Verdict
XCOM 2 is a difficult and engrossing turn-based tactical shooter, and seeing it working on the the Nintendo Switch may be very spectacular. However, there are a selection of efficiency points right here, together with immersion-shattering body charge drops and frustratingly lengthy loading occasions. There’s little question that XCOM 2 is finest performed on a PC with a keyboard and mouse, but when the Switch is your solely gaming platform then that is nonetheless a worthwhile purchase, albeit an costly one.
Pros
Rewarding tactical fight
Addictive administration system
Lots of DLC and enlargement content material
Seeing XCOM 2 working on Switch is a marvel
Cons
Performance points
Long loading occasions
Controls and UI navigation are awkward with Joy-Cons
Key Specifications
Review Price: £39.99
Genre: Strategy
Developer: Firaxis Games, Virtuos
Release date: May 29, 2020
XCOM 2 is broadly considered one of many easiest PC video games launched throughout the final decade, so to see it arrive on the transportable Nintendo Switch is kind of the marvel.
A variety of compromises have been made to make this port doable although, with a shaky frame-rate efficiency reminding us of the Switch’s unlucky {hardware} limitations.
The XCOM 2 Collection for Nintendo Switch additionally resurrects the query of how far builders ought to go when porting a sport over to an alien platform. While port knowledgeable Virtuos has achieved a terrific job getting XCOM 2 working on the Switch, not sufficient has been achieved to assist the alien shooter’s transition to the small display, with subtitles too small and essential UI overlays usually shunted out of view.
If you wish to play XCOM 2, the Nintendo Switch is comfortably one of many worst platforms to expertise it on. That stated, to have such an acclaimed sport on Nintendo’s transportable remains to be trigger for celebration for many who use the Switch as their sole gaming system.
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The XCOM 2 Collection is made up of the bottom sport, 4 DLC packs (Resistance Warrior Pack, Anarchy’s Children, Alien Hunters, Shen’s Last Gift) and the War of the Chosen enlargement. That’s lots of content material, particularly when you think about how a lot replay worth is on supply right here.
Most of the downloadable content material is simply made up of recent weapons, gear and beauty customisations. Shen’s Last Gift is by far the perfect bundled DLC, offering you with one of many most interesting XCOM 2 missions obtainable and that includes an unlockable SPARK robotic soldier class that I discovered to be invaluable for future missions.
War of the Chosen, in the meantime, is completely separate enlargement, that includes new soldier lessons, enemies and missions, albeit with a principally comparable system to the bottom sport.
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For these unfamiliar, XCOM 2 is a turn-based ways shooter that seems like a extra nuanced and complicated chess sport, however with alien-killing troopers changing your knights and pawns. When hovering over an enemy on the battlefield, the UI will ping helpful knowledge onto your display resembling the proportion likelihood of a profitable shot and the quantity of harm your weapon will possible make.
Don’t suppose that such knowledge makes this a straightforward enterprise although, as XCOM 2 not solely requires you to suppose how it’s best to dispatch the subsequent closest alien thug, but in addition what steps you might want to make to evacuate with out being flanked within the course of, as each mistake may be very pricey.
XCOM 2 includes a brutal problem, with troops simply worn out if not behind enough cowl or outfitted with high-level gear. The permadeath characteristic makes such loss gutting, and although the pool of troopers you may recruit is replenished each month, seeing a soldier killed in motion will lose you all the upgrades they constructed up over the period of the marketing campaign.
The excessive problem may be irritating at occasions, particularly if lacking a 95% shot finally ends up proving disastrous. But these excessive stakes solely improve the reduction and satisfaction of a profitable mission with out casualties.
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XCOM 2 additionally encourages replays, beginning off on a brand new level on the globe with each restart to make sure content material feels contemporary. My complete squad was worn out pretty early on throughout my first playthrough, so such a characteristic was very a lot appreciated.
You’re additionally tasked with build up your military’s assets by researching new expertise, recruiting new employees and making contact with varied nations for a lift in provides and intel. This administration system shouldn’t be solely engrossing, but in addition gives a plethora of choices that may result in extraordinarily totally different playstyles and private experiences.
The vary of soldier lessons and ranging ability tree choices provides every mission a wealth of depth. XCOM 2 additionally has a large variety of enemy lessons, from the mind-controlling Sectoid to the Berserker that costs down something in its path. Each alien foe is effectively thought out, and it’s a real delight to seek out out what alien lessons are lurking within the shadows for every mission.
It’s evident that XCOM 2 has been designed with a keyboard and mouse in thoughts although, with the battlefield and menu methods clunky to navigate with the Switch Joy-Cons. It takes whereas to get used to, and even then I might nonetheless sometimes hit the improper command when scrolling by way of every soldier’s particular skills.
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Weapon descriptions and dialogue subtitles are annoyingly small too, with no choice to extend the font measurement. That is probably not a problem with a gaming monitor, but it surely brought about me lots of aggro when squinting at my Switch Lite’s 5.5-inch display.
Cutscenes additionally endure frequent body charge drops, shedding the dramatic pressure constructed up earlier than each mission. Such efficiency points are comprehensible given the Switch’s {hardware} limitations, however makes it no much less of a bitter tablet to swallow for many who have shelled out £40 for the sport.
It additionally goes with out saying to not count on excessive constancy visuals for the likes of character fashions and surroundings, with Virtuos clearly lowering the graphical high quality to get XCOM 2 working on the Switch.
Loading occasions may be painfully gradual too, whether or not that’s loading up a mission or ready for the enemy AI to take its flip. The challenge solely will get worse as you progress by way of the sport, as extra enemies fill the display and push the Switch to absolutely the restrict. It’s nonetheless very a lot playable, however I’d advocate taking part in on PC, PS4 or Xbox One as a substitute the place doable.
Verdict
The XCOM 2 Collection is a superb bundle, that includes among the finest video games of the final decade with an abundance of content material that may hold you occupied for months.
However, this Switch port feels very tough across the edges, with blatant body charge points and a scarcity of high quality of life enhancements for the smaller display eroding the gloss of an in any other case excellent sport.
If you’ve received a PC, PS4 or Xbox One, then I strongly advocate shopping for on these platforms as a substitute, particularly as a result of they’re usually obtainable at very inexpensive costs. But if the Switch is your sole gaming system, otherwise you simply actually wish to gun down aliens on the go, then the XCOM 2 Collection for Nintendo Switch remains to be a worthwhile choice should you can overlook the technical hiccups.
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Deputy Computing Editor
Formerly the Staff Writer at Stuff Magazine, Ryan’s been writing about tech since he graduated from Cardiff University. At TechSwitch he’s focussed on every part computer-related, giving him a v…
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