Just finished my first containment facility after about four tutorialish missions. The tutorial hand-holdy nature vanishes about half way through the second mission, but helpful advice is offered instead and it becomes pretty much the standard game it seems. I'm playing on Ironman-Easy, like AE's quote suggested. Lost no one except the three belm's in the first mission so far, so hurrah! *Knock on wood.*
I'm wondering what to name my people, since Beex-member names have been taken in this thread already. I'm figuring for the Guys I'll have classic sci-fi movie personage names, like Dick Miller, Ray Harryhausen, Robert Picardo, Gene Barry etc. Since there aren't as many lass names for this (for some reason classic sci-fi rations out one woman per book and film, usually) I'll go down the country and appalachian music route for the Gals. All this alongside RL friend names, too.
Although I feel there's something to be said for keeping the default appearence and randomised names. I am getting to love them.
Anyway, pure class so far. I love the music which is a mix between Deus Ex and the awesomely overblown Star Trek reboot trailer score. It's neat beetling around your base too, I love to zoom in and drink in the detail. Meaty's right in it being astoundingly odd that your funds are so low that you have to scratch your chin on how many flak vests to produce, but I can put this aside with some convoluted logic building in my head. Essentially the threat is new, you're an operation jump-started very suddenly with little pre-planning and the nations are more concerned with funding their own armies for defence than helping you out. The low frequency of invasions at the start also explains why your agency is more of a planetary SWAT team than an army.
I never played the original X-Com by the way, so I have no basis for comparison.
ZOMG Spoiler! Click here to view!
I love the cheering in the situation room when our first UFO was shot down. Felt very touched.
So, yes. Loving this so far.
"Let's vote on XCOM being proclaimed ZOMG-GREAT by the Beexers! All those in favour?"
"AYE!""All those against?"
"Me.""Who keeps saying that?"
Camera-whip pans to show diminutive, moustachioed Meaty with sad, droopy eyes, holding his battered pork-pie hat. He points over at the strappingly handsome, lantern jawed, yet faintly bookish Atrocity Exhibition.
"It was him. Let's get him, fellas..."Look of surprise. Red text flashes at top of screen. "Heretic Detected." Beexers are moved up one by one to surround AE, then one by one 'Pounce' is clicked. Cue jerky animation of a dustcloud and sounds of fists and yelps.
"Heh heh heh."