The Bureau: XCOM Declassified

61%
Game Brain Score Based on 5,515 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
The Bureau: XCOM Declassified Game Cover
The Bureau is full of possibility, but it's far from memorable
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In "The Bureau: XCOM Declassified," play as Special Agent Carter and lead your squad to investigate a top-secret facility that has gone silent. Uncover the mystery behind the radio silence, eliminate threats, and bring the facility back online to turn the tides of the secret war. This tactical third-person shooter game requires strategic planning and quick decision-making.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Windows
  • Cloud
  • NVIDIA GeForce NOW
  • Play​Station
  • Play​station 3
  • Xbox
  • Xbox 360
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

61%
Audience ScoreBased on 5,515 reviews
story1,198 positive mentions
stability120 negative mentions
  • Interesting 1960s setting with a unique atmosphere.
  • Engaging story with some unexpected twists.
  • Fun tactical combat mechanics that blend shooter and strategy elements.
  • Poor AI for squadmates, requiring constant micromanagement.
  • Clunky controls and frustrating cover mechanics.
  • Linear mission design with repetitive gameplay.
  • story4,553 mentions

    The story of "The Bureau: XCOM Declassified" is a mixed bag, with many players finding it engaging yet flawed. Set in the 1960s, it features a typical alien invasion plot with some unexpected twists, but suffers from pacing issues and a lack of meaningful choices that impact the narrative. While some appreciate the atmospheric setting and character interactions, others criticize the dialogue and character development as shallow, leading to a disjointed experience that doesn't fully resonate with the XCOM franchise's established lore.

    • “The story is captivating and the detail the developers put into the missions as well the aesthetics of every map including the side missions is very impressive.”
    • “The story overall is decent; it kept me going and my god the twists were good.”
    • “The story takes us back to the 1960s during the height of the cold war, providing an engaging backdrop for the game's events.”
    • “Unfortunately, the story is just not engaging.”
    • “The story is weak, linear, nonsensical.”
    • “The story is a bit hokey, but the narrative does what it can to also push the game play.”
  • gameplay1,678 mentions

    The gameplay of "The Bureau: XCOM Declassified" has received mixed reviews, with many players noting its significant departure from traditional XCOM mechanics. While some appreciate the tactical elements and the integration of real-time shooting with squad commands, others criticize the clunky controls, poor AI, and repetitive gameplay that can detract from the overall experience. The game is often compared to the Mass Effect series, which may appeal to fans of that franchise, but it struggles to deliver the depth and strategic intricacy expected from an XCOM title.

    • “They've managed to seamlessly integrate classic XCOM gameplay into a real-time setting.”
    • “The addition of alien tech and abilities adds another dimension to the gameplay, making battles feel exhilarating and unpredictable.”
    • “The gameplay is solid, with lots of nods to traditional XCOM mechanics.”
    • “However, gameplay is mostly set back by atrocious cover-fire controls, poor obstacle traversal, and unnecessary drawn out dialogue.”
    • “The gameplay is horrid.”
    • “The gameplay is repetitive and boring.”
  • graphics853 mentions

    The graphics of "The Bureau: XCOM Declassified" are generally well-received, showcasing a distinct 1950s/1960s retro-futuristic aesthetic that many players find appealing. While the visuals hold up reasonably well for a game released in 2013, they are often described as dated, with occasional graphical glitches and performance issues, particularly on lower-end systems. Overall, the art style and lighting contribute positively to the game's atmosphere, despite some criticisms regarding character animations and the quality of cutscenes.

    • “The graphics hold up well after 10 years.”
    • “The overall aesthetic of the game is actually pretty cool; they nailed the 60s look so well that I wish the classic retro stuff got more screen time instead of the high tech.”
    • “The graphics are excellent, the voice acting is great and the game may not be a classic but it's a definite 7/10.”
    • “The graphics are ugly, the characters are flat, and the gameplay isn't all that fun.”
    • “The graphics feel really dated yet my computer is more overheated than when playing Crysis 3.”
    • “There are constant graphical glitches, it doesn't run well even though it has no reason to, and the gameplay and story are bland and forgettable.”
  • atmosphere261 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and authentic 1960s setting, effectively capturing the era's aesthetic and mood, particularly in relation to Cold War paranoia and alien invasion themes. While the environments and sound design contribute significantly to the overall experience, some critiques mention that character models lack polish and the story can feel bland or convoluted. Overall, the game's atmosphere stands out as one of its strongest elements, enhancing player engagement despite some gameplay shortcomings.

