@seppli: I'd say the core problem lies in the fact that X-Com has always been a very gameplay focused game, so changing the gameplay while keeping the theme is basically like making a completely different game. The situation reminds me of Syndicate really. There was nothing wrong with that game, but calling it Syndicate didn't do it any favors. There isn't really any reason why any of the iterations they showed needed to be linked to X-Com, and basically all it has done for them is create a lot of fervor against their game.
True enough. Especially the first iteration of The Bureau could have been great, if it wasn't burdened by XCOM's heritage. I love X-Files-style secret alien invasions. Yet as it stands, I don't think The Bureau in its current iteration is necessarily unworthy of XCOM's heritage either. For one, it's way too soon to condemn it so completely, as some seem to do.
2K Marin tries hard to capture the mechanical soul of the turnbased games, and translate it into a 3rd person action experience. Yes - the resulting gameplay looks similar to Mass Effect, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. I for one love Mass Effect, and plenty seem to have latched-on to Mass Effect's gameplay mechanics to the point of making ME3's coop, which is soley driven by its mechanical rather than narrative hooks, a longterm success for Bioware.
It's not that hard for me to imagine a true-to-XCOM action gameplay experience, using Mass Effect as a stepping stone. More granular and precise squad mechanics. More interesting and diverse powers. Larger squads. More interesting squadmate customization and more intricate equipment management. Perma-death. In my imagination - by adding the hooks of the turnbased game to Mass Effect-like action mechanics, I end up with a compelling and distinctly XCOM-feeling gameplay experience. At least that's how the inner eye of an optimist sees it.
Of course Bioware did a killer job with its gunplay in ME3, and is commonly quite underrated and underappreciated in that regard. It remains to be seen if 2K Marin can craft a similarly rewarding shooting experience. I sure hope so. I enjoy good games.
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