X-COM (Video Game): Difference between revisions

* [[Redshirt Army]]: The XCOM HQ security that you have command over {{spoiler|during a surprise attack by the aliens on XCOM HQ itself}}. Even compared to rookies, their sole purpose it seems is to serve as easily panicked cannon fodder, buying just enough time for your well-trained squad to get the job done. Though those security personnel who ''do'' manage to get promoted tend to join the more distinguished ranks.

* [[Running the Asylum]]: A meta example. The developers are all fans of the original games given a shot at their own take on the series. Despite concerns that the resulting product would suffer as a result, ''it worked.''

* [[Shout-Out]]: To [[Gerry Anderson]]'s ''[[UFO]]'' TV show (which largely inspired the original X-COM): while the player is at HQ, Bradford may make a comment about picking up a transmission from "somebody calling himself Ed Straker going on about 'shadow operatives'."

* [[Spy Satellites]]: Used to search for UFOs outside of your main base's radar coverage. They also serve as reassurances to Council nations under their coverage, giving XCOM additional funding and bonuses in the process.

* [[Deep-Cover Agent]]: How EXALT agents managed to elude XCOM and the Council prior to their discovery. XCOM can also send in a soldier to go undercover in an EXALT cell in order to either retrieve valuable data or undermine its operations.

* [[Everyone Has Standards]]: Dr. Vahlen, for all her obsessions with [[For Science!|SCIENCE]], balks at the excessive lengths EXALT go to genetically augment its agents.

* [[Foil]]: EXALT, which serve as this to both the Council (being a secretive organization seeking to [[Take Over the World]]) and XCOM (given how it intends to use the aliens' technologies and abilities for their own ends). {{spoiler|Even EXALT's HQ is meant to be this for XCOM's base of operations, looking like an upscale if decadent corporate office suite.}}

* [[Gratuitous Foreign Language]]: Foreign language voice tracks are introduced to further emphasize the [[Multinational Team]] aspect of XCOM, such as French, German, Polish and Russian.

** The titular Chosen in ''War of the Chosen'' are a trio of highly skilled alien siblings who are sent in by the Elders to take down XCOM and any serious threat to them.

* [[Cerebus Retcon]]: Played with. While the game follows the bad ending of EU/EW, effectively rendering your efforts there moot, it also strongly implies that any successful missions and victorious campaigns players had there {{spoiler|are little more than mental simulations in the Commander's head, [[Deconstruction|which ADVENT's been using for decades to better hone its own forces]] until XCOM finally saves the Commander.}}

* [[Complacent Gaming Syndrome]]: Averted. The introduction of turn-limited missions, more varied foes and smarter enemy tactics are intended to prevent you from playing the same way and encourage different approaches.

* [[Crap Saccharine World]]: The united ADVENT-run world is on the surface rather pleasant and utopian...so long as you keep in line, stay in the refurnished cities and are otherwise not a target for the aliens' myriad abductions.

* [[For Science!]]: Dr. Tygan doesn't particularly approve of Dr. Vahlen's more brute methods. But even he admits that there's a thrill in working under the tense conditions XCOM tends to operate under.

* [[Game Mod]]: The game is stated to be very moddable, with a number of mods already in development and some expected to come out the day of release thanks to the toolkit made readily available.

* [[Generation Xerox]]: Dr. Shen's daughter, An-Yi/"Lily" Shen, serves as XCOM's new chief engineer.

* [[Glamour Failure]]: The Thin Men are still around, and much more human in their looks and actions [[Villain with Good Publicity|for the sake of PR]], if the ADVENT Speaker is anything to go by. On the other hand, their reptilian skin is still visible and they still have to don sunglasses. But by the time ''XCOM 2'' takes place, it's not as big of a concern given that the aliens had already won; the role they used to play on the battlefield has been taken up by the Viper, who are what the Thin Men were prior to their modification.

** A number of the missions given by the Resistance involves capturing or killing certain VIPs that happen be ''actual'' human collaborators working with ADVENT.

* [[Light Is Not Good]]:

** ADVENT Shieldbearers wear white versions of their standard armor, but can make life hell by buffing up other enemies with extra shielding.

* [[Losing the Team Spirit]]: The deaths of even one of your soldiers on the field can cause any comrades-in-arms nearby to panic, momentarily losing control in the process.

** In addition to the upgraded Sectopod for the aliens, ADVENT has access to its own MEC troopers, which are implied to be based on what XCOM had back in ''Enemy Within'' but otherwise completely unmanned.

** The ''Shen's Last Gift'' DLC introduces the SPARK class, allowing XCOM to create its own answer to ADVENT's MECs.

* [[More Than Mind Control]]: As aliens' communications network is partially psionic in nature, it's implied that this is how ADVENT manages to [[Villain With Good Publicity|maintain its propaganda virtually unchallenged]] despite the Resistance's efforts. {{spoiler|Until XCOM rigs said network to broadcast the truth.}}

* [[Multinational Team]]: Further highlighted this time around, especially given how XCOM members still display their heritage and even their national flags in defiance to ADVENT.

* [[Omniscient Council of Vagueness]]: The Council, or what's left of it, has long since succumbed to ADVENT. There are still those on the inside however who are trying to support the Resistance. The Informant in particular, previously the Council's spokesman, serves as XCOM's main contact to what's going on within ADVENT.

* [[One World Order]]/[[Vichy Earth]]: ADVENT, which has "unified" the world and rules it on behalf of its alien masters.

* [[Post Apunkalyptic Armor]]: The ''Anarchy's Children'' DLC provides customization options that can make soldiers look the part.

* [[Posthumous Character]]: Dr. Shen in the ''Shen's Last Gift'' DLC. Subverted however with Dr. Vahlen in ''Alien Hunters'' {{spoiler|as it's strongly implied that she's still alive somewhere}}.

** Averted by the Skirmishers in ''War of the Chosen''. Although they're former ADVENT soldiers, they've renounced even the use of their [[Starfish Language]], though they're still shown to have a tendency to slide into [[Poirot Speak]].

* [[Stealth-Based Mission]]: Most deployments usually begin with "concealment," allowing your soldiers to move about undetected and even set up ambushes on unsuspecting foes. At least, so long as they don't make noise or get within sight of enemies.

* [[Super Prototype]]: Played with in the case of ADVENT Stun Lancers. According to the backstory, they're the first to be deployed by ADVENT following the formal "unification" of Earth and thus don't have the same degree of alien enhancement as their later-generation counterparts. On the other hand, they're physically stronger, owing to their original purpose of crowd control by brute force.

** For XCOM in particular, Shen can develop prototype gear, be it armor or weapons, that are unique and decidedly powerful. The catch being that only one prototype or special weapon/armor can be made at any given time. Meaning that on average, only a relative handful of your soldiers can equip them and if they're left behind they're [[Lost Forever]].

** On the other hand, fail a mission or ignore a request, and the Resistance forces in a region will go dark, prompting XCOM to once more seek them out and regain their trust.

** Averted within XCOM, though. While Bradford, Tygan and Shen won't call you out for poor performance, they noticeably grow more disillusioned, shaken and hopeless.

* [[Your Terrorists Are Our Freedom Fighters]]: XCOM's new function is to run around causing trouble for the alien government. Whether it's terrorism or fighting for freedom is a matter of interpretation.