Video Game Review: XCOM: Enemy Unknown poised to take over iOS

Wednesday, June 19, 2013,

                                                                                       

The alien invasion, apparently, isn't over. And the invasion of console-quality games on iOS just may be beginning.
That's the lesson of XCOM: Enemy Unknown. Firaxis Games' brilliant turn-based strategy game was a hit on PCs and home consoles last year, and on Thursday, it will land in the iTunes App Store. The price for XCOM ($19.99) seems steep at first; then again, it's not often that a near-full-fledged console title hits iOS.
Firaxis didn't set out to make some "lite" version of XCOM on iOS; it's delivering an experience that's nearly identical to the game it released last year, an ambition that speaks to the growing gaming potency of iOS devices. It's also an attempt to tap into a new audience, to deliver a hardcore gaming experience to a touch-only audience.

And it places gamers in a unique position. Just a few years ago, we'd compare Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions of games, and in a few months, we'll measure Xbox One and PlayStation 4 games. But, on rare occasions, the iPad and iPhone may be entering that same comparative discussion.

With that in mind, let's take a look at how the iOS version of the game stacks up against its PC and console counterparts in a handful of categories. XCOM: Enemy Unknown is one of the first console games to make it to iOS in all its full-featured glory. So here's a rundown on how it fits in:
VISUALS

As iOS games go, XCOM certainly looks great, with solid textures and good details and animations. But this is hardly the most beautiful version of the game, especially when viewed on Retina iPad displays. Cutscenes are especially grainy.
Still, the on-screen strategy action looks good, and the iOS version certainly has its benefits. Reading through reams of text in the Research and Engineering menus felt like a burden on a big-screen TV but it feels natural - and text looks splendid - on a Retina iPad.
The game does seem to chug along at times, though, slowing after explosions or when many enemies appear on screen. Not a huge issue, but worth noting.

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