The soldier keeps their rank and gains a bonus relative to what type of soldier he/she was (i.e. Along with being considered a workshop for adjacency purposes, the Cybernetics Lab is used to convert existing soldiers to MEC Troopers, replacing almost all of their organic matter with robotic components. Meld acquisition enables the construction of two key facilities: the Cybernetics Lab and the Genetics Lab.

Will you split up your squad to find both canisters quickly, or stay together in a safer formation and risk losing one? Meld is a scarce commodity collecting it will prove nearly as important as accomplishing the main objective. But there’s a catch: in the majority of cases, you have a finite number of turns to find the canisters before they self-destruct. Most missions in Enemy Within include two Meld canisters dispersed throughout the map - a squad member need only reach an adjacent position to a canister to be able to collect the resource, and the act of collecting it does not cost an action. Simply the practice of gathering Meld is somewhat of a game-changer. This currency (and what it’s used for) acts as the most impactful addition to the XCOM experience brought about in this expansion. It’s explained as a material comprised of nanites, microscopic machines – partially organic and partially robotic – that can be used to either create mechanical suits or fuse alien tissue with that of humans. A tutorial mission is added at the beginning to introduce Meld, a new currency.

It doesn’t take long for things to feel different, though. This means that you don’t lose the classic core experience or any of your saved games therein, but it also means that none of your existing saves will appear in Enemy Within. After experiencing XCOM with this new expansion installed, you won’t want to go back.Ī significant overhaul, Enemy Within is an entirely separate instance from Enemy Unknown, even to the tune that launching the game asks you to choose between one and the other. This fantastic package does more than just add to an excellent game - it improves it in several meaningful ways. Not content to rest on their laurels, Firaxis brings us a full-fledged expansion in XCOM: Enemy Within. The combination of these aspects and the deep - yet accessible - strategic gameplay gave life to one of the best and most satisfying games of 2012. Balancing attention between managing squad members, conducting research, erecting base facilities, and intercepting UFOs is an arduous task losing one of your prized soldiers in battle is heart-breaking. XCOM: Enemy Unknown is famous for its punishing difficulty.

Xcom enemy within mec