Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

X-COM: Terror from the Deep retains the core tactical-combat and resource-management systems that defined its predecessor, X-COM: Enemy Unknown. Players will once again juggle base construction, research projects, and carefully planned ground—or in this case, underwater—missions. The turn-based combat demands meticulous attention to cover, line of sight, and ammo conservation, making every decision feel critical.

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Where Terror from the Deep truly distinguishes itself is in its aquatic missions. Submersible transport pods deploy squads onto the ocean floor, introducing new movement challenges such as slower traversal in water tiles and unpredictable terrain features like coral reefs. You’ll need to adapt your usual strategies: chokepoints shift, explosives behave differently, and visibility is often limited by murky blue screens.

Resource gathering and research take on fresh significance when salvaging alien wreckage from underwater crash sites. New technologies—such as the Sonic Blaster and Coral Gun—offer specialized tools to combat ocean-adapted Sectoids, Sharks, and other deep-sea Chryssalids. The added hand-to-hand weapons, like the Taser Ally and Titan Axe, reward close-quarters tactics but carry higher risk of soldier injury or loss.

Graphics

Graphically, Terror from the Deep uses the same 2D sprite engine that powered the original Enemy Unknown, which gives it a timeless pixel-art charm. Environmental tiles are largely shared, but players will notice updated palettes drenched in deep blues and greens to evoke the undersea setting. Periodic bursts of lava vents or bio-luminescent flora add visual variety to otherwise monotonous reef scapes.

The creature sprites benefit from subtle redesigns, emphasizing fish-like fins, armored shells, and glowing eyes that pierce the gloom. Animated seaweed and shifting water effects convey a sense of motion, even on static tactical maps. However, the limited resolution and color depth can make distinguishing between similar units challenging, especially during hectic combat turns.

Menu screens, research trees, and the strategic Geoscape remain largely untouched from Enemy Unknown, ensuring a familiar interface for series veterans. While modern gamers accustomed to 3D engines may find the visuals dated, the art style complements the game’s methodical pace and encourages players to focus on strategy rather than spectacle.

Story

The narrative premise is elegantly straightforward: forty years after the defeat of the invaders in 2000, humanity has grown complacent—until strange reports of underwater anomalies begin surfacing in 2040. You lead a specialized branch of X-COM tasked with uncovering the new extraterrestrial threat hidden in the oceans’ depths.

Story progression unfolds through mission briefings, intercepted radio chatter, and debriefing reports rather than cinematic cutscenes. This minimalistic approach deepens immersion by placing you directly in command, piecing together alien objectives as you unlock research files and recover crashed UFO fragments from seabeds.

Though Terror from the Deep doesn’t boast a sprawling campaign of scripted plot twists, the relentless tension of underwater assault keeps the stakes high. Each successful mission reveals another fragment of the aliens’ plan, culminating in a dramatic push to the ocean floor’s core. The lack of verbose exposition may feel sparse to some, but it aligns well with the series’ “player-as-commander” ethos.

Overall Experience

Terror from the Deep stands as a challenging evolution of the X-COM formula that will satisfy veterans craving more unforgiving tactical puzzles. The heightened difficulty means mistakes are often fatal, so expect a steep learning curve—especially when transitioning from land-based skirmishes to submerged operations. Patience, planning, and adaptability are the keys to success.

Casual strategy fans might find the slower pace and lack of hand-holding intimidating, but those who relish meticulous resource optimization and nail-biting firefights will feel right at home. The undersea theme, though subtle, injects fresh life into familiar mechanics and offers a compelling reason to revisit the series in its early days.

Overall, X-COM: Terror from the Deep delivers a richly strategic experience wrapped in evocative pixel art and atmospheric sound design. Its blend of base management, research progress, and high-stakes tactical missions makes it a must-play for aficionados of classic turn-based strategy—and an intriguing historical footnote for newcomers curious about the roots of modern tactical gaming.

Retro Replay Score

8.2/10