When I was growing up I would watch my brother and his friend play the epic RTS game Red Alert and I of course was envious but I also became interested in the RTS genre. A couple of years later I got my own copy of Red Alert 2 and I loved the power I felt while being a armchair commander. I had the ability to send hundreds of people to their death all at the click of a button and it was a glorious feeling. I then fell in love with many different kinds of RTS games such as Star Craft and Civilization and I have loved this genre ever since.

Then a couple of years ago I wanted to try Supreme Commander put on the Xbox 360 and it just stunk, very poor controls, even worse graphics, and very oversimplified game play compared to the PC version so I gave up on console RTS games.

Then I heard about XCOM and how Firaxis (the studio behind Civilization) were making a console version that in some opinions controlled better than the PC version so I went out and got it, and I regret that decision because I have put in dozens of wonderful hours and am nowhere near done. This game is a great remake of the original and I am amazed at what Firaxis achieved. The game play is extremely challenging and addicting, the graphics are up to snuff and the controls are just downright perfect.

I love the squad aspect of the game because you get attached to your soldiers (you ca also name them) and when they die you feel depressed that you lost a valued comrade. The turn based game play is very nerve racking as you have no idea what will happen after your turn is over, I have heard the expression that this game is like chess and it really is your placement of soldiers is the difference between life and death.

There is also the base element which is another game in itself, managing resources, tech trees, ufo fighting, and panic suppression is just as addicting as the combat portion. When I lost a nations funding because of a choice not to send them relief I felt it on a ver wide level. This game should be played by anyone who values a challenge and has the brains and brawn to fight a very formidable opponent. And this game is perfect on every single platform it is available for!