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The bureau: xcom declassified has had a troubled birth right front from the start of its conception. At first it was going to be an FPS game. years later it changed into a 3rd person squad based shooter. All Throughout development fans of the xcom derided the game. But now that xcom has finally stumbled into the light, what have we got?
The Bureau is Set in 60's America during the cold war, a sudden alien attack wipes out the top brass of US government and jams communications. As a last line of coordinated defence, the Xcom project is activated early . Understaffed and lacking the resources to combat the alien threat, specialist teams are deployed. Players will control William Carter and his team as they get deployed to hold off the alien invasion and eventually turn the tide of war.
Gamers who've played Mass Effect 2 or 3 will be familiar to The bureau's game mechanics. Players pick 2 accompanying agents to assist in a variety of missions. Whether its rescuing important personnel or sabotaging enemy installations, each level is laid out along a linear pathway filled with strategic cover from start to finish. The bureau eases players in with early missions acting more like shooting galleries. But it's not long before the game ramps up the difficulty providing increasingly lively and challenging combat. Stronger and more aggressive aliens are introduced punishing overly defensive players. Either through sheer brute force like using heavily armoured Mutons and sectopods, or flushing players out into withering laser fire. Needless to say, players will need to be constantly mobile and utilize the all important Focus mode to manage agents for maximum efficiency.
With a single press of a button, Focus mode slows time to issue orders and deploy their special abilities. To the games credit, orders can be stacked; ordering an agent to move up and then deploy multiple abilities whilst you distract the enemy is immensely satisfying . But Whilst the mechanics are functional and sometimes effective, they aren't perfect. Most annoying niggle is being obstructed/caught by cover, frequently forcing players to navigate round it just to use a ability. It's also disappointing to see the game sometimes bending backwards for the tactical elements to work. For example, players would be able to see enemies in the distance. Unless provoked, they don't attack until agents move REALLY close or when the players steps over a predetermined point. This gives players time to set up agents and get the first attack in. But Dopey/blind enemy AI isn't the end of it either, Agent Ai is also suspect at times. Whilst smart enough to revive nearby fallen comrades, target lifted enemies and follow orders, the problems begin when left alone. Without using abilities, Agents rarely make any kills, they use cover poorly; taking numerous hits and not always moving from cover to cover properly. Ultimately, it leaves players needing to keeping them on a tight leash and doing all the hard work themselves. With agents suffering from permanent death it sometimes feels like you're babysitting them.
Being affiliated with the xcom series, 2k Marin was going to have a hard time inserting the various ideas from the strategy games into an action one. Sadly the bureau fails to implement any features, incorporating more from the Mass Effect series. In fact, it seems the developers were more content to be nothing but release a playable tactical shooter then implementing ideas from its deep xcom series ancestry to make something unique. There are glimmers of potential ideas ,but these are at best token gestures aping other games to implement it.
like in the xcom series, the bureau stresses that to beat the alien invaders research and development is key to utilize their weapons against them . But to do this, they need to find free non gene locked weapons to research and manufacture. But contrary to this, usable alien weapons are scattered throughout all the levels and William carter can immediately pick them up and use them. No need to research and reverse engineer the weapon, they're instantly useable. No need to manufacture them because as soon as you pick them up storage has an infinite supply. Prized alien weapons quickly become commodities . Base management consists of wandering around talking to people and picking up side missions whilst the base looks after itself. Away mission/ agent management is similar mechanic in Assassins creed Brotherhood and revelations whereby players send a set of agents off and return back with rewards and more experience making them more useful when deployed in the (playable) main missions. Whilst agents can be customised, players will only get to change their names and select from a limited palette of colours and facial features for them. It's hard to get attached to them like in enemy unknown where you could customise their name, clothes, color, facial features, hair , voices, gender etc etc.
The bureau Isn't the longest of games and replay value is limited, but does offer purchasable DLC (£6.77 for the lot). The first unlocks the Plasma pistol earlier in the game. Code breakers adds an additional minor op mission and just like all other minor ops are short side missions lasting no more than 20 minutes giving players an opportunity to gain experience. Hanger 6 R&D is a more substantial DLC acting as a precursor plot to the main game. Roughly 2 hrs of additional entertainment, its delivered in short, sharp and sometimes extremely challenging bursts. Whilst the additional DLC content makes life easier or adds longevity to the Bureau none of it is essential and players won't miss out on much if they decide not to purchase it.
Overall the bureau isn't a bad game, its playable and I had fun, but its painfully average. It has nothing special taking ideas and mechanics from other games with no shred of originality making the game feel generic. It's a wasted opportunity especially for a game in the xcom franchise. It's hard to recommend this very standard shooter. If you want it, purchase it when its cheap on an inevitable steam offer( i purchased the game and DLC for less than a fiver on a steam sale) and save it for a rainy day or when there 's nothing else to do. Otherwise, Save your money and get something else with aliens, strategic cover based action and adventure like the Mass Effect series.
