Wage a global war of resistance against an alien invasion. Command turn-based tactical battles, build a network of covert bases, directly control your fighter wings, and achieve strategic victory in a simulation of asymmetric warfare against a technologically superior foe.
Players command a squad of soldiers tasked with eliminating the alien threat on the ground. The turn-based tactical combat requires careful positioning, use of cover, and management of action points. Players must make tactical decisions about how to engage the enemy, whether to focus on suppressing fire, flanking maneuvers, or attempting to capture aliens alive for research purposes. The game's destructible environments add an extra layer of strategy, as cover can be destroyed and line-of-sight can change dynamically.
The game features a wide variety of alien enemy types, each with their own unique abilities and behaviors. Enemies range from lightly armored but agile aliens to heavily armored behemoths that require specialized weapons to take down. The inclusion of "Cleaner" human enemies adds another faction for players to contend with, further diversifying the tactical challenges.
While the game does not feature a traditional class-based system, players can customize their squad's capabilities through the equipment and weapons they provide. Soldiers gain experience and stat increases over time, allowing players to mold them into specialized roles like snipers, medics, or heavy weapons experts. This encourages experimentation with different squad compositions to find the right balance of firepower, mobility, and support.
Beyond the tactical combat, the game features a robust strategic layer where players must manage their global network of covert bases. This includes researching new technologies, manufacturing equipment, and deploying their limited resources to respond to the alien threat across the world. Players must carefully balance their priorities, as overspending in one area can leave other regions vulnerable. The game's emergent nature, with UFOs and alien activity dynamically evolving, ensures that no two playthroughs are exactly the same.
Reviewers consistently praise the high replayability of the game, thanks to its complex simulations and the varied ways in which the events can unfold. The combination of randomized mission layouts, unpredictable alien behaviors, and the player's own strategic choices ensures that each campaign feels unique. This, coupled with the game's difficulty and unforgiving nature, encourages players to experiment with different approaches and strive for improvement with each new run.