Big Download Blog

Developer: Mythos Games
Publisher: Microprose
Platform: Windows
Original Release: 31 December 1993
Available From: Steam

X-COM: UFO Defense tasks you with managing a global corporation created by a combination of countries to fight off a newly discovered alien threat. The backstory, as you can tell, is very cheesy, but the story of the game itself is told by the actions you undertake as the leader of this corporation. In a way, X-COM is one of the first sandbox games, and the lack of story, tutorial, or motivating influence besides "save the world" can cripple some players. If there is one major weakness behind X-COM, it is this lack of drive or guiding force to push the players in the right direction. This is what gives X-COM the oft-referred to "difficulty curve from hell". It's even more pronounced in the sequel, but that is a whole 'nother bag of tricks. 23/03/09