X-COM: Terror from the Deep (1995)

Seeking to take advantage of a weakened Earth, X-COM’s deep space foes unexpectedly change strategy and launch a powerful second front against planet Earth.

In the dark depths of vast oceans, long sleeping forces are awakened by reanimation signals sent out across the galactic silence by their interstellar brothers and sisters. Slowly but surely, an army of hibernating alien sea creatures awakens. Your combat now extends to the strange new worlds of the deep where superior alien technologies threaten the very survival of this planet – your planet – Earth.

Gameplay

X-COM: Terror from the Deep takes place mostly underwater, with base-building and combat all being submerged beneath the waves. This is also used as a plot device; all of the alien technology from the first game is unusable in salt water, forcing the player to capture and develop new technology.

Difficulty levels were markedly increased compared to Enemy Unknown. A part of the reason for the enhanced difficulty is that players complained of the first game being too easy, however MicroProse were unaware that this was due to a bug that resulted in it reverting to Beginner mode in the released version. A new feature added in TFTD was melee weapons, thanks to feedback from the players who suggested the idea.

• Sequel to the hugely successful X-COM: UFO Defense
• Actual undersea geoscape mapping system with rich topographic detail
• Full array of undersea military technology
• Rich graphics feature water coloration and wrecks
• Multilevel tactical maps featuring both underseascapes and buildings
• Alien encyclopedia features mutation technology and new watery denizens