Should I Start With XCOM: Enemy Unknown or Enemy Within?
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The question of whether to dive into XCOM: Enemy Unknown or immediately jump to XCOM: Enemy Within is a common one for new players of the celebrated tactical strategy series. The short answer, and the recommendation you’ll find across most veteran players is: start with XCOM: Enemy Unknown (the base game) first. This is not because Enemy Within is bad – quite the opposite, it enhances and expands the original experience significantly. However, beginning with the base game provides a more gradual learning curve and allows you to appreciate the changes and additions of Enemy Within to their fullest extent.
Let’s delve deeper into why this is the case.
Why Start With Enemy Unknown First?
A Gentler Introduction to XCOM
XCOM: Enemy Unknown offers a relatively streamlined introduction to the demanding world of alien invasion defense. You’ll get to grips with the core mechanics like base building, research, squad management, and tactical combat without the added complexity of Enemy Within’s new systems. The base game allows you to learn the ropes, understand the limitations, and then appreciate the empowering enhancements of the expansion pack.
Appreciating the Improvements
When you first play XCOM: Enemy Unknown, you’ll experience the game in its original form. Then, upon playing Enemy Within, you’ll be able to truly grasp the impact of the new additions such as:
- MEC Troopers: Genetically enhanced soldiers with powerful robotic suits.
- Gene Mods: The ability to augment your soldiers with alien-derived genetic modifications.
- New Mission Types: Challenging new scenarios that test your tactical acumen.
- EXALT Threat: A human faction adding political intrigue and subterfuge.
- New Equipment and Abilities: A vast array of new weapons, tools, and soldier abilities.
These elements, impactful as they are, can feel overwhelming if introduced all at once. Beginning with the vanilla experience allows you to experience these elements as true upgrades rather than a confusing barrage of mechanics. You’ll be able to understand the strategic nuances of how these new systems enhance the original game, rather than just trying to make sense of a huge number of new options all at once.
A Different Game Experience
The gameplay experience shifts considerably with Enemy Within. While the fundamental structure of the story remains the same, the new systems introduced by the expansion pack significantly alter the way you approach combat, base management, and overall strategy. Many players consider the expansion pack to be a superior version of the game, but that’s precisely why you should experience the less complex vanilla version first.
By experiencing the simpler version of the game first, you can appreciate how the expansion transforms the experience and appreciate its additional layers of strategy. It makes for a much richer and more rewarding playthrough of Enemy Within.
Playing Order: Enemy Unknown, then Enemy Within
The best approach is to complete a full playthrough of XCOM: Enemy Unknown before moving on to XCOM: Enemy Within. This allows you to fully appreciate the subtle differences and the huge improvements introduced by the expansion. Then, you can delve back into the same alien invasion story but with brand-new tools and strategic options.
The same principle applies to the XCOM series as a whole: play the base game first, and then play the expansion. After finishing with the XCOM:EU/EW, it’s then appropriate to move on to XCOM 2 and its expansion, War of the Chosen.
XCOM: Enemy Within – Not a Full Sequel
It’s important to note that XCOM: Enemy Within is an expansion pack, not a standalone game. You need XCOM: Enemy Unknown installed in order to play Enemy Within. This highlights the nature of Enemy Within – it’s an upgrade rather than a replacement of the original experience.
FAQs: XCOM: Enemy Unknown vs. Enemy Within
Here are 15 frequently asked questions to help you further understand the differences between XCOM: Enemy Unknown and XCOM: Enemy Within, and help you decide which is right for your first playthrough:
1. Is Enemy Within a separate game?
No, Enemy Within is an expansion for XCOM: Enemy Unknown. It requires the base game to run. You’ll essentially be playing XCOM: Enemy Unknown but with all the additional content of Enemy Within.
2. Does Enemy Within change the base story of XCOM: Enemy Unknown?
No, the core narrative of the alien invasion remains the same in Enemy Within. However, the expansion introduces new mission types and a secondary human enemy faction (EXALT), which adds a layer of strategic complexity to your playthrough.
3. What are the main new features in Enemy Within?
- MEC Troopers: Heavily armed and armored soldiers in powerful suits.
- Gene Mods: Genetic enhancements that allow you to augment your soldiers.
- New Missions: New tactical challenges, including covert operations against EXALT.
- New Alien Threats: More variations of alien enemies and new advanced alien types.
- New Equipment and Abilities: An extensive array of new weapons, grenades, and soldier abilities.
4. Which game is harder? Enemy Unknown or Enemy Within?
While both games are challenging, Enemy Within is generally considered more difficult due to the addition of new threats and a more demanding strategic layer. That’s part of why it’s better to start with the base game.
5. Which game should I play first: XCOM: Enemy Unknown or XCOM 2?
It is highly recommended to play XCOM: Enemy Unknown (then Enemy Within) before playing XCOM 2. XCOM 2 is significantly more challenging and complex, and skipping straight to it can be overwhelming.
6. What is the best first research in XCOM: Enemy Within?
The first research you should prioritize is Xeno-Biology. This unlocks Alien Containment, which is crucial for progressing the story. After that, prioritize Alien Materials.
7. Does XCOM: Enemy Within have multiple endings?
No, there is only one main ending in XCOM: Enemy Within, same as XCOM: Enemy Unknown. The core narrative conclusion remains the same even with the expansion’s added content.
8. Does Enemy Within work with the Long War mod?
Yes, Long War is a mod specifically designed to enhance XCOM: Enemy Unknown with the expansion XCOM: Enemy Within. Long War introduces massive changes to the game, making it more complex and longer. It is generally recommended for veterans of the game, rather than starting with it.
9. Is XCOM: Enemy Unknown a remake or a reboot?
XCOM: Enemy Unknown is a “reimagining” remake and a reboot of the original 1994 X-COM: UFO Defense (also known as UFO: Enemy Unknown).
10. Is XCOM: Enemy Unknown’s story good?
The story of XCOM: Enemy Unknown is a fairly standard sci-fi alien invasion plot. It serves its purpose of providing a framework for the strategic and tactical gameplay, but it’s not necessarily the game’s main focus.
11. Is XCOM: Enemy Within a good game?
Yes, XCOM: Enemy Within is considered an excellent expansion that adds significant depth and replayability to XCOM: Enemy Unknown. Most players, including critics, consider it a worthwhile addition to the series.
12. Who is the final boss in XCOM: Enemy Within?
The final boss remains the Uber Ethereal as in the base game. The final mission will still be an assault on the Temple Ship.
13. What is the difference between XCOM: Enemy Unknown and Xenonauts?
XCOM: Enemy Unknown takes place in the near future with futuristic equipment, while Xenonauts takes place in 1979, and uses Cold War-era equipment. Xenonauts also lacks psionic powers for its soldiers.
14. Is XCOM 2 easier than XCOM: Enemy Unknown/Within?
XCOM 2 is considered easier on normal difficulty compared to Enemy Unknown/Within, though it is more brutal on the highest difficulty setting. XCOM:EU/EW has fewer time constraints, which makes it more forgiving at the start.
15. Can you play XCOM indefinitely?
Yes, you can continue playing XCOM after completing the main story. The enemy will get progressively tougher, though after a while, you will be encountering the same alien types, just with increasing numbers.
Conclusion
Starting with XCOM: Enemy Unknown provides a smoother learning curve and allows you to appreciate the enhancements made by XCOM: Enemy Within. The expansion is best experienced after you’ve had time to understand the core mechanics of the base game. The recommended playing order is, therefore, clearly: Enemy Unknown first, and then Enemy Within. This provides the most satisfying, rewarding, and enriching experience with the celebrated XCOM series. Happy gaming, Commander!