The Bureau: XCOM Declassified

1. SaifK

   Aug 20, 2013

   10

   I REAALLYY thought this would just be another shooter but they implemented X-COM's style of strategy so well it actually feels like 3rd personI REAALLYY thought this would just be another shooter but they implemented X-COM's style of strategy so well it actually feels like 3rd person RTS xcom, I dont care about the unsatisfied destructoid review I don't see why in the world he would like how it isnt a shooter or a strategy or an xcom game BECAUSE ITS ALL OF THOSE COMBINED, and that's much more awesome than it sounds
   
   GamePlay: 9/10
   Story: 8/10
   visuals: 7/10
   Replayabilty: 10/10
   
   P.S: anyone going into this expecting a carbon copy of XCOM enemy unknown or UFO defense's gameplay is an idiot… Expand

   • 40 of 88 users found this helpful
2. GPReS

   Feb 12, 2017

   10

   1st review - Oct 19, 2013 / Score - 7
   Boring, unlogically created plot, boring main hero, boring missions. Boring, boring, boring, boring.1st review - Oct 19, 2013 / Score - 7
   Boring, unlogically created plot, boring main hero, boring missions. Boring, boring, boring, boring. And ending is also boring... I am really sad I've preordered this nonsense.
   The only thing I relly liked fighting/leveling system, but this game is really mediocre and I am pretty not sure I will replay it soon enough...
   
   2nd review - Dec 25. 2015 / Score - 10
   It took me 2 replays with half a year and 1.5 year periods to re-estimate the game completely =) Also I bought all DLCs =)
   Hangar DLC is good for those, who'd prefer to spend more time shooting without extra dialogues in The Bureau, and also it's quite a good prequel to the main story :)
   Game's replay-ability is fine (as you can see I had re-played it 3 times already, even that I didn't like it on my first round) :)
   
   Advice: replay games that left unsure impression after a long period of time, you may really change your mind =)… Expand

   • 0 of 3 users found this helpful
4. Diaord

   Oct 9, 2013

   8

   The Major issue most people have had with Xcom Declassified is that, in short, it was not Xcom. The developers attempted to create a differentThe Major issue most people have had with Xcom Declassified is that, in short, it was not Xcom. The developers attempted to create a different game set in a universe similar, but not the same as, the universe XCOM and its predecessor, UFO resided in. They then took this altered reality and said "we're going to try something different" and made The Bureau into a 3PS. In short, if you're looking for an expansion to XCOM Enemy Unknown, you're barking up the wrong tree.
   
   So, how does this 3PS differ from other 3PS?
   
   Well first of all, you're not alone in your fight. While you are a badass, if you run in guns blazing alone, you will get yourself killed. For this reason, the game gives you a pair of sidekicks that accompany you on missions (the characters themselves are unimportant) these two can do any range of jobs from pissing off giant alien quadrupeds so you can shoot them in their rear, to deploying laser cannons to cover your advance or do massive amounts of damage in a single shot.
   
   Secondly, the game penalises you heavily if you aren't in cover. IT utilises a similar cover system to XCOM EU with a half and full cover, with damage being reduced based on where you stand. Also like XCOM EU, if an enemy is in a position where your cover is useless against him, he flanks you, that is, he will do a lot more damage as you aren't expecting the hit. These combined features make The Bureau one of the most cover-intensive modern games, and makes a good position the difference between life and death.
   
   A good position is not everything, however, as your opponent's AI, a stunningly complex and intelligent system on heavier difficulties, is always on the move, always changing position and trying to get into places from which the most damage can be done. For this reason, constant movement, literal island hopping is needed to ensure the safety of your team. There is never a single map where you can't gain an advantage as the fight progresses, and there is not a map where you can be safe in any one place for long.
   
   To top off a gripping, battlefield motivated gameplay, the game contains a novel plotline that you can truly get into, and offers many interesting plot twists. This along with adequate voice acting and enjoyable graphics makes for an inspired, if not what you expected game.
   
