X-COM: Enforcer
Encyclopedia
X-COM: Enforcer is the fifth game in the X-COM
series, but takes place in a time line separate to that established by the first four games of the series. This game was presented as an action shoot'em up game instead of tactical turn-based strategy
as in previous games.
, funding was being provided to a program tasked with creating the ultimate robot warrior, led by a Professor Able Standard. However, owing to funding cuts by nations involved with the X-Com program, they were forced to abandon the project. Professor Standard refused to stop the project, carrying it on in secret in the Nevada desert. On completion, Enforcer was unleashed on the invading alien hordes.
Although set during the first alien war, the story portrayed in the game is not reflective of the canon of the game series. The game follows Enforcer as he defeats alien forces throughout the United States, including several special alien creations aimed to destroy him. In the end, Able Standard discovers the alien mothership, which is behind the recent attacks on Earth. It is about to unleash an attack on Earth, and only Enforcer can stop it. Even though professor is mortally wounded by aliens, he, in his last moments, sends Enforcer through a teleport right to the mothership. Eventually this leads to a showdown with a cloaked alien leader known as "High Ethereal", who taunts the Enforcer, and after the Ethereal is defeated the Mothership self-destructs and Enforcer is jettisoned into space, with the scientist's dying words echoing through its mind before fading to black.
mode, the player assumes the role of the Enforcer. The game takes place from a 3rd person perspective and uses both the keyboard and mouse as controls. The aim of each level revolves mainly around killing aliens and rescuing hostages. Each kill results in "data points" being dropped by the deceased aliens, which Enforcer can pick up and use between missions to accomplish research. Enforcer can also pick up "Unresearched objects" which expands the available research paths resulting in new weapons and armour.
The aim of majority of the missions is to destroy alien transporter drones to prevent them from teleporting into various sites around the transporter. Some mission has the player to survive from alien waves, protecting important facilities, and fighting bosses.
Puzzles which present themselves in the game are simple and the focus of gameplay centres on continual action and continual masses of aliens.
IGN
claimed that the game is "pretty much nonstop action" and that it was perfect for "When [you've] only got fifteen minutes to kill", giving it a score of 8/10.
Gamespot
noted that "It's as mindless of a shooter as they come, and you can't help but be disappointed at the thought of this, in light of the series' roots as a mentally stimulating strategy game," with a review score of 64.
Computer Games Magazine
was more harsh, claiming the game had "All the complexity and depth of a frying pan", giving it half marks.
and X-COM: Genesis
. Given that Hasbro Interactive
went out of business shortly after the release of X-COM: Enforcer, it's seen to be a mash of Alliance and Genesis resources in order to quickly make something at least marketable with the X-COM name. This can be seen in the game codes with some enemy model names having the Alliance alien Ascadian tags on them, as well as what was seen to be a room of the "Patton" spaceship being used for the scientist's hideout instead (a keen eye can spot the X-Com: Alliance armor hung on the sides).
X-COM
X-COM is a series of strategy games created by Julian Gollop. In 2010 2K Marin announced the official reboot of the series, entitled simply XCOM. The original game has a cult following.- Original series :...
series, but takes place in a time line separate to that established by the first four games of the series. This game was presented as an action shoot'em up game instead of tactical turn-based strategy
Turn-based strategy
A turn-based strategy game is a strategy game where players take turns when playing...
as in previous games.
Plot
The game is set during the First Alien War in 1999. Unmentioned in the storyline as played out by X-COM: UFO DefenseX-COM: UFO Defense
UFO: Enemy Unknown is a critically acclaimed strategy video game created by Julian Gollop and published by MicroProse Software in 1993...
, funding was being provided to a program tasked with creating the ultimate robot warrior, led by a Professor Able Standard. However, owing to funding cuts by nations involved with the X-Com program, they were forced to abandon the project. Professor Standard refused to stop the project, carrying it on in secret in the Nevada desert. On completion, Enforcer was unleashed on the invading alien hordes.
Although set during the first alien war, the story portrayed in the game is not reflective of the canon of the game series. The game follows Enforcer as he defeats alien forces throughout the United States, including several special alien creations aimed to destroy him. In the end, Able Standard discovers the alien mothership, which is behind the recent attacks on Earth. It is about to unleash an attack on Earth, and only Enforcer can stop it. Even though professor is mortally wounded by aliens, he, in his last moments, sends Enforcer through a teleport right to the mothership. Eventually this leads to a showdown with a cloaked alien leader known as "High Ethereal", who taunts the Enforcer, and after the Ethereal is defeated the Mothership self-destructs and Enforcer is jettisoned into space, with the scientist's dying words echoing through its mind before fading to black.
