This series started with big hit called UFO: Enemy Unknown in 1994 and became know as XCOM from 1995 onwards with titles like XCOM: Terror from the deep, Apocalypse and Interceptor.
I found the gameplay very entertaining and easily got sucked into the missions I had to undergo. Keeping my soldiers alive became very challenging when enemy’s would spawn on my flanks requiring me to improvise my strategy. Losing a good soldier is sad and frustrating as they aren’t just cannon fodder but because they each carry a unique class and improve which each battle they are used in. Carefully selecting what supplies each soldier carries creates a massive difference in how the mission plays out, for me carrying a scope instead of a medic kit cost the life of my best soldier.
The graphics are nothing special compared to other games of its time. I particularly like how you can change the appearances and names of each soldier. I often found some parts amusing where an alien would shoot through the corner of a concrete wall and decimate one of my troops. It did get annoying when it happened more than once in a few different spots.
Another thing to note is the lack of an autosave feature. This would have been a godsend for me as the game weirdly glitched as I entered the mission control room at one stage and resulted in me having to force close the game. Waves absolute rage were oh so present when I discovered I hadn’t saved for a good hour or so and had to do everything again. I should’ve known better but it definitely would’ve saved me a lot of stress.
To sum things up XCOM: Enemy Unknown is a game worth remembering for its outstanding gameplay and decision making aspects. I would highly recommend playing this if you like a game with a chess-board sort of feel to it and sci-fi.