   Ratings:
   Gameplay: 10/10
   UI: 7/10
   AI: 9/10
   Story: 8/10
   Voice acting and graphics: 6/10… Expand

   • 3 of 4 users found this helpful
5. Vicente_ao

   Apr 13, 2016

   7

   he Bureau es un juego bien realizado, dentro de lo que propone esta muy bien llevado a cabo, tiene momentos altos memorables, pero cae tambiénhe Bureau es un juego bien realizado, dentro de lo que propone esta muy bien llevado a cabo, tiene momentos altos memorables, pero cae también en mucho vacío. Si bien nos presenta una trama que avanza acorde a la temática, le falta algo a mi parecer, algunos huecos por ahí o momentos más memorables.
   No es bueno compararlo a la saga Xcom, son cosas muy muy diferentes, la trama trata de enlazar un poco, o despejar dudas, pero en sí, pueden ser vistos como juegos completamente diferentes.
   La jugabilidad es bastante repetitiva, básicamente no hay tanta estrategia como un principio parecía prometer, la fórmula de la victoria es básicamente la misma, te pones tras una pared o lo que sea y espameas las habilidades de tu pelotón y las tuyas y listo. Si bien tiene combates muy entretenidos y desafiantes, como pelear contra mutones de élito o los sectopodos.
   
   Lo bueno:
   - Buenos gráficos
   - Interesante historia
   - Combates muy entretenidos (cuando estás contra los enemigos más duros)
   
   Lo malo:
   
   - La música pudo destacar más
   - Ciertos vacíos en la trama
   - La jugabilidad es muy repetitiva y carente de real estrategia
   - No final Boss
   
   Recomendable para amantes de los aliens, mundo xcom, shooter tercera persona
   
   7.4/10… Expand

   • 0 of 0 users found this helpful
6. PrincessRose

   Mar 21, 2021

   6

   It's an alright game, enjoyed playing it.
   I liked the story, though a bit disappointed that your choices don't affect much.

   • 0 of 0 users found this helpful
7. Evilcalyptic

   Aug 31, 2013

   5

   I have been watching this game since late 2009 waiting for its release. I have no prior exposure to any of the xcoms or anything from theI have been watching this game since late 2009 waiting for its release. I have no prior exposure to any of the xcoms or anything from the series except for what I have read on the lore. Upon finally playing it what I will say is; it could have been so much more than it was. IT was a serious letdown in terms of the storyline. I could live with gameplay inconstancies which it has its fair share of. Such as voices not matching characters later on in the story or unexplained lapses in time. The storyline just doesn't deliver and that is why this game gets such a low rating from me. It felt as though had they brought in good writers it could have excelled even having very little to do with the other xcoms and original lore. Not everything is gameplay as seen by games like Telltales walking dead and The last of us, Both stellar games with central focus on story. Xcom at time also feels like it tries to steel from bioware's mass effect series, which is the right direction if you want to implement intuitive character dialog and progression, but its only a shadow of what it is in dragon age/mass effect. This game was an alright play and I completed it all the way through, meaning to me it wasn't horrible. However the whole time I couldn't wait to complete it to free up the SSD space to play the next game. Don't expect too highly with this game.… Expand

   • 2 of 3 users found this helpful
8. kappapi99

   Feb 11, 2015

   0

   This is not XCOM. It tries to mix XCOM and Mass Effect, taking the best from both genres, but it falls horribly short. The developers reliedThis is not XCOM. It tries to mix XCOM and Mass Effect, taking the best from both genres, but it falls horribly short. The developers relied on the XCOM name to sell a game that is poorly designed. You cannot save at all. The plot destroys the XCOM universe. The gameplay is clumsy. The graphics are decent for an FPS, but that is the only thing going for it. If you are an XCOM fan, then this game is not for you. Worst game to bear the name XCOM since Apocalypse.… Expand

   • 2 of 5 users found this helpful

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