Should You Do Every Mission in XCOM 2? A Comprehensive Guide
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The short answer: Yes, you should strive to complete every mission in XCOM 2, but with strategic prioritization. While technically the game allows you to skip missions, doing so can severely hamper your progress and potentially lead to a losing campaign. The nuances, however, are crucial to understand. It’s not about blindly completing every objective; it’s about balancing risk, reward, and resource management. Let’s delve into why this approach is generally best, and explore the few exceptions where skipping a mission might be considered.
The Importance of Mission Completion
Resources and Progression
XCOM 2 is a game heavily reliant on resource management. Missions are the primary source of these crucial resources: supplies, intel, and experience. Completing missions successfully, especially those that offer a variety of rewards, allows you to upgrade your base, equip your soldiers with better gear, and advance your research. Ignoring missions will dramatically slow down this progress, leaving you behind the curve and facing progressively more challenging enemies with inadequate tools. Furthermore, every completed mission contributes to your global resistance network, strengthening your presence in the region and preventing alien control from becoming absolute.
Preventing Region Loss
The article highlights that ignoring missions can lead to losing contact with a region. This is not an idle threat. Each region is crucial for your global resistance network and losing one is a major setback. It means losing access to valuable resources, potential recruitment grounds, and, most critically, your strategic advantages. Regularly engaging in missions helps maintain and even expand your influence, which is essential for winning the war.
Strategic Advantages
Missions are not just about resources, they often grant access to strategic advantages. Rescuing scientists and engineers accelerates your research and construction times, respectively. Taking on certain missions may uncover hidden facilities or technologies that give you an edge over the aliens. Skipping these objectives means missing out on opportunities that would ease your progression and put you in a better position overall. Think of it as an investment; spending time on early, even seemingly less important missions yields higher returns down the line.
The “Mediocre” Berating
As the article rightly points out, failing or ignoring missions prompts a “mediocre” berating from the Shadowy Councilman. While this might seem like a minor detail, it serves as a constant reminder that every mission counts and that neglecting responsibilities has consequences. It’s a good motivator to keep pushing forward and not let any opportunity slip by.
When Might You Consider Skipping a Mission?
While the vast majority of missions are vital, there might be a few exceptional circumstances where skipping a mission could be justifiable:
High-Risk, Low-Reward Situations
Sometimes, missions are presented that have a very high risk of failure (e.g., heavily guarded supply raids with very few available soldiers) or provide little value compared to the potential losses (e.g., a simple extraction mission when your entire team is critically wounded). In such cases, it may be better to cut your losses and prepare for the next engagement rather than lose valuable soldiers.
Focusing on Strategic Priorities
Occasionally, you may find yourself in a situation where time constraints force you to prioritize. Perhaps you need to rapidly expand your base to counter a new alien threat, or a critical research project requires immediate attention. In these moments, skipping a lower priority mission might be necessary to allocate resources where they will have the most impact. However, this is a balancing act, and over-skipping missions can lead to resource shortages later.
Evacuation over Slaughter
The article rightly emphasizes that “you need to win the war, not just the battles.” Sometimes, it’s better to evacuate and accept a mission failure rather than lose half your squad. Losing a few supplies and intel is always better than losing leveled up soldiers.
XCOM 2: FAQs
1. Can I play XCOM 2 endlessly?
Yes, you can play XCOM 2 indefinitely. After completing the final mission, you are given the option to continue playing from your last save file. The game continues to generate side missions, allowing you to keep playing as long as you wish.
2. Does the game get harder as you progress infinitely?
Absolutely. The opposition will become tougher and enemy encounters will happen more frequently the longer you play, ensuring a challenging experience even after completing the main storyline.
3. What should I prioritize in XCOM 2?
Focus on prioritizing Intel, Scientists, and Engineers. Intel is crucial for purchasing valuable upgrades and items from the Black Market. Scientists accelerate research, and Engineers speed up base construction.
4. Who is the strongest class in XCOM 2?
The Reaper is often considered the strongest class in XCOM 2 due to its powerful infiltration, stealth, and assassination abilities. Other notable classes include Grenadiers for their area-of-effect damage, and Rangers for high close range single target damage.
5. What is the best order to build facilities in XCOM 2?
A balanced approach suggests building the Advanced Warfare Center > Guerrilla Training School > Power Relay > Resistance Comms > Proving Grounds > Psi Lab. This provides a good balance of soldier upgrades, training, power, contact, and advanced capabilities.
6. Did XCOM 2 flop?
No, XCOM 2 was a commercial success, selling over 500,000 digital copies on Steam within its first week, surpassing the sales of its predecessor on release.
7. Will there ever be an XCOM 3?
Firaxis has confirmed there is a future for the XCOM franchise. While XCOM 3 has not been officially announced, it’s safe to assume a new title is likely to come.
8. Is XCOM 2 addictive?
XCOM 2 is indeed a notoriously addictive game thanks to its blend of tactical combat, resource management, and the constant need to improve your soldiers and facilities.
9. Is XCOM 2 kid-friendly?
XCOM 2 is not very kid-friendly due to the presence of graphic violence and mature themes, including some soldiers smoking. Parental guidance is strongly advised.
10. Does time matter in XCOM 2?
Yes, time is a factor in XCOM 2. Aliens will trigger a doomsday meter, which ticks up as they build certain structures. Ignoring this meter will ultimately result in a game over. However, it is less time-restrictive than its predecessor, XCOM: Enemy Unknown.
11. Is it okay to lose soldiers in XCOM 2?
Yes, losing soldiers is a natural part of XCOM 2. You are meant to face failure, lose units, and learn from your mistakes. Don’t be afraid to lose a few soldiers, especially early in the game when you’re using rookies.
12. Is it possible to not lose any countries in XCOM?
Yes, it is possible to keep all countries under your control by focusing on satellites, careful target selection of regions, and a fair bit of luck.
13. Can you save dead soldiers XCOM 2?
Yes, you can carry unconscious, dead, and bleeding-out soldiers to the EVAC zone. Successfully extracting them will allow you to recover any items and equipment they were carrying. Saving wounded soldiers prevents them from bleeding out and can let them return with less serious injuries.
14. Is XCOM 2 luck-based?
While XCOM 2 has elements of luck inherent in its board-game inspiration (especially hit chances), strategic planning, resource management, and team composition are significantly more impactful than luck.
15. Is XCOM 2 scripted?
Missions are semi-scripted. While some general rules dictate when certain mission types occur, the exact placement of enemies, cover, and map layout are procedurally generated, ensuring varied engagements.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, while XCOM 2 allows you to skip missions, doing so is generally a detrimental strategy. You should strive to complete every available mission, but understand that there are times where cutting your losses is necessary. Mastering the balance of risk assessment, resource management, and strategic thinking will lead you to victory against the alien menace and ensure you’re not berated as “mediocre” by the Council.