Xenonauts is a game, in development, which is trying for all intents and purposes to faithfully recreate the gameplay of everybodies favourite Earth vs Aliens turn-based strategy game, XCOM.
I think it is doing a pretty good job, and at present the game has a playable demo downloadable from the (completed, successfully funded at $154,695 of a $50,000 target) Kickstarter page.
Kickstarter Page HereThe game is available to buy to access a playable but definitely incomplete Alpha on Desura, if you missed the Kickstarter.
http://www.xenonauts.com/My view of the game, from what little I have played (I'm saving myself for the full game):
- Nice atmosphere. Cold-war theme allows it to be given its own character, and it feels like a proper turn-based game. It feels increasingly like what you would want a true successor to XCOM to be.
- Air combat much improved from original. More complex, but not daft enough to irritate. A bit like 'Steambirds'.
- Good design decisions, with a strong project lead. The project is not at great danger of suffering from unrealistic goals, or too much feature creep. Kickstarter results may effect the final depth of the game in terms of additional mechanics, tilesets etc. which may otherwise get scrubbed.
- Looks beautiful. All 2d graphics with a coherent design aesthetic.
Reservations:
- It's not 'there' yet.
- Lots of mechanics seem to be suffering in terms of being added finally and to completion. This should hopefully be mitigated by the kickstarter funds allowing them to set up a physical studio where all the little niggles can get worked out by people sitting next to each other, as I think most of these issues are compounded by remote coders / artists etc. and the problems in finally getting things together.
But you shouldn't take my word for it, try the demo out.
Forums:
http://www.goldhawkinteractive.com/forums