Topic: XCOM 2 for Nintendo Switch

We’re getting XCOM 2! Along with Civilization VI, Valkyria Chronicles 1/4, Mario Rabbids and a new Fire Emblem, Switch has one heck of a strategy portfolio for a handheld system.

I owned the original XCOM on Vita, but as with a lot of games on that system it really struggled to run well.

Here’s a video they released explaining XCOM 2 for new players, similar to what they did with Civ 6.

I see your original Xcom on Vita and raise you the original UFO: Enemy Unknown on PC. That’s the last one I played. So much save scumming... At least until you get mind control, then the game is so, so broken. Good times.

@Krull
Ooh lol, I have the original XCOM on PC and Xbox 360. Actually, it’s the Enemy Within version. I think they re-released it afterwards.

I have this game on PC but haven’t played it before. Does it have difficulty levels?

Yep, @JaxonH .... The Enemy Within is basically an expansion to Enemy Unknown, though Not played 2 yet, since I'm replaying the other one now Also, I'm sure the Vita version had them both in, although they called it something slightly different

So, are there difficulty levels, and if so, how does the permadeath function across those modes? I presume that unlike FE, that feature is consistent regardless, right?

Not that I mind. I actually really enjoy permadeath as a feature, and for this game it’s not exactly characters you’re super attached to. But it can make a difficult game a lot more difficult too.

It amazes me that so many of my favorite PC games are on the Switch. Now if only Warner Bros. would port the Arkham series!

I would love to see the Arkham games.

But for now, I’m just happy with what we’re seeing.

So went into my local Walmart tonight and saw this

Looks like another case of broken street date. If you can't wait till tomorrow to get it might want to check your local Walmart.

Handheld Mode Gameplay

This game looks as good in handheld mode as I was expecting for docked.

Is it true this game is so hard to make you not enjoy it?

So, you playing it, @JaxonH....? How are you getting on with it, then?

@BruceCM
Haven’t tried it yet.

I also have Bioshock, Bioshock 2, Bioshock Infinite, Borderlands, Borderlands 2, Borderlands PreSequel, Xenoblade Chronicles, Shantae and Bug Fables. So I may not get to XCOM 2 for a little bit.

I need to watch a training video before I start, too. General strategies and such.

@aresius
Not really, there’s various difficulty settings so you can always play on Rookie (which is what I’ll be playing on), and Ironman mode (permadeath) is optional, much like Fire Emblem. It’s less impactful in this game though because a lot of your team members are replaceable. They are meant to die. Not to say you won’t get attached to them but it’s not like FE where they’re main characters. So I’ll be doing Rookie Ironman.

@JaxonH
Thank you for the reply

Love XCOM 2, played half way through on pc because I only complete games on Switch it seems. It will be perfect on the couch with a TV show on because there are lots of load times, and pauses while you wait for the enemy(AI) to think about their turn.... this rang true on the pc version. Now you watch tele until the match loads, and set down the switch on some of the long AI turns, etc.

Never thought I’d see the day...

@BruceCM
Ended up playing some after all.

It’s a miracle. I can’t believe how good it looks, especially in handheld mode! Like, a lot of it genuinely looks like it’s close to 720p in handheld. Like, it looks so freaking good! It’s unbelievable.

The frame rate isn’t perfect, but that’s something I can very easily make peace with given the scope and magnitude of being a current gen AAA game, and the fact it’s turn based. I noticed an ever so slight stutter here and there during the shooting animations (which you just watch anyways), but overall it’s really smooth. Smooth enough, anyways. I’m blown away by how good the game looks, how fun the game is to play and just the fact that I’m experiencing it on a Nintendo switch handheld right now.

This is like... living in the alternate 1985 timeline, where Biff is married to your mom, but also where Nintendo makes the Vita successor, the single screen, HD, dual analog power handheld everyone was always saying they should make.

I’m gonna be spending a ton of time in this game, that’s for sure.

@JaxonH Great to hear. I'm a little shocked it was so well-optimized for the system, considering how poorly the first one ran on Vita, and how this particular game has a reputation for poor performance on home consoles.

A framerate hitch here and there in a turn-based game isn't a big deal. General performance is, and it sounds fantastic.

These companies are putting to shame every insinuation that the Switch would be unable to run at least a large portion of the AAA games on the home consoles right now.

@Ralizah
They really are. I never played this on consoles (I own on PC) but given how much of a fuss people kicked up over how it ran on PS4 when it released, I’m shocked it turned out so well.

This is an actual screenshot in handheld mode on my Switch. If you compare it side-by-side with the PC version in 4K ultra, ya, it’s gonna look stripped back. But evaluating it on its own merits, it looks good. The key is, it’s not super low res. It very well might be 540p and is using some other techniques to make it appear sharper than it is, but at the end of the day all I care about is how it visually looks to my eyes. And it looks good.

Cool, glad it runs well & looks great, @JaxonH ....Take it you're liking the game enough, too!

@JaxonH you convinced me again to get this one.
Loved it in the past, going to get it again.