Recent reviews by Bittersweet

After playing a few more hours of this game, I have decided to edit my review.

I still do not recommend the game and the reason for that is because this games enjoy-ability and replay ability is too highly connected to the multiplayer experience. An that experience from the perspective of a new player is terrible. After reading some of the comments I decided to try and give the game another go and play some random multiplayer games. I was sadly met with the same experiences that I described before of being kicked from the multiplayer lobby due to my game count number. Also if you're not recognized as a "regular" player, your spot will be taken by anyone coming into the pre-game lobby chat, and yelling "SPOT" an you will be kicked. Regardless of how long you waited for the game to fill up, which leads you to wasting your time and not end up playing the game at all. I will say however that if you have a group of friends whom you're just playing this game with then this is not and issue.

The actual game itself is a well balanced RTS game, and I really enjoyed the game itself. I wish their was more than the three in game races, but their is enough variety to keep you entertained for a while. An i stress for a while. The single player offline game-play isn't engaging enough to keep you hooked for a long time. Its not and overly complex game. Their is no story mode, and no in game quest to achieve. The thing that keeps this game engaging is its multiplayer aspect. An once you remove the multiplayer component the game is boring. Playing against other human players is what makes this game fun.

I hope this helps people get and idea of what to expect from the game. An make a decision one way or the other.

Review Edit:

2K has finally! Fixed their idiotic launcher! So now I am able to play the game again. I had to change the game to thumbs down for a while because you were not able to play it at all. Not sure why they introduced their dumb launcher into the game that never had one to begin with.

XCOM 2 is and amazing turn based strategy game that I have enjoyed for years. I own most of the DLC and can honestly recommend this game to anyone. The story line is great, the graphics are still visually appealing, and the re-play ability is vast. THAT BEING SAID, this is and older game and I WOULD NOT buy this game outside of it being on sale for steam. The price that it sits at while not on-sale is crazy. If you're planning on getting this game, and I recommend you do. Wait until theirs a steam sale.

I will say though that this games re-play ability is also attached to the mod community. The base game is great but the mod community cont. to bring this game to life with mods like "Long War" which expand the length of the game for countless hours.

After over 4000!+ hours of play time I STILL recommend this game.

Over the years this game has gone through drastic changes and unlike most games its been for the best. Years after release their is still new content, still updates/DLC, still constant bug fixes and re-balances. An i feel im still going to get years more enjoyment out of this game.

For people on the fence about buying this game here are some things you should know, that are not listed in the description of the game.

TIME INTENSIVE: This game will take a long time to play-through. Doesn't matter if its single player or multiplayer. A single player game you have the luxury of just saving and leaving when you feel like it, however if you join a multiplayer lobby you cant. An if you do not have at least 4+ hours to dedicate to playing. I would wait to join a lobby until you do. An most multiplayer games are not the kind where people quit and pick up and play later that week (unless its your buddies).

COMPLEX: This game is highly complex, Their is a STEEP learning curve and I would honestly play a few small map starter games (you don't have to finish the game. an honestly you prob. wont and will die to the AI). so that you can learn the bare basics. However, after that i would look to join the MANY discords dedicated to this game to get with people who play large multiplayer games nightly for help. A discord server thats new person friendly is WSC "Weekend Stellaris Club" and they host large multiplayer games nightly and a few scheduled games through the week especially the Friday night game that usually has about 30 people in one game.

THE VAST DLC MONEY PIT: Most of the DLC are great, however I would wait until you get a steam sale to make most of the purchases or you will be spending and unreal amount of money. As far as I consider the "Must get" DLCs I would name "Utopia" and "Megacorp" as they just on their own unlock so much content in the game its almost a completely different experience from having them to not having them. If you must pay full price for them and you feel comfortable with that go ahead but everything else i would wait until a sale. Also a good note back to the previous paragraph. If you join a multiplayer game ONLY THE HOST has to have all the DLC and you will be able to access all of that content yourself. During that game so in the game lobby this will allow you to play empires, and mess with things that are locked behind DLC and see if you want to spend your own money on it.

Hope this review helps someone, I own every DLC (bought them all when they came out over the years). An the game only keeps getting better an I hope yall enjoy purging the alien filth from the galaxy just as i do :)