Editing XCOM (section)

=== Original ''X-COM'' series (1994–2001) ===
{{VG Series Reviews
|updated = November 17, 2011
|gr = yes
|mc = no
|game1 = [[UFO: Enemy Unknown]] <br />(X-COM: UFO Defense)
|gr1 = (PC) 94%<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamerankings.com/pc/199362-x-com-ufo-defense/index.html |title=''X-COM: UFO Defense'' Reviews |publisher=[[GameRankings]] |access-date=November 17, 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110312034506/http://www.gamerankings.com/pc/199362-x-com-ufo-defense/index.html |archive-date=March 12, 2011 }}</ref><br />(PS) 93%<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamerankings.com/ps/572590-x-com-ufo-defense/index.html |title=''X-COM: UFO Defense'' Reviews |publisher=[[GameRankings]] |access-date=November 17, 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101021072252/http://www.gamerankings.com/ps/572590-x-com-ufo-defense/index.html |archive-date=October 21, 2010 }}</ref>
|mc1 = -
|game2 = [[X-COM: Terror from the Deep]]
|gr2 = (PS) 100%<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamerankings.com/ps/573917-x-com-terror-from-the-deep/index.html |title=''X-COM: Terror from the Deep'' Reviews |publisher=[[GameRankings]] |access-date=November 17, 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111128141500/http://www.gamerankings.com/ps/573917-x-com-terror-from-the-deep/index.html |archive-date=November 28, 2011 }}</ref><br />(PC) 86%<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamerankings.com/pc/199361-x-com-terror-from-the-deep/index.html |title=''X-COM: Terror from the Deep'' Reviews |publisher=[[GameRankings]] |access-date=November 17, 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111107004428/http://www.gamerankings.com/pc/199361-x-com-terror-from-the-deep/index.html |archive-date=November 7, 2011 }}</ref>
|mc2 = -
|game3 = [[X-COM: Apocalypse]]
|gr3 = (PC) 87%<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamerankings.com/pc/36014-x-com-apocalypse/index.html |title=''X-COM: Apocalypse'' Reviews |publisher=[[GameRankings]] |access-date=November 17, 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111107004433/http://www.gamerankings.com/pc/36014-x-com-apocalypse/index.html |archive-date=November 7, 2011 }}</ref>
|mc3 = -
|game4 = [[X-COM: Interceptor]]
|gr4 = (PC) 70%<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamerankings.com/pc/53729-x-com-interceptor/index.html |title=''X-COM: Interceptor'' Reviews |publisher=[[GameRankings]] |access-date=November 17, 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120106122320/http://www.gamerankings.com/pc/53729-x-com-interceptor/index.html |archive-date=January 6, 2012 }}</ref>
|mc4 = -
}}

{{main|UFO: Enemy Unknown|X-COM: Terror from the Deep|X-COM: Apocalypse|X-COM: Interceptor|X-COM (Email games)|X-COM: Enforcer|X-COM: Genesis|X-COM: Alliance}}

The ''X-COM'' core series consisted of four main games published by [[MicroProse]]: ''[[UFO: Enemy Unknown]]'' (also known as ''X-COM: UFO Defense'', PC and [[Amiga]] in 1994, [[Sony PlayStation]] in 1995), ''[[X-COM: Terror from the Deep]]'' (PC in 1995, PlayStation in 1996), ''[[X-COM: Apocalypse]]'' (PC in 1997) and ''[[X-COM: Interceptor]]'' (PC in 1998). The premise of the franchise is that an [[alien invasion]] beginning in 1999 prompts the creation of a [[Clandestine operation|clandestine]] paramilitary organization codenamed X-COM (an abbreviation of "[[Extraterrestrial life|E'''x'''traterrestrial]] '''Com'''bat") by a coalition of funding nations. The player is charged with leading this force and tasked to secretly engage and research the alien threat. The sequels, against new alien invasions, are set underwater (''Terror from the Deep'', set in 2040), in a futuristic megacity (''Apocalypse'', set in 2084), and in space (''Interceptor'', set in 2067 and making it a prequel to ''Apocalypse'').

''UFO: Enemy Unknown'', featuring a [[turn-based tactics|turn-based]] ground combat system, remains the most popular and successful game in the series, having been often featured on various lists of best video games of all time.<ref>[[UFO: Enemy Unknown#Reception]]</ref> The first sequel, ''Terror from the Deep'', was quickly created by MicroProse's internal team; based on the same game engine and used largely identical gameplay mechanics. ''Apocalypse'' took several new directions with the series, introducing an optional [[Real-time tactics|real-time]] combat system and shifting the aesthetics to a [[Retro-futurism|retro-futuristic]] style. A spin-off game, ''Interceptor'', constitutes a hybrid of a strategy game and a [[space flight simulator game|space combat flight simulator]].

