimera" here), but I keep coming back to the classic. Congrats on a great mission. IMO you took too many grenades and not nearly enough arc throwers, so your weapon take was nonexistant, but you got a sectoid commander AND a berserker, and that is HUGE. Well done. Re: Stims. Worth it, but you have to plan, not just yahoo in. Boosts WILL +40, cuts DAMAGE 50% AND NO CRITS, (did I mention the +3 MOVE bonus?). * 2+ uses per stim (you are guaranteed two, and may have more, you decide on how much you risk running out). Lasts 2 rounds per use, and you lose an action shooting up, so best for set-piece assaults. * It does make closing on a mechtoid, sectopod, or psionic a lot more survivable, especially if you are out of smoke or don't have a disabling shot handy. * A good late game item, especially if you have a 50 Will Heavy going up against an ethereal and you either don't have enough meld for "Neural Dampening", or haven't killed enough ethereals for Mind Shields all around. * Good insurance for low-Will individuals you want to take into the later game. Also the movement boost isn't a bad counter for the aliens moving out of reach of your arc thrower guys. I did wince a little when you made a Smoke & Mirrors guy. Hope you have at least two Support already that pack three medkits each. I didn't, and got to play a full last-half game (including the Temple Ship assault) without a dedicated medic. I think you may find your Snap Shot sniper more effective than your range guy, late game. IMO, you should have spent on the new sniper's gear instead of taking it off a better trooper. That base hit is coming up, and I think you might have made your better guy vulnerable. If you want more plasma weapons before the base assault, I'd take out your range sniper for the disable shot (two with double tap) and as many supports as possible for smoke. I consider bagging alien weapons a two-turn puzzle (three, with stim use), and approach accordingly. The aliens will not let you close with arc throwers if they can help it--I always expect to eat a round of fire at close range when going for a stun. Dense smoke is the best defense, combat stim would probably keep damage minimal and to armor. I probably trust the armor to take the damage more than you do 🙂. Great episode as usual.

[@Chooch1080]

Great job with the caotures!!!

[@jodhweijoundica3453]

please get in the zone with that sniper, you can move him, get free kills, then hunker down or move him back, they'll be 100 to hit 100 crit in a lot of situations so you can math it out

[@ShingamiRei]

Damn, that AI thinking was lucky. I thought you gonna lose the MEC.

[@whitelightningtwisterdrago7834]

I missed the old school horror and unknown feeling of being surprised and ambushed. The theme and atmosphere is missing in the recent games, the communications from central as annoying they are make it feel as if you are a real group trying to make a difference likewise the setup. If there was more maps and more content in enemy unknown including enemy within this game would be perfect. If they released a map pack for this game with like over 60 maps, it'd sell like mad.

[@ft7758]

19:05 You better go and buy a lottery ticket... :D

[@okeson9301]

XCOM just has that feel. It's a roller coaster ride every time. You're weak and struggling until you're over powered and randomly find that thing that evens the playing field. The ups and downs and the atmosphere is what makes these games great. Just 1 more upgrade, I need my upgrades fix.

[@jeffmine2285]

There is the right amount of randomness so that it is not too "Samey" and the randomness of the characters and their abilities makes it more replayable.

[@Bannedinlyfe]

It's the action figure deal that keeps people coming back. Having a group of your own. With their own skills that you can control in battle and setup before battle. The whole thing is awesome. Kids these days have no idea how cool the games are they have these days.

[@TheLordSarek]

X-Com just has a "je ne sais quoi"! Been playing it since Terror from the Deep (back when I didn't read or speak english). Other games can't measure up to it and I don't know exactly why.

[@aneru9396]

7:09 Honestly, I think it’s the level of polish that Xcom 1 and 2 have that keeps me watching streams of it-and an interesting setting, I’m not much of a fan of Historical games. Lamplighters League was super interesting as a setting, and I watched all your videos on it, but the polish that game has came off as cheap (Picture stills as cutscenes, Little people statically talking to each other in base, picture stills when talking to the base vendors, etc). The polish Xcom Enemy within and Xcom 2 has really bring out the feeling that you’re commanding a large effort against an unknown-then known force (ex the Base cutscene with everyone clapping), while the stuff that happens inside the missions come with their own little cutscenes and camera focuses that are shot in a way to better communicate the cinematic feeling-which very much helps me get invested in the world. Oh-and the constant will they lose, will they win, tug of war some streamers have with this game (ex Xcomaddict on twitch) also helps.

[@skylar9046]

Logistics Tactical Officer "Ruby" Log 29. Date: July 11, 2015. Whatever the research and engineering team are doing, it sure is working! Our MEC Trooper managed to take a burst of plasma and have it absorbed by the exoskeleton, and the Arc Thrower worked its magic. The soldiers came back with two captives - a Muton in red armor and one of those Sectoids... but both look very different. The Muton's helmet doesn't expose the head, and was seen carrying some sort of... claw-like weapon. I don't think we should get pulverized by something of that size with a weapon like that. No clue what kind of bloodshed that would cause. As for that Sectoid... that head is enormous. Ridiculously so. Felt a headache across the base earlier. I wonder if that has to do with it... Whatever Dr. Vahlen's interrogation methods are, they sure are efficient. It's something that I won't deny. Nor do I want to end up on the other end of those. Hell only knows what goes down there. Might as well be. That place would be a mess to be around. Hardly any time to rest, though. Gotta get back on the job and monitor a new request from the Council. A scientist who needs extraction in Egypt. We could use all the people helping us... guess we should see what this is all about. I don't know them, but if the Council wants to get them out, they must be important.

[@Vognee]

“Let’s bring a Cutter, or at least what left of him” 🤕