I heard four complaints from random internet people that are giving me pause:
1) Is the game ridiculously short? Someone said you would only get 15 hours or so.
2) Is it true that each mission forces you to rush, with no place for strategy anymore? Someone said it was almost like a FPS with just "run and gun as fast as you can" tactics being the only option.
3) Is it true that every mission boils down to "kill everything" over and over?
4) Is the camera broken to the point where it's sometimes unplayable?
I trust you guys more than random complainers on Steam.
1. Uh, short? Who knows yet. This *IS* the type of game, you're supposed to reply multiple times, and I'm sure length varies with difficulty. The game's been out less than 12 hours--so maybe someone knows something I don't.
2. There are a couple missions I've run into where you have x-amount of turns to finish an objective. One mission involved extracting a VIP. I had 14 turns to do so. Seemed fair enough. Are these types of missions prevalent? I guess? If you're asking if you can inch your way up across the map--then that particular metagame has shifted a bit. Some missions have a timed objective, and once that objective is complete, you have as much time as you want to finish. No where *near* the hyperbole of "run and gun" however.
3. Some of the missions may have a secondary objective of clearing out the rest of the aliens. The VIP mission didn't require it. Obviously, terror missions where you rescue bases/civilians may have that requirement.
4. I've had no issues with the camera.
Another thing to note, the gameplay is a little more frantic in than the first game, as this is more of a "You already lost" scenario than repelling an incoming invasion. On some missions you start in concealment where aliens don't know where you are until you're seen or fire the first shot. Other times, they're well aware of your presence and you have to keep yourself from being boxed in. On one mission, I left a guy behind while I gtfo of there because enemy reinforcements were coming in.
Also, the new alien types kick ass.