    • “The atmosphere is great: a 1960s setting mixing cold war paranoia and mysterious alien forces.”
    • “From the convincing, immersive 1962 atmosphere to the gorgeously rendered and extremely detailed environments, it is immensely engaging and entertaining from start to finish.”
    • “I love the atmosphere and the era the game is set in.”
    • “The only thing that they can agree upon is that the art, music, and atmosphere was well done.”
    • “As for the atmosphere of the game, it doesn't really get anything quite right.”
    • “Unfortunately that takes away from what is a very well crafted atmosphere leaving you playing a game that you neither relish nor hate.”
  • stability126 mentions

    The game is widely criticized for its instability, with numerous reports of crashes, frame rate drops, and various graphical glitches that significantly detract from the overall experience. Many players noted that the game feels poorly optimized, leading to frustrating gameplay moments and a lack of polish. While some found enjoyment despite these issues, the consensus is that the game's technical problems are a major drawback.

    • “Crew mechanics function in real time with no glitches and very cool specialization.”
    • “While this game is repetitive and is not completely bug-free, I did have fun with it.”
    • “The funny part: the game was also not bug-free, which, when games are bad, can be nice since it serves as comic relief.”
    • “Towards the beginning of the game while you fight off the initial invasion force, there's a part where the game for some inexplicable reason just freezes and crashes.”
    • “The game suffers from occasional frame rate drops, texture pop-ins, and glitches that can hinder the overall experience.”
    • “There are so many glitches that it makes the game unplayable.”
  • optimization124 mentions

    The game's optimization is widely criticized, with many players reporting severe performance issues, including frequent stuttering, crashes, and significant frame rate drops even on high-end systems. While some users managed to achieve decent performance by adjusting settings, the overall consensus is that the game is poorly optimized, particularly regarding its use of PhysX effects, which exacerbate the problems. Despite its engaging storyline and atmosphere, the technical shortcomings significantly detract from the overall experience.

    • “Performance should be fine on most PCs newer than a decade. I played with a laptop, i5-11400H, 3050 RTX, 16GB RAM, Windows 11, max settings minus motion blur, AA, lens flares, and it was locked at a decent 60 FPS at 1080p.”
    • “However, given the utterly brilliant storyline, jaw-dropping landscapes, immersive atmosphere, and superb optimization (60+ FPS at all times), it's easy to forgive the control flaws as you will become so engrossed in everything that's going on around you that you'll just... adapt.”
    • “In the end, I found that running the game in DX9 mode without tessellation but with both advanced PhysX (cloth and effects) on and everything else on max yielded the best outcome in terms of performance and eye-candy balance.”
    • “The optimization in this game is horrible.”
    • “It's horribly optimized and it seems some specific hardware configurations just have a lot of problems.”
    • “The most negative about the game is that it's poorly optimized and will give you huge FPS drops even on top-end systems.”
  • replayability97 mentions

    Overall, the game's replayability is widely regarded as low, with many reviewers noting its short length and linear gameplay as significant drawbacks. While some players found limited reasons to replay, such as achievements or different difficulty settings, the consensus is that the lack of meaningful choices and dynamic content severely hampers replay value. Many recommend purchasing the game on sale rather than at full price due to its minimal replayability.

    • “Replayable and very enjoyable.”
    • “Since I own them all now, I feel satisfied that this game can stand with the rest as being a fun, thrilling, and very replayable addition to the X-Com family.”
    • “The game has a nice 13-hour campaign with side missions and minor story choices adding replayability, especially with the higher difficulties.”
    • “Yeah sure, the setting is nice, but it's mostly the same fights, terrible team AI, a bad and forgettable story with a stupid ending and pretty much zero replay value.”
    • “Your 'choices' don't really matter (just a way to learn more about the in-game world and the characters) and the possible endings are nothing extraordinary nor are they different enough to merit replayability.”
    • “It's a single-player shooter campaign that is almost entirely linear and provides little or no replay value.”
  • music92 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising its fitting 1960s atmosphere and memorable tracks, while others find it generic and forgettable. Many players appreciate the nostalgic charm and diversity of the soundtrack, though some feel it lacks impact and fails to fully embrace the era's style. Overall, while the music enhances the game's setting, it does not consistently stand out as a highlight.

    • “The art and music are top-notch.”
    • “As far as the overall presentation of this title goes, I really enjoyed the 1960's theme with the music, clothing, speech, and vehicles among many other things and believe it or not it contrasted quite well against the futuristic and very high-tech aspect of the alien invasion force.”
    • “All of it is wrapped together with an equally amazing soundtrack that will keep you engaged from beginning to end.”
    • “The soundtrack isn't memorable; characters are forgettable, combat is forgiving for an XCOM game, and the story is not that well written or thought out.”
    • “The 60's setting gives this game some form of charm and style, but the music doesn't embrace that and is very generic, excluding a few scarce scenarios.”
    • “The music is half bad; some is just bland and fades into the background with no significance, while other parts are pretty good.”
  • grinding70 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being tedious and repetitive, with many players expressing frustration over the lengthy combat sequences and excessive backtracking through the base. While some enjoy the tactical elements, the overall experience is marred by a lack of variety and engaging content, leading to a sense of monotony as players grind through missions and tasks. Overall, the game is seen as requiring significant time investment for minimal reward, making it feel more like a chore than an enjoyable experience.

