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UFO: Aftermath

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5.3 User Score:

Mixed or average reviews

Based on 23 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

Based on 33 votes
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Game Info

Publisher: Cenega

Developer: Altar Interactive

Genre(s): Turn-Based Strategy, Real-Time Strategy, Role-Playing Game

Players: 1

ESRB Rating: T (Teen)

Release Date: October 16, 2003

Summary

UFO: Aftermath is a 3D isometric, tactical strategy game a rich and compelling sci fi story. Combining global strategy with small squad tactical combat, the challenge offered is to fight against an alien invasion. Featuring run time generated tactical missions with innovative simultaneous combat action; the genre is also enhanced with strong RPG elements, offering a quite unique mix of strategic ideas. [Cenega]

Also On Metacritic

GAMES: UFO: Aftershock

Also On The Web: GameSpot Preview Official Website

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

GameZone

An interesting mix of RTS, turn-based and straight strategic gameplay and varied mission designs. However, the turn-based/RTS system may seem a bit convoluted for some gamers who expect a more simplistic action-oriented approach to squad-based strategy.

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Game Informer

The only flaw is the difficulty curve - it's steeper than trying to jump into Counter-Strike online play as an FPS newbie. [Dec 2003, p.183]

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Four Fat Chicks

I will say this: those who love “X-Com” will like this game. Those who love strategy will like this game. But no one will ever love this game.

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Worth Playing

It may be a little tough for folks new to the genre as the tutorial is a little sketchy but the manual does offer quite a bit of help. If you're looking for a good squad based, tactical strategy game UFO: Aftermath is definitely worthplaying.

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Next Level Gaming

A great squad based title that sparks enough nostalgia to pay homage, but strikes out in new territory to possibly restablish the original mismanaged franchise. UFO: Aftermath has some of the best combat and control systems seen in games of this type over the last year.

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PC Format

If you’ve ever been excited by Sculder and Mully, or terrified by hydrocephalic children, there’s a game for you. It’s not pretty and it’s not perfect, but we’re so glad it’s there.

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ActionTrip

A decent rehash of the X-COM oldies. Its gameplay is complex, fun, and engaging... Unfortunately, weak sounds, sub par story presentation and certain aspects like crashes and occasional flops in the AI might put off some gamers looking for a more immersive cinematic experience.

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Gamer's Hell

Underneath the stubble is a game rife with good tactical elements and enough developmental depth to occupy the martial mind for hours.

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Loaded Inc

I wanted a great deal to love this game. X-Com, after all, owned me. UFOA throws few surprises your way, resulting in monotony...The game is good, but with a little more depth and clarity it could have achieved greatness.

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IGN

While Aftermath isn't a bad game, and certainly has some wonderful and fun ideas, it just doesn't compare to other squad based tactical games I've played lately like "Silent Storm" (turn-based) or "Commandos 3" (real-time).

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netjak

While it is a very serviceable try, Altar isn't going to be convincing anyone this is the second coming of X-Com.

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GameBiz

UFO: Aftermath will give you about 15 hours of solid gameplay, at which stage you may choose to go again and take a different path to victory.

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Gamer.tv

It is a refreshing change to play a game that makes you sit up and take notice, makes you really think about every move, and punishes you if you make a false step.

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GameSpot

Despite some bright spots, this isn't a fitting sequel to X-COM, and, on its own merits, it just isn't a good tactical combat simulator.

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PC Gamer

It took me lengthy experimentation before I learned how to even throw a grenade or use a med-kit - the game's manual offered little help. [Feb 2004, p.79]

PC Gameworld

They seem to have removed much of the delicate strategic balancing which made the original so much more than a squad-based tactical game, and many of the tactical elements which made it stand head and shoulders above resource-management games.

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Computer Gaming World

Unpatched, UFO will drag, stutter, and ultimately die a repeated death while a weird save-game bug devours hard-drive space. It's a profound shame, too, because lurking under the seven layers of ugly is an otherwise very good game.