After ''Interceptor'', [[Hasbro Interactive]] purchased MicroProse, acquiring its studios and the ''X-COM'' brand. There were talks of ''X-COM'' toys, comics, and even a cartoon show.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://uk.pc.gamespy.com/pc/x-com-ufo-defense/1216654p3.html |title=GameSpy: Enemy Unknown: An X-COM Retrospective - Page 3 |publisher=Uk.pc.gamespy.com |access-date=2013-08-22 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029194218/http://uk.pc.gamespy.com/pc/x-com-ufo-defense/1216654p3.html |archive-date=2013-10-29 }}</ref> A budget range, turn-based tactical  [[play-by-mail]] multiplayer game ''[[X-COM (Email games)|Em@il Games: X-COM]]'' was released in 1999. In 2001, Hasbro published ''[[X-COM: Enforcer]]'', a poorly received [[third-person shooter]] loosely based on the events of ''Enemy Unknown'', marking a low point in the series. The ''X-COM'' games were also released as part of four compilation releases: ''X-COM (Collector's Edition)'' (1998),<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mobygames.com/game/x-com-collectors-edition |title=X-COM (Collector's Edition) for Windows (1998) |publisher=MobyGames |access-date=2013-08-22 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029190818/http://www.mobygames.com/game/x-com-collectors-edition |archive-date=2013-10-29 }}</ref> ''X-COM Collection'' (1999)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mobygames.com/game/x-com-collection |title=X-COM Collection for Windows (1999) |publisher=MobyGames |date=2001-01-13 |access-date=2013-08-22 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170701025414/http://www.mobygames.com/game/x-com-collection |archive-date=2017-07-01 }}</ref> and ''X-COM: Complete Pack'' (2008),<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mobygames.com/game/x-com-complete-pack |title=X-COM: Complete Pack for DOS (2008) |publisher=MobyGames |date=2008-09-04 |access-date=2013-08-22 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029191144/http://www.mobygames.com/game/x-com-complete-pack |archive-date=2013-10-29 }}</ref> as well as in ''2K Huge Games Pack'' in 2009.

At least two more major titles have been planned for this series. One of them was ''[[X-COM: Genesis]]'', a real-time strategy and tactics game "going back to the roots but in full 3D."<ref name=tg/> Another was ''[[X-COM: Alliance]]'' (also known as ''X-COM 4'' and the project ''Fox Force Five''), an ''[[Aliens (film)|Aliens]]''-inspired mix of strategy game and first-person perspective [[tactical shooter]], using the licensed original [[Unreal Engine]]. However, both of these projects were cancelled after ex-MicroProse Hasbro Interactive studios were all shut down in 1999–2000 (with ''Alliance'' being later abortively reactivated in 2001-2002 before being quietly cancelled again without any official announcement). Terry Greer, a former senior artist and head of game design at MicroProse UK, disclosed: "We'd also discussed other avenues for future games including time travel, retaking the solar system (with interplanetary distances playing a significant role in recruitment and resources), and resistance movement concept where you had to fight back after the world was taken and humanity was totally under the alien yoke."<ref name=tg>{{cite web|url=http://www.terrygreer.com/xcomalliance.html|title=Terry Greer – Ghosts of games that never were|website=Terry Greer – Past work - XCOM Alliance|access-date=26 August 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170701060535/http://www.terrygreer.com/xcomalliance.html|archive-date=1 July 2017}}</ref>

''OpenXcom'' is an [[open source]] re-implementation of the first game in the series intended to fix all the bugs and enable modding.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://openxcom.org/index.php/about/|title=About|publisher=OpenXcom|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130729142402/http://openxcom.org/index.php/about/|archive-date=2013-07-29|url-status=live|access-date=2013-08-22}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.pcgamer.com/2013/05/09/openxcom-renews-the-original-ufo-defense-as-a-valid-option-for-terror/|title=OpenXCom renews the original UFO Defense as a valid option for terror &#124; Mods, News|date=2013-10-25|magazine=PC Gamer|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131113165353/http://www.pcgamer.com/2013/05/09/openxcom-renews-the-original-ufo-defense-as-a-valid-option-for-terror|archive-date=2013-11-13|url-status=live|access-date=2013-11-14}}</ref> ''OpenApoc'' is a similar open source project for ''X-COM: Apocalypse''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.openapoc.org|title=OpenApoc|website=openapoc.org|language=en-US|access-date=2019-05-07}}</ref>