The Earth is in danger from constant alien attack. Only the
brave force that is XCOM can possibly save the world. All the nations of the
Earth have teamed up to finance and outfit this elite force of human justice.
There's only one problem with this: for the cream of the cream of humanity,
XCOM is a bit rubbish.
Why is XCOM's engineering department led by Dr Shen? Dr Shen
doesn't seem to care about the new and exciting opportunities this alien
technology gives us, instead giving XCOM Command the minimum possible options
for progress. Instead he puts all his effort into the useless SHIV project,
devising many upgrades and options for these mobile coffee tables. The SHIV is
the Microsoft Bing of XCOM; a vanity project that should have been shut down on
day one and replaced with items that have more tactical use.
Dr Shen's colleague is Dr Vahlen, a psychotic who is
obsessed with capturing aliens and torturing them to death. She constantly harasses
XCOM soldiers during missions, begging them not to hurt the aliens. Both of
these 'professionals' are often a hindrance to XCOM operations. Are these
really the best minds the world governments could come up with?
XCOM as a whole is woefully underfinanced and under
resourced. The team only has one Skyranger, meaning they cannot deploy to more
than one attack site at a time. Funding from countries is extremely low - The
United States, for example, only gives XCOM $180 a month. At moments where the
difference between being able to buy a rifle or not is $10, are operatives
expected to delve into their own pockets to outfit themselves?
The 'elite' soldiers given to XCOM are likewise terrible.
They are unable to hit even the most guaranteed shot, and more often than not
panic, whipping out their pistols and shooting their comrades with pinpoint
accuracy. Why can they not hit the aliens, but can kill their peers with ease?
Could these soldiers be a mixture of useless rookies and sleeper agents
designed to bring down XCOM?
The question also arises: Why would a nation pull out of the
XCOM project if the alien invasion becomes too much? Surely getting public
losses from alien attacks would increase sympathy and the willingness to more
fully support XCOM?
The truth becomes plain: XCOM is simply a political tool
designed by the governments of the world to fail. They welcome the alien
invasion, and are perhaps even in league with the aliens. Of course, it would
be political suicide to publically welcome an alien invasion so XCOM was set up
to fight - and fail. In this way, the eventual surrender of Earth would not be
seen as a fait accompli.
Alot of mis info and mischaracterization happening here. Dr. Valhelen mostly asks soldiers not to blow aliens up so she can study them more and only ever asks for hostages to study them further. Shes cold but not really psychotic.
ReplyDeleteDr. Shen is OFTEN excited. He aint exactly jumling up and down with excitement, sure but also gotta remember the seriousness of the situation hes in. But that being said he does sound pretty keen. There is also nothing useless about most of his tech especially hisbgiant battle mechs!
I dont know wjats going on with the money system in the xcom universe but $180 doesnt sound like much but look what it can get you! Not to mention we dont have to deal with things like paying the staff, buying ammo, fuel, etc. So xcom is funded fine.
The soldiers seem bad cause we are seeing it turn based but i think if it were in real time you'd be more impressed.
The plot already explains governments pulling out so i wont bother with that here.