    • “28.3 hours game beaten on veteran (not too tedious and sometimes a bit easy, sometimes a bit hard. If you intend to play veteran, it's a good start. If you go to the max level, it may get tedious. The battles are hard sometimes. Mostly, I found the game very easy, but I'm a strategy guy. Note: this is not an action game; tactical wins and losses define the game, not being a hero.)”
    • “At the end on the enemy base, it all becomes just grinding - go to the next room, shoot some aliens, then the next room, and the next.”
    • “I found myself simply grinding through each little combat set-piece in the hopes that I could reach a more rewarding part of the game, but eventually I just gave up -- my leisure hours are limited, and there are simply more entertaining ways to spend them.”
    • “Easily a third, if not more, of the gameplay time is spent simply running from room to room in your base; tedious and dull.”
  • humor36 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by a mix of funny easter eggs, humorous mission choices, and amusing graphical glitches that provide comic relief. Players appreciate the lighthearted tone, with moments of absurdity stemming from NPC behavior and quirky character names, which often distract from the main narrative. Overall, the game successfully blends action with humor, making for an entertaining experience despite some technical flaws.

    • “In addition, this game is full of funny easter eggs; just look around to find them!”
    • “It made me laugh at times and took me out of the story momentarily.”
    • “The atmosphere is great, detailed enough, story based in the 60s is really funny, reminding me of old classic sci-fi/noir movies.”
  • character development30 mentions

    Character development in the game has been widely criticized for being shallow and lacking depth, with many players feeling little attachment to characters due to their limited backstories and the absence of meaningful relationships. While some aspects of character development are acknowledged as decent, particularly in terms of gameplay mechanics, the overall sentiment is that the narrative fails to engage players emotionally, leaving them indifferent to character fates. The game is seen as prioritizing gameplay over character depth, resulting in a mixed reception regarding its storytelling and character progression.

    • “Most of the explanations make sense according to the logic of their world, and the character development is good enough to make me care somewhat about most of the important characters.”
    • “Well thought out character development; the agent system was cool with many different ways to challenge the variety of enemies.”
    • “That said, it is a good game in its own right and focuses much more heavily on the story and character development than its tactics counterpart.”
    • “Character development and attachment is awful; it seems as if there was no time or effort for the development of relationships. Maybe that's why there's absolutely no romance in the game, when at this point one is expecting some.”
    • “The character development is pathetically thin; they don't really flesh out the agent's powers and they don't give any of the fellow agents a real personality. It matters little if they die because you can just get a replacement.”
    • “The general lack of character development was a drag.”
  • emotional28 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is largely criticized, with reviewers noting a boring story structure and unlikable, robotic characters that fail to create any emotional connection. Players express frustration with the lack of immersion and emotional depth, feeling lost in the game world and disconnected from the narrative and characters. Overall, the game is seen as lacking in emotional engagement, with many aspects contributing to a dull experience.

    • “I will even confess that it made me feel as if the Half-Life world had been resurrected at one stage!”
    • “I don't feel ripped off, and am willing to put in the emotional effort to give this game an honest try.”
    • “I know actually walking the halls and having conversations with the NPCs is supposed to help my immersion, but I often was lost and wandering the halls, which made me feel like a hyperactive 'sleep-walker' rather than immersed.”
    • “This game has an extremely boring story structure and some of the most unlikable, robotic characters in any game I've ever played.”
    • “I was met with a boring story that felt cliched but not fun cliche; you're working with 1950-1960s, you can have so much fun with a story like this, but none is to be had.”
    • “Apart from this, there is nothing else to look at here: bad AI for both opponents and teammates (especially the teammates, they need extensive babysitting which is not even fun), average level design, boring story.”
  • monetization14 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game has been criticized for feeling like a cash grab, with DLC content perceived as essential features that should have been included in the base game. While the game is affordable, many reviewers express disappointment over its lost potential and the lack of meaningful content, suggesting that the advertising did not align with the actual experience. Overall, the game is seen as a cheap console port that fails to deliver on its promises.

    • “This, on the other hand, is the poster-child for 'cheap console port' and the very definition of a 'cash grab.'”
    • “The DLC is an obvious cash grab, not something that adds to the game, but something that should have been included in the first place!”
    • “If I had to sum it up in a single sentence, I would say this: 'so much potential with so little delivery.' The game's advertising campaign played it off as an ominous 60s' men in black (not the movies) style adventure, filled with espionage and intrigue.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

70% average critic score

Buy The Bureau: XCOM Declassified

Play time

13hMedian play time
12hAverage play time
10hMain story
17hCompletionist
10-20hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 54 analyzed playthroughs

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