XCOM, the last bastion of humanity.
Playstation 3 tested version.
After a troubled gestation, the latest incarnation of the acclaimed XCOM series returns to appear on the consoles and PCs of millions of fans.
Having abandoned the turn-based strategy scheme, so dear to the series, The Bureau, first conceived as FPS, has then become a Third Person Shooter stuffed with tactical elements and combat schemes more typical of a Mass Effect than a Gears of War.
Developed by 2k Marine, the same as the popular Bioshock 2, “The Bureau” is set in 1962, when a fledgling clandestine government organization created to deal with the Soviet threat and known simply as the bureau finds itself being humanity's last bulwark against an alien threat that has suddenly knocked out much of the apparatus US war.
In the role of William Carter we will then find ourselves controlling a team of three men, which will have the task of foiling the alien invasion.
Alien invasion, business as usual.
The plot is definitely not the strong point of the title. Stereotypes abound: Carter, the agent you will find yourself impersonating, is the classic CIA agent haunted by memories and sidelined for his chronic alcoholism; called to defend the earth from a ruthless alien attack, he will soon become a blameless and fearless hero. The other team members are little more than extras, with little appeal.
Even the alien invasion, the final cataclysm for the planet earth, is decidedly obvious in the reasons and in the modalities; were it not for the extraordinary setting of the 60s which contributes to increasing the charm of the narrative, the soporific effect would be maximum. In general, however, what is perplexing about the narrative structure is the feeling of being in front of a series of missions only feebly linked to each other, almost overlapping without the slightest pathos.
In two minutes of play the aliens invade our planet, destroy the bulk of the American forces, almost kill our protagonist (then miraculously healed); yet our Carter already knows what to do, gives orders to colleagues who use futuristic weapons (without having understood why) and does not seem at all surprised, afraid, bewildered by events that would have left even the best Bruce Willis in the Die Hard series stunned.
A high level gameplay
If the plot is definitely not the strong point of the 2kMarine production, the same cannot be said of the gameplay: deep, tactical and difficult at the right point.
Drawing heavily from the Mass Effect game system, the title requires tactical planning attentive to the conformation of the "battlefield" and the specific abilities of the other two team members. Facing an enemy by focusing only on your own firepower or, worse still, facing it directly, will mean facing certain death.
It will therefore be necessary to immediately learn to familiarize yourself with the Battle Focus. By pressing the circle button, time will be slowed down and we will be able to give position, attack or use orders of weapons and special abilities to the other team members, through the special radial menu that closely resembles that of the many times mentioned Mass. Effect.
Through the battle focus we will also be able to analyze the playing field with some precision and plan in this way, also depending on the position of our allies, the actions to be taken. From the initial briefing we will learn to understand which class to choose to accompany us, engineer, attacker, sniper or soldier, and which skills to upgrade. All this will contribute to varying in a certain way the way we approach each battle.
To complicate matters is also added the permadeath, which forces us to carefully evaluate the deployment of our men. Forcing a member of our team to face a fight without adequate coverage or directing them to a position without covering their backs, will mean directing them towards a premature death, to avoid which, and avoiding that the same is no longer usable with all the related enhancements in the subsequent missions, we will have to expose ourselves, risking the game over.
The controls, which are fairly standard and therefore also quite run-in, are good and finding shelter behind covers, or moving from one cover to another, is never difficult or nerve-wracking.
Good number of weapons available in the game: in addition to the human ones it will in fact be possible to use alien weapons, which, combined with the skills to be unlocked during the game, will offer rather exciting attack modes.
Excellent enemy AI that will tend to surround you at all times and will focus, from time to time, instead of always on the character you control, on the one that represents the greatest threat at that particular moment. All this combined with a refined level design, opens the door to interesting game tactics that see you, depending on your preferences, or bait for enemy fire or predator.
The sixties will never die
From a technical point of view, the great charm of the 60s setting should be noted, which is quite realistic, embellished as it is also by a very cinematic granular filter and the excellent realization of the polygonal models of the characters. In line with other similar productions the facial animations of the protagonists.
The engine is quite stable and does not manifest frame rate problems or glitches noticeable even in very agitated game conditions.
Graphically we will certainly not cry out for a miracle, but textures that stand at a good level and, as mentioned, the 60's setting make the glance rather pleasant.
The sound sector is good, with a really well done dubbing.
Final comment
The Bureau: XCOM Declassified is, overall, a good title, which is appreciated especially for a Deep and never predictable gameplay that will keep you busy for a long time (about 15 hours of play necessary to complete the main quest) and that leaves a bit of a bitter taste in the mouth only for a rather disjointed plot, which could have made this title a best buy for lovers of the genre and the series XCOM.
Votes
Playability 88 Graphics 79 Sound 80 Longevity 79 Global 80For
- Eye-catching 60s graphics
- Solid and deep gameplay
- Good dubbing
Cons
- Plot unrelated and full of stereotypes
- Missions follow each other without a real link
The title is available from 23 August 2013 on PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 platforms.