Gameplay
In single playerSingle player
A Single-player video game is a video game where input from only one player is expected throughout the course of the gaming session. "Single-player game" usually implies a game that can only be played by one person, while "single-player mode" usually refers to a game mode for a single player, where...
mode, the player assumes the role of the Enforcer. The game takes place from a 3rd person perspective and uses both the keyboard and mouse as controls. The aim of each level revolves mainly around killing aliens and rescuing hostages. Each kill results in "data points" being dropped by the deceased aliens, which Enforcer can pick up and use between missions to accomplish research. Enforcer can also pick up "Unresearched objects" which expands the available research paths resulting in new weapons and armour.
The aim of majority of the missions is to destroy alien transporter drones to prevent them from teleporting into various sites around the transporter. Some mission has the player to survive from alien waves, protecting important facilities, and fighting bosses.
Puzzles which present themselves in the game are simple and the focus of gameplay centres on continual action and continual masses of aliens.
Characters
X-COM: Enforcer features a few central characters, plus a bestiary of normal enemies which player fights throughout the game. The game is set during the X-COM: Enemy Unknown, so many enemies may be familiar to those who played this game. The returning enemies are: Sectoids, Mutons, Chryssalids, Snakemen, Sectopods, Reapers, and a single Ethereal. Other enemies unique to the game include giant gorilla-like mutants, robotic suicide bombers, and flying humans turned cyborgs under alien control.- The Enforcer - main character of the game. A powerful robot, specially designed to eradicate aliens.
- Professor Able Standard - the creator of the Enforcer and his operator, mentor, and only friend.
- Giant Reapers - first boss, a giant, acid spitting, two-legged monstrosity. Later returns as a normal enemy.
- Mutated Chryssalids - second boss battle is a struggle with two of these grotesque, dangerous creatures. Later encountered as normal enemies.
- Cyberbeasts - third boss battle is a confrontation with three of them. These monsters are combination of technology, weaponry, and Earth's animal inhabitants fused together into a deadly killing machine. Later encountered as normal enemies.
- Wargon - fourth boss, an attacking, heavily-armed column-like ship sent to destroy the Enforcer.
- Mondellus - fifth boss, an ugly, English-speaking, tank-like cyborg created by aliens to destroy the Enforcer.
- Arachnapod - sixth boss, a spider-like robot created by aliens from Earth's weaponry. The Enforcer also encounters a second Arachnapod during his assault of the alien mothership.
- High Ethereal - final boss and the leader of alien forces storming Earth. This cloaked creature of immense mental power is the highest ranking member of the Ethereals from the original "X-Com: Enemy Unknown". The High Ethereal is able to communicate with Earth inhabitants, including Enforcer, and evidently holds a great hatred for them.
Critical response
Reviews for X-COM: Enforcer were mixed, receiving an overall Metascore of 65.IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
claimed that the game is "pretty much nonstop action" and that it was perfect for "When [you've] only got fifteen minutes to kill", giving it a score of 8/10.
Gamespot
GameSpot
GameSpot is a video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information. The site was launched in May 1, 1996 by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. It was purchased by ZDNet, a brand which was later purchased by CNET Networks. CBS Interactive, which...
noted that "It's as mindless of a shooter as they come, and you can't help but be disappointed at the thought of this, in light of the series' roots as a mentally stimulating strategy game," with a review score of 64.
Computer Games Magazine
Computer Games Magazine
Computer Games Magazine was a computer gaming print magazine. It was formerly Computer Games Strategy Plus, and before that, Strategy Plus, which had been founded as Games International in the UK in 1988. While its initial focus was on strategy games, it covered a wide range of game genres...
was more harsh, claiming the game had "All the complexity and depth of a frying pan", giving it half marks.
Development
During production of the game, Hasbro canceled two other X-COM games that were in production: X-COM: AllianceX-COM: Alliance
X-COM: Alliance was a cancelled video game in the science fiction series X-COM, being developed by first MicroProse, then Hasbro Interactive and eventually Atari from 1995 until 2002...
and X-COM: Genesis
X-COM: Genesis
X-COM: Genesis was a computer game in development in the X-COM series. It was being produced by original MicroProse employees, then working for Hasbro Interactive who bought out the game developer. Production took place in the original MicroProse offices in Chapel Hill, North Carolina...
. Given that Hasbro Interactive
Hasbro Interactive
Hasbro Interactive was an American video game production and publishing subsidiary of Hasbro, the large game and toy company.Hasbro Interactive was formed late in 1995 in order to compete in the computer and video game arena. Several Hasbro properties, such as Monopoly and Scrabble, had already...
went out of business shortly after the release of X-COM: Enforcer, it's seen to be a mash of Alliance and Genesis resources in order to quickly make something at least marketable with the X-COM name. This can be seen in the game codes with some enemy model names having the Alliance alien Ascadian tags on them, as well as what was seen to be a room of the "Patton" spaceship being used for the scientist's hideout instead (a keen eye can spot the X-Com: Alliance armor hung on the sides).