Recent reviews by BS315

Absolutely brilliant puzzle game with a very abstract story and world where I didn't understand anything that's going on. But it didn't matter. Because I was having so much fun solving the puzzles.

A welcome return to the best fraction and amphibian biology game ever. Now with added DLC economics simulator!

Hard but satisfying puzzle game that bended my brain beyond recognition.

VR's Killer App. Simple. I would've bought a set just for that game.

Developers really could be a bit more communicative, but since the PC modders pretty much worked out every possible complaint I could have about this game, that's no biggie.

Apart from a crappy save system (yeah, ok, immersion is nice and all, but being unable to let people who visit my place start from the beginning without shifting save files around is NOT COOL), pretty much the best VR experience available in Steam.

One of the best expansions to a game I've ever played. Mixes up and enhances almost every aspect of the very solid foundation of the base game, making the new walkthrough exciting and filled with possibilities. The Chosen are wonderful villains, both game-wise and as as characters, and the faction soldiers bring new interesting possibilities to combat. But most of all - the 'tired' and 'covert op' mechanics mean you constantly need to switch your soldiers, hence - your tactics, between missions, pulling you out of your comfort zone repeatedly, which is always part of the XCOM charm.

Do note, though, that this is NOT for new XCOM 2 players. You better be a normal campaign veteran before stepping into War of the Chosen.

Two issues, though:
1. Using the recommended integration with the DLC content of Shen's Last Gift and the Alien Rulers feels... disappointing. The rulers are introduced with barely a text box, plot-wise, and the SPARKs are just... there. I'm thinking that it might be better to actually switch off the integration. The pace might be a bit off, but at the moment it feels very weird to have them in there. Haven't actually tried that, though. Will probably edit the review when I do.

2. The endgame segment, which suffered from being too easy before after the Alien Rulers were introduced, is now even easier. The faction heroes combined with the equipment from the fallen chosen and the alien rulers' armor makes the missions before the final mission a little more then a plot-grind until you unlock the final missions, and make the final mission itself a lot easier. It's not much of a problem - the game is amazing up until that point and there's some charm to finally being over-powered, but I really wish that some of the DLC that already exists for the game will address this issue somehow.

All in all, though, a wonderful expansion.

I've been playing strategy games for more than 20 years, and I can't remember anything exciting me as much as this. The combination of blind luck with the amount of tactical options is just right, the setting is great, the tension is balanced perfectly and the mods make up for the little flaws that it does have.

It was a bit shaky at launch, but now runs as smooth as butter (could have shorter loading times, though). It is a bit unintuitive and cruel more than it should be on the first run - but after a while you don't really feel it. Great game and an amazing achievement for Firaxis.

Plus, with the DLC you can turn your enemies into hats. hats!

Longer review, but in hebrew: http://www.gamepad.co.il/archives/5875

Probably the best co-op experience I played since Portal 2. Still shooting for the 100% with my wife, but already itching for a DLC. Expansion. Sequel. Whatever. Just give it to me.

Also, mac support would be nice.

(Hebrew review, here: http://www.gamepad.co.il/archives/6209)

The difficulty curve is all over the place and the puzzle design is sometimes confusing and/or annoying, but solving the more difficult puzzles is oh so satisfying, and they twist and tease your brain in ways the original Portal 2 only hinted at. Overall, lots of fun for those who aren't afraid of spending 40 minutes on a single test chamber.

Played it for 40 minutes. Repeatedly failed at night 2. Almost soiled myself. I'm never touching this game ever again.

Highly recommended. 10/10.