Genre: Strategy RPG
Developer: Firaxis Games
Publisher: 2K Games

Several years ago developers and publishers passed the "graphics-sustainability" threshold; for the first time in the industry's history, there was no technology path forward that would allow for realistic budgets. XCOM is a perfect example of this post-arms race era: the game focuses on sheer resolution and character and scenery art that looks subtly cel shaded, like a cartoon adaptation of Invasion of the Body Snatchers. And it works!

Roland Rizzo and Michael McCann do an admirable job of grafting original material on to the riffs of the original title, while throwing in a bit of orchestra and synthy keyboard elements for good measure. The game has solid voice acting, but would have been better without any-- it detracts from the pacing. Sound effects lend the game plenty of unique character and charm.

In a fine illustration of another industry trend, Enemy Unknown's designers attempted to remove what didn't work from the original title, and streamline what did. Unlike many other contemporary titles, this one gets it mostly right; the faster-paced-but-still-tactical combat is much improved, even if the strategic portions of the game are marginally diminished.

There is something just a bit off about this XCOM reboot; constant voice acting make it a bit too chatty, the music is a bit too orchestral, just a bit too much complexity is gone. But in an era where there is such an extreme lack of games that are made for and by pasty white men with beards, XCOM is a winner by default.