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GameSpy

You could, of course, look at UFO: Aftermath in a vacuum, as if "X-Com" never existed. Even then, however, you're just left with a series of weak real-time tactical battles loosely connected by a shallow strategic shell.

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Game Over Online

Something went terribly, horribly wrong here. UFO: Aftermath isn’t a good tactical strategy game, and it’s not even a good action game by mistake. It’s a game you should avoid, even if you liked the X-COM series.

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Armchair Empire

The game should probably better have been dubbed "UFO: Afterbirth" – it’s ugly and sloppy and imposes itself on the heels of what you really wanted to see.

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Computer Games Magazine

That it comes up short isn't too much of a shock; if anything, the fact it holds up as well as it does is perhaps the bigger surprise. [Feb 2004, p.68]

Yahoo! Games

While Aftermath is a brave try, it lacks variety and strategic depth, relying instead on dumb but heavily armed enemies to provide a challenge. It's of passing interest, but ultimately destined to be abandoned in frustration in most cases.

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games(TM)

Sadly, the promising squad-based interface is put to incredibly uninspiring use. Despite the impressive scope, this lacklustre playing experience offers little incentive to persevere and explore the strategic depth on offer. [Dec 2003, p.126]

What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this game is 5.3 (out of 10) based on 33 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Sergius M. gave it a0:
This is what an alien base mission basically looks like: -Your entire squad starts in a hole. -You send one scout out of the hole to take a peek. -The 25 aliens surrounding the hole simultaneously fire a barrage at your scout, comprised of: 5 guided missiles 5 plasma guns 15 lasers -The rest of your squad loses contact with the aliens. -1 second later, 2 times 25 grenades fall into the hole. -You desperately scramble your team out of the hole. -The aliens reappear, shooting another identical barrage at each soldier as soon as he's in view, obliterating him. -Repeat until no soldiers left. -Mission failed. This game is quite probably the worst balanced, imagined and implemented game in the history of mankind. It shows zero quality control, and never mind whether it resembles X-Com! It doesn't even stand on its own as a decently playable game.

Graham B. gave it a7:
A nice easy game which, after loading patch, gives a good frustration free gaming experience. One you can play the game "when my man dies he stays dead" instead of being scared to lose a good soldier. Entertaining without being too taxing.

João gave it a10:
Great game :) long live the good old times of X-COM:EU. Cheers!

David R gave it a 1:
What a turd. I was so looking forward to this too , i shelled out over £30.00 pounds for this heap of crap. It is so full of bugs it makes you wonder if the development team even played it , I have upgraded to v1.3 and it is even worse. The original games were superb a fine balance of action and strategy , this is a poorly watered down version of the original. AVOID this piece of sh.t!

David J. gave it a 7:
UFO: Aftermath is an interesting game unto itself. As an XCOM mock sequel it slightly falls short of the mark, albeit a hard target to pin. There is no micromanagement, no money, and no base design. Only some minor macro management on a global scale exists. The combat system is improved and yet lack-luster. The map is not fully destructible, and buildings are not accessible. I miss launching missiles through a window, door, and stairs to rest in the belly of an extraterrestrial bastard thus spraying his alien guts on the faces of my soldiers. Taste victory yet? However, there are loads of weapons and research available, a good sound track, nice graphics, and plenty of aliens. Also, soldier experience and training have been improved. For what it is, a stand-alone game, I give it a 7, enjoyable, yet not a worthy XCOM successor.

Quike gave it a 6:
I think the game is ok, but it should be great with more, development, I mean, more complexity, more administrations features, like money, base administration... and so. I have heard that some people are making a remake of the original UFO, something called project Xenocide.

Osprey gave it an 8:
It's fun and given patience can develop int a good RPG as well as everything else. It's not as bad as people say it is...

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UFO: Aftermath

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