Phoenix Point: Year One (+Festering Skies) first impressions.by Mischief Maker 07/17/2021, 3:51pm PDT
I'm told this game has undergone radical changes since its original Epic store release, for which it will be forever hounded by vengeful nerds. I'm not very far into the game and the graphics definitely aren't up to the AAA standards of Firaxis X-Com, but this is not nearly as hideous as the reviews howled.
Even if the game turns out to be only half as good as X-Com once the last of the DLCs come out, I'm never going back. Shooting and aiming in this game uses a realistic spread cone that you can free-aim at specific body parts. No weird line of sight rules, no getting fucked by the virtual dice. If you go for a head shot and there's lots of empty space inside the spread cone, you only have yourself to blame.
Also Firaxis X-Com 2 felt like a goddamn Saturday morning cartoon show crossed with a Mary Sue fanfiction, the way everyone humps the leg of your "commander" character. Phoenix Point, on the other hand, actually feels like a proper horror scenario.
Note that on GOG this weekend, the season pass is only 5 cents more than buying the Festering Skies DLC. They don't link to the season pass on the main game's page, you'll need to search for it.