2K Marin’s recent re-unveiling of their XCOM shooter, The Bureau: XCOM Declassified, shows a bold new vision for the classic turn-based strategy game as a third-person shooter that reinvigorates the tactical strategy elements of the franchise. Now, we finally have our first glimpse of the game in action.
The new trailer immediately presents itself as an atmospheric exploration of the mysterious alien threat. The video cycles between images of blacked out military documents that help emphasize the notion that The Bureau: XCOM Declassified will place a heavy emphasis on creating a rich story for fans to enjoy. With players taking on the role of a very specific special agent, William Carter, it seems that 2K Marin’s revisions to the game may very well pay off.
The team’s vision for the XCOM franchise is a bold fusion of the classic strategy elements with staples of current third-person shooters. This core blending of gameplay mechanics work in tandem to provide a completely new experience for returning fans of the franchise and shooter enthusiasts in our modern gaming age.
Last year’s strategy based XCOM: Enemy Unknown, from Firaxis, re-introduced the gaming community to the blissful turn-based combat that made the series a classic. The positive critical reception of Enemy Unknown proves that the series is still relevant, but it will be interesting to see how the gaming community responds to a new method for eradicating those little gray sectoid invaders.
The Bureau: XCOM Declassified will be invading current generation consoles and PC on August 20, 2013. Be sure to leave us your thoughts on the trailer in the comments below.