XCOM 2: Shen’s Last Gift (2016)

by Nish
written by Nish 5 minutes read

Summary

XCOM 2: Shen’s Last Gift – A Comprehensive Review

Introduction

XCOM 2: Shen’s Last Gift is the second expansion for the 2016 turn-based strategy game XCOM 2. It was developed by Firaxis Games and published by 2K Games. The expansion was released on September 20, 2016, for Microsoft Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Shen’s Last Gift adds a new soldier class, the SPARK, to the game. SPARKs are powerful robotic units that can be customized with a variety of weapons and abilities. The expansion also includes a new story campaign, new maps, and new enemy units.

Gameplay

The gameplay in Shen’s Last Gift is similar to that of the base game. Players control a squad of soldiers in turn-based combat against alien enemies. However, the addition of the SPARK soldier class adds a new dimension to the gameplay. SPARKs are powerful units that can deal heavy damage to enemies. They are also immune to many of the status effects that can affect other soldiers.

The new story campaign in Shen’s Last Gift is set after the events of the base game. The player takes control of a squad of soldiers led by Chief Engineer Lily Shen. The squad is tasked with investigating a new alien facility known as the “Lost Towers.” The Lost Towers are home to a number of new enemy units, including the powerful Avatar.

The expansion also includes a number of new maps. These maps are designed to be more challenging than the maps in the base game. They feature a variety of environmental hazards, such as lava pits and acid pools.

New Features

  • SPARK soldier class: SPARKs are powerful robotic units that can be customized with a variety of weapons and abilities. They are immune to many of the status effects that can affect other soldiers.
  • New story campaign: The new story campaign is set after the events of the base game. It follows a squad of soldiers led by Chief Engineer Lily Shen as they investigate a new alien facility known as the “Lost Towers.”
  • New maps: The expansion includes a number of new maps. These maps are designed to be more challenging than the maps in the base game. They feature a variety of environmental hazards, such as lava pits and acid pools.
  • New enemy units: The expansion also includes a number of new enemy units. These units include the powerful Avatar.

Reception

XCOM 2: Shen’s Last Gift received positive reviews from critics. The expansion was praised for its new content, challenging gameplay, and well-written story.

  • IGN: “Shen’s Last Gift is a great expansion that adds a lot of value to the base game. It’s a must-have for fans of XCOM 2.”
  • GameSpot: “Shen’s Last Gift is a solid expansion that adds a lot of new content to XCOM 2. The new SPARK soldier class is a welcome addition, and the new story campaign is well-written and engaging.”
  • PC Gamer: “Shen’s Last Gift is a must-have expansion for XCOM 2. It adds a lot of new content, including a new soldier class, new story missions, and new maps. The new content is all high-quality, and it adds a lot of replayability to the game.”

Conclusion

XCOM 2: Shen’s Last Gift is a great expansion that adds a lot of value to the base game. It’s a must-have for fans of XCOM 2.

Review Score

8.5/10

Art

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Nish is a software engineer by day and avid gamer who loves to play video games after he puts his two boys to bed. His insights delve into the mechanics, and storytelling of the games he plays with the aim to share his passion with the audience. He loves to travel back to his native India and travel the country on his restored Royal Enfield Bullet 350, a relic from a simpler time, like some of the games he plays.

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