UFO: Extraterrestrials

In the year 2023 the spaceship Magelhaes finally reaches the planet Esperanza and the people on board quickly begin development of a colony. Several governments take control over the different continents and all was good until one day in the year 2025 a squad of pilots encounter a unknown alien force and get shot down. Now the governments give you the task to not only defend the planet but also find out where the aliens come from to take the fight back to them.

The game is very much like X-COM: UFO Defense. You manage and expand your bases on the GeoScape-Screen and research new technology and build new weapons, items or ships in your bases. If an alien ship enters orbit, you order your vessels to attack it and hopefully shoot it down. Then, or when you discover an alien base, you can send in your ground troops.

After you've equipped them with anything you currently have on stock on the base, they fly to the landing or crash location of the alien vessel and engage the enemy in turn-based combat on a limited, isometric battlefield. Since the action points every team mate has available are limited and every action costs some points, you've to thing very tactical. Realistic line-of-sight and height calculations make your job not easier but rest assured, that the aliens have the same limitations as you.

When you've successfully eliminated or stunned every alien on the ground, your soldiers gain experience based on many aliens they shoot. Over time they level up and you can specialize the soldiers with gained skill points.

You also salvage everything that's lying around so that your researchers can get to work and develop new stuff for your base, aircraft and crew. Everything in the game is explained in good detail in the ingame encyclopedia called "Ufopedia".

Every month you get judged by the different governments on the planet. Based on your performance in defending them, you get more or less of the much needed money.