UFO: Extraterrestrials (PC CD)

Great

What makes this game so bad is that it is an "update" of one of the greatest strategic games of all time - "UFO - Enemy Unknown". And it's a travesty... The split is very similar to the original "UFO" game - so close as to perhaps only just avoid legal repercussions. At a strategic level you manage bases and research whilst at a tactical level you move your squad around a map hunting and killing aliens. Unlike the UFO After Trilogy (Aftermath, Aftershock, Afterlight) this goes back to the original's turn based tactical game. But - compared to the original game - and remember this version was made FOURTEEN years later - it's an inferior product. The critical importance of terrain has been lost, your soldiers can no longer kneel or lie down, and most frustratingly you can't hire new soldiers. You can have absolute fortunes of money but can't resist the alien invader because all your soldiers are in sick bay. Base management is a completely cut down version of the original too. I admit I gave up on this one pretty quickly. There is a possibility that once these limitations are accepted there could be a semi decent game here. But why accept that ? There's no excuse for putting out a game that in most significant respects plays look a very poor cousin to a fourteen year old classic. If you liked "UFO Enemy Unknown", "UFO" the TV series, or just wanted a playable squad strategy game buy "UFO Trilogy" - now very reasonably priced. Those games are flawed but in spirit and execution they are worthy sequels to the original X-Com games. This looks and plays like an inferior knock off.S.x.