X-COM: Terror From the Deep

74%
Game Brain Score Based on 455 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • gameplay
X-COM: Terror From the Deep Game Cover
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In "X-COM: Terror from the Deep," the alien invasion continues beneath the ocean's surface as dormant sea creatures awaken. As the leader of X-COM, you must utilize advanced undersea military technology and navigate multilevel tactical maps to defend Earth from this new aquatic threat. This sequel to "X-COM: UFO Defense" offers undersea geoscape mapping and rich graphics, immersing you in the battle for Earth's survival.

  • PC
  • Windows
  • Ms Dos
  • Play​Station
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

74%
Audience ScoreBased on 455 reviews
graphics16 positive mentions
story13 negative mentions
  • Terror From the Deep offers a challenging and immersive experience, with a steep learning curve that rewards strategic thinking and planning.
  • The game features a rich atmosphere and engaging gameplay, with unique underwater settings and a variety of alien enemies that keep players on their toes.
  • Replayability is high due to the randomization of missions and the complexity of the research tree, allowing for different strategies and outcomes in each playthrough.
  • The game suffers from significant bugs, particularly in the research tree, which can render it unwinnable if certain technologies are not researched in the correct order.
  • Missions can be excessively long and tedious, especially when searching for the last alien on large maps, leading to frustration and a sense of drag.
  • The difficulty is ramped up to an extreme level compared to its predecessor, making it punishing for new players and potentially discouraging for those unfamiliar with the series.
  • story172 mentions

    The game's story builds upon the original X-COM narrative, introducing a Lovecraftian theme where players face underwater alien threats through a variety of mission types, including lengthy two-part terror missions. While the lore and atmosphere are praised for their depth and immersion, many players find the missions tedious and overly long, particularly the final mission, which lacks the clarity and satisfaction of its predecessor. Overall, the game successfully expands on its predecessor's mechanics but suffers from pacing issues and mission design that can detract from the overall experience.

    • “The game does have a good amount of lore and story elements.”
    • “The story is rather reminiscent of Lovecraftian horror or rather an old Doctor Who episode.”
    • “The plot is that Earth is being invaded by aliens from the sea who aren't hesitant to kill anyone preventing them from their main goal: taking over the entire planet.”
    • “The ending itself is a lot more confusing as well, where the first game left you with a more conclusive and well-explained story; this one is more focused on teasing the third one instead of giving a better-explained ending sequence.”
    • “Bottom line, fun game that outstays its welcome and is let down by a terribly designed final mission.”
    • “The main problem is that the maps are much bigger, which leads to many missions turning into a 'where's waldo' version of alien hunting.”
  • graphics56 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely regarded as dated and simplistic, often described as having a low resolution and a retro aesthetic that may not appeal to modern players. However, many reviewers appreciate the art direction and thematic elements, noting that the grim and realistic style enhances the overall atmosphere, particularly during night missions. While the visuals may not meet contemporary standards, the engaging gameplay and nostalgic charm keep players invested despite the graphical shortcomings.

    • “The art direction and music are creepy and oppressive in all the right ways, particularly for night missions, and the graphics have a grim and realistic edge that was lacking from the bright and often cartoony graphics in XCOM 1.”
    • “Graphics are sprite-based but they are well done and still hold up to this day; at worst you'll get used to them.”
    • “I'd say the graphics are nicer in this game - they seem clearer and more colorful.”
    • “The graphics have a crappy resolution.”
    • “Graphics are crude by today's standards, and the aliens are not 'softer' to start with, but once you get your teeth into bigger, better weaponry and skills, you don't look back.”
    • “It's hard to play nowadays with the dated graphics and controls...”
  • gameplay49 mentions

    The gameplay is largely a continuation of the original X-COM: UFO Defense, featuring familiar mechanics with some new elements and increased difficulty, which can be both challenging and rewarding. While many players appreciate the complex levels and strategic depth, some find the gameplay clunky and frustrating, particularly due to the game's old-fashioned controls and interface. Overall, the experience is described as addictive, with a strong atmosphere, though opinions vary on its execution compared to its predecessor.

    • “The gameplay is challenging and rewarding, although it is very clunky.”
    • “The core gameplay loop, the gameplay systems, and the atmosphere always kept me coming back, even when I was really, really annoyed by it.”
    • “This game's atmosphere alone warrants a buy, but it also has the great gameplay elements from the first X-COM, along with bigger battle maps and a heaping helping of Lovecraft.”
    • “The levels being so complex is detrimental to the gameplay.”
    • “Unfortunately, TFTD just brings everything to frustration, ruining the perfect balance and gameplay (which was already difficult to be honest) of its predecessor.”
    • “It took the gameplay of the original Enemy Unknown and cranked up the difficulty to 11.”
  • music37 mentions

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some praising its atmospheric and creepy qualities that enhance the overall experience, particularly during tense moments. However, others criticize the limited number of tracks and repetitive nature, suggesting that it lacks inspiration compared to other titles. Overall, while the soundtrack effectively contributes to the game's ambiance, opinions vary on its quality and variety.

