UFO: Aftershock

About

In "UFO: Aftershock," you lead a ragtag group of survivors in a post-alien invasion world. As the commander of the human resistance, you must reclaim Earth by building bases, researching technology, and managing resources. Navigate a complex geopolitical landscape, forge alliances, and engage in turn-based combat against a range of hostile alien creatures. Your decisions will shape the fate of humanity in this challenging sci-fi strategy game.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

76%

Audience ScoreBased on 141 reviews

graphics4 positive mentions

stability10 negative mentions

The game offers a lot of fun with tactical battles and squad development, reminiscent of classic XCOM gameplay.
Despite its age, the graphics and gameplay mechanics still hold up well, providing a unique experience in the strategy genre.
With a variety of weapons and customization options, players can enjoy deep tactical gameplay and emergent storylines.

The game is plagued by numerous bugs and compatibility issues, making it unplayable on many modern systems.
The campaign can feel excessively long and repetitive, leading to a grindy experience as players wait for the story to conclude.
Game-breaking bugs can occur after significant time investment, causing frustration and loss of progress.

story
62 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
81%
10%
The story in the game is generally well-received, with many players appreciating its depth and the emergent narratives that arise during gameplay, reminiscent of the classic UFO series. However, some critiques highlight issues with repetitive missions and a convoluted plot involving space organisms, which detracts from the overall experience. Despite these drawbacks, the game offers a solid narrative framework that keeps players engaged through various side missions and character development.
- “The UFO series was what kept us going in the dry spell between X-COM games, and personally I think the story of these ones has more to it than the new X-COMs.”
- “It's a pretty solid game, with plenty of emergent storylines that will make you love the game, like the old UFO games.”
- “Story: not much to say that isn't spoiling the major plot points that you uncover, but it seems pretty well-written and thought out.”
- “Out of all UFO: After series, I find this one the least enjoyable, mostly because of a convoluted story involving space organisms and time-based triggers which force you to go through many repetitive missions while waiting.”
- “As soon as you think you're near the end, you find yourself with a whole string of repetitive missions to endure, and that happens twice.”
- “After researching all non-story items, I just put it on max fast forward and let them have whatever they want... it doesn't affect the story.”
graphics
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
65%
15%
The graphics of the game are described as dated yet still holding up well compared to similar titles, with a distinct apocalyptic aesthetic that some players appreciate. However, issues with the graphics engine and poor performance on integrated graphics cards detract from the experience, leading to frustration for some users. Overall, while the visuals have their merits, they are marred by technical problems and a lack of variety in character and map design.
- “The graphics, while dated, still stand up today against many other similar games.”
- “As for graphics, I think they are pretty good, because they have their own theme: an apocalyptic dystopian look, with all the industrial equipment left around the areas where you do missions.”
- “Graphics: they've aged pretty well for a game from that era, to be honest.”
- “Some error with the graphics engine.”
- “Samish maps, generic characters, poor even for its age graphics/sound/music, and stating it generously, poor stability all combine to make this game as much, if not more, of a chore than its enjoyability merits.”
- “Doesn't appear to work at all with integrated graphics cards, even those which would meet spec.”
gameplay
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
67%
17%
The gameplay is generally praised for its fun mechanics and unique features, offering a deeper strategic experience compared to similar titles, particularly in its squad-based real-time strategy elements. However, some players find the mechanics challenging to grasp, and there are calls for a remaster to modernize the game, which is considered outdated despite its solid playability and extensive content. Overall, it provides a substantial amount of gameplay, with many players logging over 60 hours or more.
- “Unique mechanics, deeper overworld strategy than similar games, and an interesting take on the well-beaten horse of alien invasion stories.”
- “Aftershock is built upon the gameplay of its prequel and is pushing further by introducing economy, friendly fire, and even a diplomatic system.”
- “This is a decent RTS that rivals most recent releases, and for a game nearly 10 years old, it has fantastic playability and easily 60-100 hours of gameplay.”
- “In addition to this, the game is decades old and in dire need of a remaster to update its software and gameplay elements.”
- “After about 1800 hours of gameplay, I have come to the conclusion that this game is not finished in its design and it is criminally wrong that it is even on the market.”
- “Mechanics: without referencing other games, which is often lazy, on missions it's a squad-based real-time strategy that you can pause and speed up/slow down as needed.”
stability
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game "Aftershock" is reported to have significant stability issues, with numerous bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay. While some users note improvements over time, the complexity of the game often leads to persistent problems, making it a potentially frustrating experience for players. Overall, while enjoyable, the game is marred by its instability.
- “However, as the many unjustified reviews will say, there are bugs and glitches in Aftershock that have the potential to ruin games.”
- “Buyer beware: probably the biggest issue I'd like to mention is that it's buggy.”
- “I recall it being buggier in the past, not sure how buggy it is at this point, but there's content that's in the game that doesn't work like what it says on the tin.”
music
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The music in the game is generally described as great and pleasant, enhancing the overall experience without being intrusive. However, some reviews note that the sound quality is poor, especially considering the game's age, which detracts from its overall appeal.
- “A great game with fun gameplay and great music.”
- “The soundtrack is pleasant enough that it doesn't intrude.”
- “Samish maps, generic characters, poor even for its age graphics/sound/music and stating it generously, poor stability all combine to make this game as much if not more of a chore than its enjoyability merits.”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Players consistently highlight the game's high replayability, citing numerous strategies available both in and out of combat that encourage multiple playthroughs. Many feel that the game's depth and variety make it a worthwhile investment.
- “Worth every penny with tons of replayability.”
- “There are many strategies in battle and out of combat which will guarantee replayability.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players generally feel that the missions are varied enough to prevent the experience from feeling like grinding, maintaining engagement throughout.
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The optimization of the game is closely tied to the experience system, where squad members improve their performance as players complete missions, enhancing overall gameplay efficiency.
- “As you complete missions, your squad members gain experience which will gradually increase their performance.”