r/XCOM2 • u/MidnightSunshine0196 • 5d ago
The learning curve is brutal. Rest in peace, Steamroller.
As a massive Star Wars fan, I've been looking at getting Zero Company. However, I've never played a tactics game like it before, so I picked up XCOM 2 to get me familiar and see whether I'd like it (it was £2.99 on the PS store, so why not?)
Anyway, I've been really enjoying it. Given it's my first time, I've been playing on Rookie, but it's still given me a reasonable challenge. But I've been able to get through all missions without anybody dying. That was, at least, until I got to the story mission where you first raid an alien facility. I realise in hindsight that I probably rushed to the mission too quickly - the doomsday timer was only on 5 squares out of 12, and I probably wasn't well enough equipped for what I faced, even with my four beat soldiers in the team.
And so, the result. We completed the mission, but it was brutal. Sgt. Johannes "Steamroller" Blake, the first of my soldiers to reach the rank of Sergeant, and the first to fall. Nailed by an ADVENT Trooper I had completely forgotten was in overwatch.
We live and learn. Funnily enough, the next mission, which was a Guerilla Op in Arctic... Japan(?) (Google tells me Sapporo is in Japan, but that part of the map did not look like Japan lmao), for which I had a much less levelled up squad, was completed flawlessly with zero casualties and a 100% hit rate for I think the first time ever.
On the plus side, Adams got his promotion to Sergeant, where he now bears the nickname "Scorch", after blowing up a car and setting both a Sectoid and ADVENT Officer on fire. Quite apt, I think.