    • “The most brilliant change between the games is the music, particularly in the ending movie.”
    • “This updated soundtrack evokes a more menacing feeling, almost as if when defeated, the aliens could easily rise again (and this is alluded to in the ending movie).”
    • “The soundtrack sets a dark and creeping contrast to the shining pixels.”
    • “I don't care for the OST of this game, and mute it while playing other, more horror ambient music in the background.”
    • “The music sounds like a 1950s low-budget horror film.”
    • “TFTD's music is nothing short of horrible.”
  • atmosphere26 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its oppressive and immersive qualities, effectively enhancing the sense of dread and tension throughout gameplay. Players appreciate the combination of nostalgic elements, a captivating soundtrack, and a setting that evokes feelings of mystery and survival horror. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a standout feature, elevating the experience and making it a compelling reason to engage with the game.

    • “Seriously, the atmosphere in this game is incredible and there's nothing quite like being two hours into a terror mission at 3:00 AM on a seemingly empty cargo ship to really freak you out.”
    • “This game's atmosphere alone warrants a buy, but it also has the great gameplay elements from the first X-COM, along with bigger battle maps and a heaping helping of Lovecraft.”
    • “The atmosphere is strong, creating a sense of dread, bordering on survival horror.”
    • “Lingering in the deepest seas, the atmosphere is based on mystery and the uncomfortable feeling that something is with one's crew in these waters.”
    • “The gameplay is identical, but the atmosphere, the 'feeling' of the game, is different.”
  • grinding13 mentions

    Players frequently describe the grinding aspect of the game as tedious and repetitive, with many missions feeling unnecessarily long and challenging. While some enjoy the progression and eventual payoff of mastering alien technology, the overall sentiment leans towards frustration with the excessive grinding required to advance. Despite these criticisms, many players find themselves returning to the game, indicating a complex relationship with its grind-heavy mechanics.

    • “This gets very tedious very fast, since you'll play dozens of battles in the course of your game.”
    • “The cruise missions and base missions are unnecessarily tedious and long, and the levels themselves are unnecessarily large.”
    • “A tedious grind.”
  • stability11 mentions

    The game's stability is heavily criticized, with numerous players reporting game-breaking glitches that can lead to frustrating experiences, particularly in the endgame. While some users have managed to avoid these issues, many others have encountered significant bugs affecting gameplay, including problems with the research system and crashes on modern operating systems. Overall, the game's stability is a major concern, with players often needing to rely on community fixes or revert to earlier saves to continue playing.

    • “However, the glitches this game has make the endgame downright frustrating, and it is not even the player's fault.”
    • “Unfortunately, the game is full of game-breaking glitches, or at least I've read a lot about them; luckily, I managed not to encounter any.”
    • “This version is very buggy, and you'll likely pull out your hair from the number of times you've had a Windows notice pop up and been unable to get rid of it until you Ctrl+Alt+Delete, only for it to crash to desktop or inexplicably exit from the mission automatically.”
  • replayability6 mentions

    The game boasts exceptional replayability, with players noting that no two sessions are identical due to familiar yet varied situations and landmarks. The presence of a save feature and low hardware requirements further enhance casual replay value, while challenging AI adds to the game's addictive nature, reminiscent of titles like Dark Souls.

    • “Replayability is through the roof.”
    • “No two games are the same, just familiar situations and landmarks, so the replay value is very high in my opinion.”
    • “The cruelty of the AI (on all difficulties) makes this game addicting and gives it high replay value, just like Dark Souls.”
    • “None of them are vital to your research, and they add an additional sense of replayability.”
    • “With little need for powerful hardware and a save feature available at any time, there's huge casual replay value.”
  • humor4 mentions

    The humor in the game is widely praised for its blend of challenging gameplay and comedic elements, with players finding it both hilariously fun and occasionally distracting. The quirky setting, amusing b-movie aliens, and engaging atmosphere contribute to its lasting appeal as a classic title.

    • “This is one of the great classics of the pre-Windows era, and even today it is still a challenging, funny, and quite complex game to enjoy. Love it!”
    • “By god, this is hilariously fun.”
    • “I love the setting, the music, the atmosphere, and the funny B-movie aliens.”
  • emotional1 mentions

    Players express a strong emotional response to the game, indicating that it has left a lasting impact that makes them hesitant to revisit it soon. This suggests that the game evokes deep feelings, whether positive or negative, that resonate with players long after their initial experience.

Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

72% average critic score

Buy X-COM: Terror From the Deep

Play time

524hMedian play time
353hAverage play time
9-696hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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