X-COM: Terror from the Deep

X-COM: Terror from the Deep followed up in 1995 on the success of the first installment and moved the fight against the alien threat from land beneath the surface of the oceans, where, according to the story, the defeated invasion force had withdrawn. The game preserves the proven structure of its predecessor — on the strategic world map, the player builds underwater bases, directs research and equipment production, and sends submarines to intercept enemy craft, while tactical engagements take place on a turn-based battlefield where this time soldiers fight both underwater and on land, with different physics of movement, visibility, and weapon effects underwater, where harpoons and torpedoes behave differently from classic firearms.

The new setting brought its own set of enemies, weapons, and technologies inspired by ocean themes and Lovecraftian horror of the depths, shifting the game toward a darker and more anxious atmosphere than the original installment had. The game is also much harder due to more aggressive enemies, tougher opponents even in the early stages, and a less balanced pace of technological progress, so players often had to resort to more thorough mission planning and a more cautious approach than in UFO Defense. On the technical side, the game ran on the same engine as its predecessor, in VGA graphics with an isometric view, complemented by atmospheric music and sounds that evoked well the claustrophobic and oppressive feeling of the deep-sea environment and the isolation of bases on the ocean floor.

Terror from the Deep was received at the time of release as a worthy, if substantially harder, sequel, which, thanks to its high difficulty and new setting, earned itself a loyal fan base. Today it is seen as a respected, if less balanced, sister to the first installment, interesting especially for players who came to love the X-COM system and want to experience its darker, more demanding variation with a unique underwater atmosphere still rather uncommon in the genre.

Why play it: For players who loved the first X-COM and want to experience its darker, harder variation with a unique underwater atmosphere, this is a respected, if less balanced, sister to the first installment.