![Another red-shirt dead](https://tomsgaming.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/xenonauts30.jpg)
Yup, I’m back to it. You can say that I’m a tad Xenonauts 2 addicted. I dream of one day in the far-off future playing the full game before I wither away of old age and die (and probably be repurposed as food). To be fair, while the release takes its sweet time, we are closing in on that date with the latest release. Version 4.0.0 (prototype edition) was recently published in the experimental branch and I just had to give it a go. However, there is one problem. I didn’t get very far, because one bug kept popping up, annoying the hell out of me. Sometimes the wraiths bug out with a permanent t-pose. You can target and kill them by pressing down CTRL and using the free-fire mode. But any action they do beyond moving, and if they trigger any form of overwatch from you, the game/turn locks up, forcing a shutdown of the game. So, you can see why this is aggravating and is a snag on the general enjoyment.
Besides this issue which will probably be fixed soon (it’s a prototype after all) the new additions are good. Most seem to be bug fixes of different kinds, but there is also a lot of polish that has gone into the UI. For example, the after-action report screen now finally shows individual kills. One of the bigger changes is that civilians now take their turn before the enemy, which changes some of the dynamics on combat maps. Instead of the aliens having a free go at the civvies, they now actually get a turn (chance) to do stuff. They will still die a horrible death because the aliens are murdering bastards without any mercy, but at least they get to take a potshot or two against the invaders. Good change. The Androns have been added to the alien menace, and man, they sure are an enemy worth the name. I had yet to research laser weapons when I encountered them, so their armor could easily withstand my pitiful ballistic weapons. Grenades and the death of thousand cuts still work though. Like ants attacking a giant beetle.
On the strategic level, there has also been a major change that I think works, however, it makes the game easier. I should add, easier as in more manageable. You see, all airplane weapons and tech have been made to be a one-off construction. Meaning that you only have to build the laser cannon once. From here on all planes get that upgrade, which is a pretty huge change. It was pretty tough economically to get your fleet up to standards before, as you had to turn every penny to afford it. I didn’t think I would like this revamp at first, but it’s fine actually. It makes it easier to concentrate on the air combat, without having to worry too much about losing valuable and crucial equipment every time you set after the UFOs.
The final changes that are worth mentioning, and that I experienced during my campaign are the new sound effects for the UI, and certain actions, like healing. The awful human death screams remain, but overall, the new sounds are great and very welcomed. I hope this is only the start of the sound overhaul, and we get a lot more to come. Another excellent aspect of this update is that many more maps have been added to the combat map pool. Something that also was desperately needed. And that’s all I have to report on this time. I would have loved to see some of the new huge UFOs, but my save is currently locked thanks to the bug I mentioned. I recommend waiting until this bug is fixed if you are hoping to jump in to kill some alien marauders. What I saw spells out a great future for Xenonauts 2. It’s starting to feel much more polished, and the combat (with the air combat included) is very enjoyable and above all fun. The tech progression also feels satisfactory, with a lot of cool little gadgets and weapons to research and use.
Thanks for reading.
/Thomas
Update 2024-05-30
A patch was released to fix the wraith bugging out, which saved my playthrough as I’m now able to continue playing. Very quick patching – much appreciated! I will return if I make any new discoveries!