UFO: Aftershock PC

UFO: Aftershock for PC is the sequel of a somewhat mediocre UFO: Aftermath. The first game was an attempt to create a strategy game based on the legacy of UFO: Enemy Unknown from 1994 – sadly, the result wasn’t satisfying at all, because even if Aftermath maintained the spirit of the original game, the gameplay was unduly streamlined compared to its predecessor.

Plot

The plot of the sequel takes place in 2054, 50 years after the catastrophe that made the Earth’s surface inhospitable for humans. The remnants of our species had immigrated to a levitating island called Laputa, but even there the hardships continue, in form of a revolt against the overly corrupt authority. The conflict ended with the destruction of the island, and humans were forced to choose the ravaged Earth as the place of shelter, which by that time was in the hands of aliens. The players’ task is to retake their homeland from the hands of the invaders – sector by sector, country by country.

Gameplay

During the development of UFO: Aftershock, the developers have taken the players’ comments to heart, and increased the player action set with a larger interaction with the environment, while the development of the player’s soldiers have been thoroughly diversified. Now, the player can order his subordinates to enter a building, tell the sniper to take a position on the roof, while the building itself can collapse as a result of combat. On the other hand, before a mission each soldier can be beefed up using implants or varied military equipment.

We are still dealing with a hybrid of two genres: a strategy game and a tactical action game. When it comes to the first part, the player’s task is to create bases, research, recruit soldiers, and react to the alien presence. When it comes to the second part, the player leads a team of up to seven soldiers during the missions, in which our objective is to exterminate aliens, saving important people, retrieving valuable artifacts, as well as restarting a factory, or securing resources, etc.

Technical aspects

The game seamlessly incorporates the strategic and the tactical elements. Among new elements found in the game we can mention new technologies to research, new weapons to acquire or develop. The ranks of both sides are reinforced by new enemies, and new allies alike. For people liking to thoroughly manage their domains, a new management option have been introduced, along with the increased emphasis of RPG elements, and more base development options. The player takes part in a breathtaking plot, with a non-linear course strictly depending on the player’s actions. Our soldiers are also an important part of the whole scheme, with each having individual stats such as strength, speed, agility, willpower, intelligence, perception, and individual traits, making them useful with various types of weapons.

Last updated on 10 December 2007