played for you

XCOM

Fend off aliens in real time

You are a member of the elite international organization XCOM, defend mankind and fending off an alien invasion. A digital App is the central element of the game and controls the Alien invasion. Each player controls one character in the game – the Commander coordinates the budget and sends interceptor planes against UFOs. The Head of Research does alien autopsies and researches new technologies. The Central officer directs satellites, administrates the App and provides information for all players. The Squad Leader sends XCOM soldiers into missions and defends headquarter.

A round of the game begins with a real-time phase, in which the app provides information on the Aliens - UFOs appear, crisis cards are drawn and Aliens attack. Soldiers defend Earth, UFOs are shot down, technologies are explored, surveillance data are collected and communication channels blocked. When all resources have been assigned, the real-time phase ends and each section is evaluated/scored using a dice system based on luck and risk management. UFOs remaining on the board trigger world-wide panic and destroyed interceptors and fallen soldiers need to be replaced.

If you want to experience the enormous density and thrill of the game you need to play it, each description is only a hopeless attempt. The app is sensational, enables a quick access and works well throughout the game; board, miniatures and other components provide flair and atmosphere. Despite cooperative play you need to take many decisions on your own and take them fast! Those decisions under pressure of time make everything even more realistic and make for a huge challenge.

Players: 1-4

Age: 14+

Time: 120+

Designer: Eric M. Lang

Artist: not named

Price: ca. 45 Euro

Publisher: Heidelberger Spieleverlag 2015

Web: www.heidelbaer.de

Genre: cooperative, real-time, SciFi

Users: For experts

Special: 1 player

Version: de

Rules: de en es fr pl

In-game text: yes

Comments:

Fantastic game

Seamless interplay of app and other components

Topic marvelously implemented

Good tutorial

Compares to:

Escape, Space Alert

Other editions:

Fantasy Flight Games,t Edge Entertainment, Giochi Uniti, Galakta

Chance (pink): 3

Tactic (turquoise): 2

Strategy (blue): 1

Creativity (dark blue): 1

Knowledge (yellow): 0

Memory (orange): 0

Communication (red): 3

Interaction (brown): 3

Dexterity (green): 0

Action (dark green): 0