6/10
The Bureau is Set in 60's America during the cold war, a sudden alien attack wipes out the top brass of US government and jams communications. As a last line of coordinated defence, the Xcom project is activated early . Understaffed and lacking the resources to combat the alien threat, specialist teams are deployed. Players will control William Carter and his team as they get deployed to hold off the alien invasion and eventually turn the tide of war.
Gamers who've played Mass Effect 2 or 3 will be familiar to The bureau's game mechanics. Players pick 2 accompanying agents to assist in a variety of missions. Whether its rescuing important personnel or sabotaging enemy installations, each level is laid out along a linear pathway filled with strategic cover from start to finish. The bureau eases players in with early missions acting more like shooting galleries. But it's not long before the game ramps up the difficulty providing increasingly lively and challenging combat. Stronger and more aggressive aliens are introduced punishing overly defensive players. Either through sheer brute force like using heavily armoured Mutons and sectopods, or flushing players out into withering laser fire. Needless to say, players will need to be constantly mobile and utilize the all important Focus mode to manage agents for maximum efficiency.
With a single press of a button, Focus mode slows time to issue orders and deploy their special abilities. To the games credit, orders can be stacked; ordering an agent to move up and then deploy multiple abilities whilst you distract the enemy is immensely satisfying . But Whilst the mechanics are functional and sometimes effective, they aren't perfect. Most annoying niggle is being obstructed/caught by cover, frequently forcing players to navigate round it just to use a ability. It's also disappointing to see the game sometimes bending backwards for the tactical elements to work. For example, players would be able to see enemies in the distance. Unless provoked, they don't attack until agents move REALLY close or when the players steps over a predetermined point. This gives players time to set up agents and get the first attack in. But Dopey/blind enemy AI isn't the end of it either, Agent Ai is also suspect at times. Whilst smart enough to revive nearby fallen comrades, target lifted enemies and follow orders, the problems begin when left alone. Without using abilities, Agents rarely make any kills, they use cover poorly; taking numerous hits and not always moving from cover to cover properly. Ultimately, it leaves players needing to keeping them on a tight leash and doing all the hard work themselves. With agents suffering from permanent death it sometimes feels like you're babysitting them.
Being affiliated with the xcom series, 2k Marin was going to have a hard time inserting the various ideas from the strategy games into an action one. Sadly the bureau fails to implement any features, incorporating more from the Mass Effect series. In fact, it seems the developers were more content to be nothing but release a playable tactical shooter then implementing ideas from its deep xcom series ancestry to make something unique. There are glimmers of potential ideas ,but these are at best token gestures aping other games to implement it.
like in the xcom series, the bureau stresses that to beat the alien invaders research and development is key to utilize their weapons against them . But to do this, they need to find free non gene locked weapons to research and manufacture. But contrary to this, usable alien weapons are scattered throughout all the levels and William carter can immediately pick them up and use them. No need to research and reverse engineer the weapon, they're instantly useable. No need to manufacture them because as soon as you pick them up storage has an infinite supply. Prized alien weapons quickly become commodities . Base management consists of wandering around talking to people and picking up side missions whilst the base looks after itself. Away mission/ agent management is similar mechanic in Assassins creed Brotherhood and revelations whereby players send a set of agents off and return back with rewards and more experience making them more useful when deployed in the (playable) main missions. Whilst agents can be customised, players will only get to change their names and select from a limited palette of colours and facial features for them. It's hard to get attached to them like in enemy unknown where you could customise their name, clothes, color, facial features, hair , voices, gender etc etc.
The bureau Isn't the longest of games and replay value is limited, but does offer purchasable DLC (£6.77 for the lot). The first unlocks the Plasma pistol earlier in the game. Code breakers adds an additional minor op mission and just like all other minor ops are short side missions lasting no more than 20 minutes giving players an opportunity to gain experience. Hanger 6 R&D is a more substantial DLC acting as a precursor plot to the main game. Roughly 2 hrs of additional entertainment, its delivered in short, sharp and sometimes extremely challenging bursts. Whilst the additional DLC content makes life easier or adds longevity to the Bureau none of it is essential and players won't miss out on much if they decide not to purchase it.
Overall the bureau isn't a bad game, its playable and I had fun, but its painfully average. It has nothing special taking ideas and mechanics from other games with no shred of originality making the game feel generic. It's a wasted opportunity especially for a game in the xcom franchise. It's hard to recommend this very standard shooter. If you want it, purchase it when its cheap on an inevitable steam offer( i purchased the game and DLC for less than a fiver on a steam sale) and save it for a rainy day or when there 's nothing else to do. Otherwise, Save your money and get something else with aliens, strategic cover based action and adventure like the Mass Effect series.
