The Bureau: XCOM Declassified

 PlayStation 3
The Bureau: XCOM Declassified Image
Metascore
69

Mixed or average reviews - based on 22 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
6.8

Mixed or average reviews- based on 82 Ratings

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  • Summary: It's 1962. John F. Kennedy is the U.S. President and the Cold War has the nation gripped with fear – but a far more viscous and insidious enemy than communism is threatening America. Known only to a scant few, a covet government unit called The Bureau begins investigating and concealing aIt's 1962. John F. Kennedy is the U.S. President and the Cold War has the nation gripped with fear – but a far more viscous and insidious enemy than communism is threatening America. Known only to a scant few, a covet government unit called The Bureau begins investigating and concealing a series of mysterious attacks by an alien enemy. As special agent William Carter, you make the decisions, pull the trigger and lead your squad in a third-person tactical shooter set within a high-stakes, covert war to defend the human race. The Bureau’s mission is clear – survive, adapt and overcome the enemy threat (Heartbreak Ridge-style) to protect the citizens from the truth. … Expand
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The Bureau: XCOM Declassified - Origin Declassified Trailer

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 22
  2. Mixed: 14 out of 22
  3. Negative: 0 out of 22
  1. LaPS4
    Aug 20, 2013
    81
    This adventurous title from 2K Marin is a very good example of a tactical shooter game. In spite of some unpolished details, the fans of the saga will not be disappointed with The Bureau.
  2. TheSixthAxis
    Aug 19, 2013
    80
    The Bureau has occasional problems with pacing, it could do with a little more polish and it doesn’t revolutionise shooters but it does adroitly step sideways into a totally unfamiliar genre and it expands the greater fiction while doing so. Another successful XCOM mission.
  3. Playstation Official Magazine Australia
    Sep 8, 2013
    80
    Starts slow then builds into a time sink, and each victory feels like a monumental win. Tacticians and action fans finally have something in common to obsess over. [October 2013, p80]
    All this publication's reviews
  4. NowGamer
    Aug 20, 2013
    70
    Undoubtedly a game that has been through development hell, but nonetheless a surprisingly entertaining - if flawed - Mass Effect style shooter.
  5. PSX Extreme
    Aug 23, 2013
    67
    The Bureau: XCOM Declassified isn’t a bad game by any stretch, but it fails to live up to its predecessor. It has the aesthetic personality but it doesn’t have the gameplay personality. The control is fine, the music is a fantastic touch, and the fulfillment one feels after a properly executed mission is significant. But the story, despite glimpses of greatness, lets you down, and there’s just a general feeling of monotony that permeates the entire experience.
  6. PlayStation Universe
    Aug 30, 2013
    65
    A Frankenstein monster of gameplay sensibilities, The Bureau: XCOM Declassified is a good origin story for series fans but doesn't do third-person shooting or real-time strategy well enough to compel enthusiasts of either genre.
  7. Push Square
    Sep 1, 2013
    50
    At times the narrative is incomprehensible and the characters are uninteresting and unlikeable, but it's the mismatch of borrowed gameplay mechanics that really lets The Bureau: XCOM Declassified down. Truly embodying the spirit of the phrase 'jack of all trades, master of none', this is another unfortunate victim of rampant focus testing.

See all 22 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 19
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 19
  3. Negative: 1 out of 19
  1. smoovelai
    Aug 20, 2013
    10
    I don't understand the bad reviews

    Solid Third person shooter, not very innovative in this department but gets the job done and is very    I don't understand the bad reviews

    Solid Third person shooter, not very innovative in this department but gets the job done and is very enjoyable(why take points away for that)

    The tactics are fun and different the game took a lot of risk and i applaud that rather than just being a mass effect 2 clone. I will add the tactics in battle may not be for everyone but if your not a fan of tactics don't rate this game badly because your not good at it

    The story is entertaining enough and made me want to finish the game what else could you ask for? i see too much complaining about what the game isn't but it does not get any credit for what it is

    reviewers rather give games like Saints Row 4 which was just a clone of saints row the third with super powers great scores because its simple minded and easy. I give a game like SR4 a 4-5 its the same thing as saints row the third with annoying super powers i did not even want them in the game wish they were optional.

