UFO: Extraterrestrials
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This article or section contains information about an unreleased video game. It is likely to contain information of a speculative nature, and the content may change dramatically as more information becomes available. |
UFO: Extraterrestrials (set to be released 16 April 2007), is a Microsoft Windows game that aims to be an unofficial sequel to the highly acclaimed X-COM :UFO Defense (best selling game of 1995). Developed by Chaos Concept, the game picks up where the original X-COM left off, incorporating a twist of the aliens defeating Earth. Play takes place on a newly colonized planet Esperanza, where the alien threat has just arrived.
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[edit] Story
Planet Esperanza - colonized by spaceship Magaleansh in 2020.
Many years have passed since the first colonists arrived at Esperanza. Through hard work and determination, they gradually setup base on their adopted planet. Over time, leaders emerged, a government was formed, commerce flourished and the pilgrims from Earth eventually made the planet of the three suns their home.
But recently, a deep space monitor registered a strong and mysterious reading. Esperanza's scientists scrambled to investigate the disturbance and made an alarming discovery - a wormhole had opened close to their planet. And even more disturbing, something had come through... and was headed directly toward them.
Concerns of an alien invasion abounded. In response, the United Government of Esperanza decided to send two recon ships, Lewis and Clark, to ascertain the truth. After two weeks time, the recon ships arrived the location of the mysterious reading... and, as feared, discovered an alien vessel.
But apparently the ship had somehow failed while en route Esperanza. It had crash landed on to a small planet in the system. The crews of Lewis and Clark landed on the surface, explored the crash site and recovered an alien computer and a chamber full of hibernating aliens. Upon returning home, an analysis of the computer and of the aliens took place at The Esperanza Security Center. What the military scientists discovered was terrible news. Earth had been invaded and subjugated by alien hordes. They had plundered the planet's terrestrial resources and enslaved the humans.
Immediately an emergency council was called to decide what to do. The council quickly determined that the fate that had befallen Earth could befall them. They vowed to be ready if the aliens decided to invade. To defend against the aliens, Esperanza gathered the planet's best scientists, engineers, and soldiers and formed them into a single unit - the Counter alien Force (CAF).
And it is on the shoulders of that force that the very survival of the human race now rests.
[edit] Gameplay
Gameplay in UFO: Extraterrestrials is similar to the original X-COM games. The player starts out with a base where they can add buildings, allocate scientists, equip soldiers, and vehicles, manufacture equipment, etc.
The research side of the game is extensive with about 120 projects to complete. These projects lead to, amongst other things, improved weaponry, equipment and understanding of the aliens.
When a UFO is spotted on the global view (or geoscape as it is known) the player must send interceptors to shoot it down. Once the UFO has been shot down the player can send in a transport of soldiers to carry out a tactical mission to neutralise the aliens and capture their equipment.
The tactical missions are turn based with no real-time option. The tactical squad that is sent to the crash site can include robots and tanks as well as soldiers. Tanks and robots take up more space in the transport however, and space is limited.
Tactical missions can take approximately 30 minutes. There are about 200 pre-made levels, when a mission begins a level is chosen according to the environment where the action takes place. The environment in missions is destructible.
The aliens can also start a tactical mission if they attack one of the players bases. Aliens can attack the players base with UFOs, in which case it is a fight between your SAM sites and the UFO.
The more aliens a soldier kills the more experienced he becomes. There are star ranks that show this and titles linked with the stars. The following is a list of the rank titles:
- 1) Rookie
- 2) Private
- 3) Private First Class
- 4) Corporal
- 5) Corporal First Class
- 6) Sergeant
- 7) Sergeant First Class
- 8) Staff Sergeant
- 9) Warrant Officer
- 10) Lieutenant
- 11) Captain
- 12) Colonel
When a soldier accumulates enough exp. he/she goes up a rank. Soldiers lose exp. when they are recovering from injury in the hospital, they can even lose a rank if they are in there long enough. However, when a soldier comes back from the hospital he or she will gain exp. faster for a time.
An extensive gameplay movie can be found on the Downloads page of the official site.