6/10
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The bureau: xcom declassified has had a troubled birth right front from the start of its conception. At first it was going to be an FPS game. years later it changed into a 3rd person squad based shooter. All Throughout development fans of the xcom derided the game. But now that xcom has finally stumbled into the light, what have we got?
The Bureau is Set in 60's America during the cold war, a sudden alien attack wipes out the top brass of US government and jams communications. As a last line of coordinated defence, the Xcom project is activated early . Understaffed and lacking the resources to combat the alien threat, specialist teams are deployed. Players will control William Carter and his team as they get deployed to hold off the alien invasion and eventually turn the tide of war.
Gamers who've played Mass Effect 2 or 3 will be familiar to The bureau's game mechanics. Players pick 2 accompanying agents to assist in a variety of missions. Whether its rescuing important personnel or sabotaging enemy installations, each level is laid out along a linear pathway filled with strategic cover from start to finish. The bureau eases players in with early missions acting more like shooting galleries. But it's not long before the game ramps up the difficulty providing increasingly lively and challenging combat. Stronger and more aggressive aliens are introduced punishing overly defensive players. Either through sheer brute force like using heavily armoured Mutons and sectopods, or flushing players out into withering laser fire. Needless to say, players will need to be constantly mobile and utilize the all important Focus mode to manage agents for maximum efficiency.
With a single press of a button, Focus mode slows time to issue orders and deploy their special abilities. To the games credit, orders can be stacked; ordering an agent to move up and then deploy multiple abilities whilst you distract the enemy is immensely satisfying . But Whilst the mechanics are functional and sometimes effective, they aren't perfect. Most annoying niggle is being obstructed/caught by cover, frequently forcing players to navigate round it just to use a ability. It's also disappointing to see the game sometimes bending backwards for the tactical elements to work. For example, players would be able to see enemies in the distance. Unless provoked, they don't attack until agents move REALLY close or when the players steps over a predetermined point. This gives players time to set up agents and get the first attack in. But Dopey/blind enemy AI isn't the end of it either, Agent Ai is also suspect at times. Whilst smart enough to revive nearby fallen comrades, target lifted enemies and follow orders, the problems begin when left alone. Without using abilities, Agents rarely make any kills, they use cover poorly; taking numerous hits and not always moving from cover to cover properly. Ultimately, it leaves players needing to keeping them on a tight leash and doing all the hard work themselves. With agents suffering from permanent death it sometimes feels like you're babysitting them.
Being affiliated with the xcom series, 2k Marin was going to have a hard time inserting the various ideas from the strategy games into an action one. Sadly the bureau fails to implement any features, incorporating more from the Mass Effect series. In fact, it seems the developers were more content to be nothing but release a playable tactical shooter then implementing ideas from its deep xcom series ancestry to make something unique. There are glimmers of potential ideas ,but these are at best token gestures aping other games to implement it.
like in the xcom series, the bureau stresses that to beat the alien invaders research and development is key to utilize their weapons against them . But to do this, they need to find free non gene locked weapons to research and manufacture. But contrary to this, usable alien weapons are scattered throughout all the levels and William carter can immediately pick them up and use them. No need to research and reverse engineer the weapon, they're instantly useable. No need to manufacture them because as soon as you pick them up storage has an infinite supply. Prized alien weapons quickly become commodities . Base management consists of wandering around talking to people and picking up side missions whilst the base looks after itself. Away mission/ agent management is similar mechanic in Assassins creed Brotherhood and revelations whereby players send a set of agents off and return back with rewards and more experience making them more useful when deployed in the (playable) main missions. Whilst agents can be customised, players will only get to change their names and select from a limited palette of colours and facial features for them. It's hard to get attached to them like in enemy unknown where you could customise their name, clothes, color, facial features, hair , voices, gender etc etc.
The bureau Isn't the longest of games and replay value is limited, but does offer purchasable DLC (£6.77 for the lot). The first unlocks the Plasma pistol earlier in the game. Code breakers adds an additional minor op mission and just like all other minor ops are short side missions lasting no more than 20 minutes giving players an opportunity to gain experience. Hanger 6 R&D is a more substantial DLC acting as a precursor plot to the main game. Roughly 2 hrs of additional entertainment, its delivered in short, sharp and sometimes extremely challenging bursts. Whilst the additional DLC content makes life easier or adds longevity to the Bureau none of it is essential and players won't miss out on much if they decide not to purchase it.
Overall the bureau isn't a bad game, its playable and I had fun, but its painfully average. It has nothing special taking ideas and mechanics from other games with no shred of originality making the game feel generic. It's a wasted opportunity especially for a game in the xcom franchise. It's hard to recommend this very standard shooter. If you want it, purchase it when its cheap on an inevitable steam offer( i purchased the game and DLC for less than a fiver on a steam sale) and save it for a rainy day or when there 's nothing else to do. Otherwise, Save your money and get something else with aliens, strategic cover based action and adventure like the Mass Effect series.
