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XCOM vs. Dishonored - Game of 2012

your elite squad of operatives
can grab their plasma guns,
equip their ghost armour and
take the fight back to the alien
menace. Let’s see how they like
being on the wrong end of an
ass-whooping!

Why XCOM Can’t
Be Better Than
Dishonored - Kirk
Well, Ross, I get to go first,
because that way you have a
small chance of winning. I like
a fair contest, and letting you
see my points before you write
yours narrows the gap that my
superior game choice created.
XCOM was good, but at times it
felt like it needed a good polish.
I remember my first encounter
with a Cyberdisc, fondly - - It
appeared and I thought to
myself: how will I beat this new
stand, but ultimately doomed to failure. That you enemy? Look how many health-bars it has!
can feel so desperately outmatched yet still find
enjoyment in the gameplay is an achievement in It advanced along the highway, so I retreated to
itself.
more substantial cover. It made its way within
range, so I backed up a little more, setting up
There is a beautiful tipping point somewhere in defensive positions for this unknown threat. Then,
the game. After holding on by the skin of your it tried to advance some more, I was terrified, it
teeth while your soldiers, scientists and engineers was tense...then it fell off the highway, and died.
struggle on, you suddenly, without noticing it, come This comical occurrence sucked the tension out of
to a dramatic realisation. I’m winning. How did this the game, like an anal probe.
happen? Somehow, in between getting your ass
kicked in Australia and the Nigerians withdrawing Those aliens should really sort out their navigational
their funding you’ve managed to research, build systems.
and train your way to the top. This is the best feeling
in the world; after 10 hours of playing defensive Another thing you mentioned is that tipping point.
XCOM: Enemy Within Special Edition 2013

36 • GameOn Magazine