Anything different from XCOM? Marvel’s Midnight Suns celebrates its gameplay premiere and reveals some big differences to the tactics hit.
A new XCOM in the Marvel universe! That was the hope of many fans when Marvel’s Midnight Suns was officially revealed by XCOM makers Firaxis Games at gamescom 2021. Now there was first gameplay to see and apparently it’s not quite that simple after all. Midnight Suns differs in many ways from the tactics hit XCOM, which makes for mixed reactions.
But very different from XCOM?
In a six-minute video, the developers show and explain what we can expect from the tactical role-playing game and talk about the combat system, storyline and focus on relationships:
Combat System: While there will once again be turn-based tactics battles, they will not take place in a fixed grid. You can navigate your characters freely across the battlefield within the limits of the available action points.
Maps: The biggest surprise might be the focus on a card-based battle system. Similar to what you’d see in games like the Steam hit Slay the Spire, heroes are assigned random sets of abilities that we combine with each other.
Relationships: Unlike the freely customisable characters from XCOM, all the heroes from Midnight Suns are firmly established heroes from the Marvel universe. Accordingly, we will get to know their stories by spending time with them and having dialogues between battles in the headquarters. The developers compare this to the tactics games Fire Emblem and Persona.
No Permadeath: Midnight Suns does completely without permadeath. So none of the heroes can die permanently in battle – at least if the story doesn’t provide for it.
Fans are not all excited
The reactions to the gameplay shown are correspondingly mixed. The map system in particular is not particularly well received. Youtube user Lord Shrub comments ironically under the gameplay trailer:
“Players: XCOM is too random!
Firaxis: Here are random ability cards!”
User Cezar Perez is also still unsure: “Looks cool, but I’m waiting for the reviews. Not convinced about the card mechanics.” Chris Hancock, however, has hope that the changes can be something positive:
“I think the map system is okay, as long as we get a bit of control. For example, letting us choose a certain number of abilities for our deck, but what we draw is random.”
It’s possible that XCOM fans will have to say goodbye to some hopes regarding Midnight Suns. Incidentally, why the tactics hit is still seen as the measure of all things
What do you think about the gameplay shown? Do you fancy Midnight Suns? Do you think the differences to XCOM are a good choice or do you see them critically? Feel free to let us know in the comments!