6/10
The Bureau is Set in 60's America during the cold war, a sudden alien attack wipes out the top brass of US government and jams communications. As a last line of coordinated defence, the Xcom project is activated early . Understaffed and lacking the resources to combat the alien threat, specialist teams are deployed. Players will control William Carter and his team as they get deployed to hold off the alien invasion and eventually turn the tide of war.
Gamers who've played Mass Effect 2 or 3 will be familiar to The bureau's game mechanics. Players pick 2 accompanying agents to assist in a variety of missions. Whether its rescuing important personnel or sabotaging enemy installations, each level is laid out along a linear pathway filled with strategic cover from start to finish. The bureau eases players in with early missions acting more like shooting galleries. But it's not long before the game ramps up the difficulty providing increasingly lively and challenging combat. Stronger and more aggressive aliens are introduced punishing overly defensive players. Either through sheer brute force like using heavily armoured Mutons and sectopods, or flushing players out into withering laser fire. Needless to say, players will need to be constantly mobile and utilize the all important Focus mode to manage agents for maximum efficiency.
With a single press of a button, Focus mode slows time to issue orders and deploy their special abilities. To the games credit, orders can be stacked; ordering an agent to move up and then deploy multiple abilities whilst you distract the enemy is immensely satisfying . But Whilst the mechanics are functional and sometimes effective, they aren't perfect. Most annoying niggle is being obstructed/caught by cover, frequently forcing players to navigate round it just to use a ability. It's also disappointing to see the game sometimes bending backwards for the tactical elements to work. For example, players would be able to see enemies in the distance. Unless provoked, they don't attack until agents move REALLY close or when the players steps over a predetermined point. This gives players time to set up agents and get the first attack in. But Dopey/blind enemy AI isn't the end of it either, Agent Ai is also suspect at times. Whilst smart enough to revive nearby fallen comrades, target lifted enemies and follow orders, the problems begin when left alone. Without using abilities, Agents rarely make any kills, they use cover poorly; taking numerous hits and not always moving from cover to cover properly. Ultimately, it leaves players needing to keeping them on a tight leash and doing all the hard work themselves. With agents suffering from permanent death it sometimes feels like you're babysitting them.
Being affiliated with the xcom series, 2k Marin was going to have a hard time inserting the various ideas from the strategy games into an action one. Sadly the bureau fails to implement any features, incorporating more from the Mass Effect series. In fact, it seems the developers were more content to be nothing but release a playable tactical shooter then implementing ideas from its deep xcom series ancestry to make something unique. There are glimmers of potential ideas ,but these are at best token gestures aping other games to implement it.
like in the xcom series, the bureau stresses that to beat the alien invaders research and development is key to utilize their weapons against them . But to do this, they need to find free non gene locked weapons to research and manufacture. But contrary to this, usable alien weapons are scattered throughout all the levels and William carter can immediately pick them up and use them. No need to research and reverse engineer the weapon, they're instantly useable. No need to manufacture them because as soon as you pick them up storage has an infinite supply. Prized alien weapons quickly become commodities . Base management consists of wandering around talking to people and picking up side missions whilst the base looks after itself. Away mission/ agent management is similar mechanic in Assassins creed Brotherhood and revelations whereby players send a set of agents off and return back with rewards and more experience making them more useful when deployed in the (playable) main missions. Whilst agents can be customised, players will only get to change their names and select from a limited palette of colours and facial features for them. It's hard to get attached to them like in enemy unknown where you could customise their name, clothes, color, facial features, hair , voices, gender etc etc.
The bureau Isn't the longest of games and replay value is limited, but does offer purchasable DLC (£6.77 for the lot). The first unlocks the Plasma pistol earlier in the game. Code breakers adds an additional minor op mission and just like all other minor ops are short side missions lasting no more than 20 minutes giving players an opportunity to gain experience. Hanger 6 R&D is a more substantial DLC acting as a precursor plot to the main game. Roughly 2 hrs of additional entertainment, its delivered in short, sharp and sometimes extremely challenging bursts. Whilst the additional DLC content makes life easier or adds longevity to the Bureau none of it is essential and players won't miss out on much if they decide not to purchase it.
Overall the bureau isn't a bad game, its playable and I had fun, but its painfully average. It has nothing special taking ideas and mechanics from other games with no shred of originality making the game feel generic. It's a wasted opportunity especially for a game in the xcom franchise. It's hard to recommend this very standard shooter. If you want it, purchase it when its cheap on an inevitable steam offer( i purchased the game and DLC for less than a fiver on a steam sale) and save it for a rainy day or when there 's nothing else to do. Otherwise, Save your money and get something else with aliens, strategic cover based action and adventure like the Mass Effect series.
6/10