Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

X-COM: Unknown Terror delivers an engrossing blend of strategic base management and tense turn-based combat drawn from two legendary titles: X-COM: UFO Defense and X-COM: Terror from the Deep. Players must balance research, resource allocation, and soldier deployment as they confront an ever-escalating alien threat. The inclusion of the official Prima strategy guides deepens the experience, offering detailed walkthroughs, weapon statistics, and best practices for mission success.

The campaign layer challenges you to build and maintain multiple bases around the globe or under the ocean surface, depending on the mission set. From intercepting UFOs to researching recovered alien artifacts, each decision has far-reaching consequences. The interface remains faithful to the originals, requiring careful attention to inventory management, technology trees, and personnel fatigue.

On the tactical side, every mission feels like a high-stakes puzzle. Turn-based combat rewards patience, positioning, and thoughtful use of limited ammunition. Whether you’re clearing a crashed saucer in UFO Defense or navigating flooded corridors in Terror from the Deep, the AI adversaries keep you on edge through unpredictable behavior and sudden ambushes.

The Prima guides included in this compilation provide invaluable insights into optimal base layouts, weapon loadouts, and hidden mission targets. Newcomers can avoid common pitfalls—such as underestimating sectoid psionic attacks—while veterans can refine their tactics for maximum efficiency. The synergy between hands-on play and guide-supported strategy elevates the overall difficulty curve into a satisfying and manageable challenge.

Graphics

Although these classics date back to the mid-1990s, X-COM: Unknown Terror’s pixel art retains a timeless charm. The gritty, top-down visuals convey a palpable sense of dread, whether you’re surveying a desert crash site or scouring a sunken base for hostile amphibious aliens. Each tile set is distinct, making it easy to recognize environmental hazards and cover options.

The user interface has been thoughtfully preserved, with crisp, readable menus and icons that honor the original design. Inventory screens, research trees, and geoscape reports remain logically laid out, minimizing the learning curve for returning players. While purists may miss higher resolutions, the lo-fi aesthetic complements the game’s atmosphere of uncertainty and resource scarcity.

Unit and enemy sprites come alive with subtle animations—rifle recoils, flinches under fire, and dramatic alien death throes. These details amplify the tension of every encounter. In Terror from the Deep, bioluminescent backgrounds and aquatic creature designs add a new layer of visual variety, distinguishing it clearly from its predecessor.

The official Prima guide’s artwork and map overlays enhance spatial awareness, providing colored schematics of complex facilities and UFO interiors. By cross-referencing these diagrams with the in-game view, players gain a strategic edge, reducing blind turns and ambush surprises. The result is a cohesive visual toolkit that balances nostalgia with functional clarity.

Story

The narrative arc of X-COM: Unknown Terror unfolds in two distinct but thematically linked acts. UFO Defense thrusts you into the role of Earth’s last line of defense against a covert alien invasion. As panic spreads across nations, your clandestine organization must uncover the extraterrestrial agenda and push back the invaders before humanity is enslaved.

Upon concluding the global UFO crisis, Terror from the Deep shifts the setting beneath the waves. Decades after the surface conflict, a new breed of aquatic aliens emerges from the ocean depths. This sequel expands the lore, revealing that the original alien threat had seeded advanced bioweapons in our planet’s oceans. The result is a startling continuation that keeps players hooked from the first splash to the final confrontation.

While the storytelling is largely emergent and player-driven—fueled by mission outcomes, soldier survival, and random events—the game’s flavor text and mission briefings are rich with Cold War–era paranoia and undersea horror. Each success or failure carries weight, shaping the global panic meter and unlocking new narrative consequences.

The Prima guides offer detailed lore summaries and interview excerpts with the original developers, deepening appreciation for the series’ creative vision. By contextualizing mission objectives and alien physiology, the strategy manuals turn every research breakthrough into a narrative milestone. For players who crave story alongside strategy, this compilation strikes an effective balance.

Overall Experience

X-COM: Unknown Terror stands as a testament to classic game design, expertly combining base management, research progression, and tactical combat. The dual-scenario approach offers substantial playtime: you’ll spend dozens of hours strategizing on the geoscape, followed by intense turn-based skirmishes that test reflexes and wits. The addition of the Prima guides transforms potential frustration into informed decision-making.

Beginners benefit immensely from the step-by-step tutorials, weapon tier breakdowns, and alien physiology dossiers. Seasoned veterans can revisit familiar challenges with fresh strategic insights, pushing themselves to complete “Impossible” difficulty runs or speed through research milestones. The compilation encourages experimentation, whether you favor plasma rifles over lasers or sniper overwatch instead of close-quarters combat.

The compilation’s user interface and operating compatibility have been optimized for modern systems, ensuring smooth installation and play. While purists might yearn for patchless authenticity, the seamless integration of the guides and quality-of-life improvements—such as scalable windows and mouse-driven shortcuts—brings these classics firmly into the 21st century.

In sum, X-COM: Unknown Terror offers a comprehensive package for strategy fans and nostalgia seekers alike. The synergy between UFO Defense, Terror from the Deep, and the official Prima guides creates a layered, replayable experience. For anyone looking to test their command skills against an unforgiving alien menace, this compilation delivers both challenge and reward in spades.