    Thank you 2k Marin for trying something different the game is solid and fun I hope these biased reviews don't completely mess up your sales game is worth the money    … Expand
  2. KingThorness
    Nov 6, 2019
    10
    This was definitely a hidden gem. An excellent game with an action packed storyline.
  4. fa1601
    Aug 20, 2013
    9
    Aunque digan lo contrario las Criticas,The Bureau: XCOM Declassified, Es un gran Juego! te gusta la serie Falling Skies, este es tu Juego, queAunque digan lo contrario las Criticas,The Bureau: XCOM Declassified, Es un gran Juego! te gusta la serie Falling Skies, este es tu Juego, que mezcla tercera persona, shooter, estrategia tactica!… Expand
  5. Freddo222
    Dec 19, 2014
    8
    I really liked this one. Its a solid cover and shoot third-person-shooter with a cool setting. Sure the AI could be better but you can workI really liked this one. Its a solid cover and shoot third-person-shooter with a cool setting. Sure the AI could be better but you can work around it. Graphics are nice, enemies look good. I also liked the strategic hub, it really worked for me. Overall i would recommend it.… Expand
  6. hokido
    Mar 9, 2016
    7
    I loved Xcom Enemy Unknown so jumped at the chance to get back into the series while this is unlikely to interest many of the more strategyI loved Xcom Enemy Unknown so jumped at the chance to get back into the series while this is unlikely to interest many of the more strategy gaming fans from the original games it is a solid enough 3rd person shooter and hell it is more Xcom which if fine by me

    Graphics 8/10

    Gameplay 7/10

    Story 7/10

    Overall 7/10    … Expand
  7. BaronMonaco
    Apr 29, 2016
    6
    The Bureau is an interesting spin-off for the Xcom franchise, famously known in the strategic gender, let's see how it went.

    Technically    The Bureau is an interesting spin-off for the Xcom franchise, famously known in the strategic gender, let's see how it went.

    Technically you can see right away that the game has been put through "development limbo" (a lot of long delays) with outdated graphics for the time, some framerate issues but fortunately no major bugs. But the main issue on this side is your allies's AI (the enemy is good) that will force you to micro-managing them all the time which would pass if the game wasn't in real time (even when you give an order it only slows time) if you don't tell them exactly what to do, they're worthless. That will impend the game of acquiring any rhythm.

    Concerning the rest of the gameplay you can clearly see the inspiration from Mass Effect, but not as well done as in Bioware's franchise, the conversation system has only minor consequences, and the gunfights are less intense due to two things : the AI of your allies like mentioned above, and the fact that the game works with some sort of arena system with enemies spawning out of nowhere (well from the sky) and you fight them in waves instead of truly walking through the level.

    The story is interesting with a nice 60's setting but the main character is a real d*ck cliche totally unlovable. The actors are not very good either but the story does its job and you want to see what happens next.

    In conclusion The Bureau isn't a bad game, but it's not good either due to numerous flaws (AI, main character, boring gunfights) without anything out of the ordinary except its setting. Advisable only to those who love stories about an alien invasion over fun gameplay.    … Expand
  8. Firmament
    Aug 21, 2013
    0
    You walk around your base, talk to people, and nothing else. after that, you go to a mission, where you take cover and shoot things, then moveYou walk around your base, talk to people, and nothing else. after that, you go to a mission, where you take cover and shoot things, then move to the next combat zone and do the same thing until the mission is over. That's it! Nothing else. Nothing that makes this into an X-COM game.… Expand

See all 19 User Reviews

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Awards & Rankings

94
#94 Best PS3 Game of 2013
68
#68 Most Discussed PS3 Game of 2013
80
#80 Most Shared PS3 Game of 2013