Approx length 30 to 50 hours for the main story; 1 hour or so for the cutscenes on Youtube
Where to find it You can find playthroughs and cutscene compilations on Youtube; the game itself is available for all major platforms, including Android and iOS.
What is it, in summary? It's a turn-based strategy game about repelling an alien invasion after Earth's been conquered. XCOM is the resistance - you play as the Commander, their leader. At the beginning of the game, said Commander has been a prisoner and plugged into the aliens' psi network for two decades. A group of resistance fighters led by your former second-in-command rescue them and for then on, the Commander takes charge.
What do you love about it? The pretty damn random ST:TNG reunion in the War of the Chosen DLC. The dubious science. The two layers of battle tactics and base building. How you end up very invested in your randomly generated units - they can even Bond with each other and have special actions because they've become fire-forged friends.
But what I love about it particularly is Bradford and his undying loyalty for his Commander.
What sort of things are you likely to request for it? Which is my request: Bradford/Male Commander. In the first game, Bradford is your second-in-command who's slightly dorky and, like all mission control NPCs, pretty annoying. But XCOM 2 takes place in an alternate timeline where XCOM lost - and therefore Bradford is now a grizzled man with alcohol issues and who's spent two decades fighting a losing war against an overwhelming enemy. He's been the leader, but he gives it away the second he rescues you. Because he believes THAT much in the Commander - enough that even if the Commander spends two decades missing, he still believes he's somewhere out there. Enough that he actually is doubtful when the key to defeating the aliens can put the Commander at risk.
Are there sections of canon (rather than the whole canon) that can be consumed by themselves to fulfill your requests? Not really because the Commander is the player character.
Content warnings (ie, rape, incest, racism, gore/violence) - you do shoot a lot of aliens but it's not a gory game
XCOM 2
Media Video games
Approx length 30 to 50 hours for the main story; 1 hour or so for the cutscenes on Youtube
Where to find it You can find playthroughs and cutscene compilations on Youtube; the game itself is available for all major platforms, including Android and iOS.
What is it, in summary? It's a turn-based strategy game about repelling an alien invasion after Earth's been conquered. XCOM is the resistance - you play as the Commander, their leader. At the beginning of the game, said Commander has been a prisoner and plugged into the aliens' psi network for two decades. A group of resistance fighters led by your former second-in-command rescue them and for then on, the Commander takes charge.
What do you love about it? The pretty damn random ST:TNG reunion in the War of the Chosen DLC. The dubious science. The two layers of battle tactics and base building. How you end up very invested in your randomly generated units - they can even Bond with each other and have special actions because they've become fire-forged friends.
But what I love about it particularly is Bradford and his undying loyalty for his Commander.
What sort of things are you likely to request for it? Which is my request: Bradford/Male Commander. In the first game, Bradford is your second-in-command who's slightly dorky and, like all mission control NPCs, pretty annoying. But XCOM 2 takes place in an alternate timeline where XCOM lost - and therefore Bradford is now a grizzled man with alcohol issues and who's spent two decades fighting a losing war against an overwhelming enemy. He's been the leader, but he gives it away the second he rescues you. Because he believes THAT much in the Commander - enough that even if the Commander spends two decades missing, he still believes he's somewhere out there. Enough that he actually is doubtful when the key to defeating the aliens can put the Commander at risk.
Are there sections of canon (rather than the whole canon) that can be consumed by themselves to fulfill your requests? Not really because the Commander is the player character.
Content warnings (ie, rape, incest, racism, gore/violence) - you do shoot a lot of aliens but it's not a gory game