You thought XCOM: Enemy Unknown was tough? Ha. Your base is a mobile command center that flies around the globe, hunted by UFOs as you bolster resistance efforts those timed missions instill a fast “strike-and-move” feeling a new concealment system helps you get the drop on patrolling forces and now-destructible environments help you literally drop turrets and Sectoids off of roofs and out of cover.Īll the while, monthly “Dark Events” give the alien overlords bonuses that can’t be avoided and must be planned around. While you commanded a multi-national force in XCOM: Enemy Unknown, in XCOM 2 you’re in charge of a rag-tag force that leans heavily on guerilla tactics. And unlike Hayden, I adore the abundance of timer-based missions, as they’re just one of many new gameplay additions that reinforce the fact that in XCOM 2, you’re fighting back after the aliens already won. I’d guess diehard park sim fans may dislike the easy-peasy management aspects, but not me that easy money lets you focus on crafting creative parks rather than spending hours optimizing traffic logistics.Ī big reason I can keep going back to the well is XCOM 2’s procedural level generation, a first for the series. Oh, and the coaster construction tools are decent too-you know, once you’ve finished building that perfect bathroom.īrad : I’d tell you what I love about Planet Coaster, but within five minutes of booting the game, my family hijacked my PC and have played it for dozens of hours since then-and my wife never plays games. If you’re looking to build the theme park of your dreams, strap in. Hayden: I lost something like 20 hours of my life to Planet Coaster in a single weekend-placing rides and building coasters, sure, but also doing weird stuff like “Constructing the perfect Spanish Colonial-themed bathroom.” With extensive scenery and building construction tools, Planet Coaster is the Sims-crossed-with- RollerCoaster– Tycoon I never knew I needed until I had it the range of custom items on the Steam Workshop says everything you need to know about its appeal.

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