[zenojevski]

Even greater than UFO Defense, in my opinion, was its expansion - Terror From the Deep.

It truly taught me that our oceans are so close, yet much farther than outer space can ever be. Looking at that lone blue globe in space always makes me feel so insignificant, so meaningless. Space is vast, but empty, and sterile. Down the abyss, not even light can shine to bless and purify.

The greatest contributor to that is certainly its soundtrack. With its unnerving, relentless low horns; harps hitting on the same two or three notes; there's a feeling of utter despair, hopelessness. A sense of doom, as aquanauts armed with teeny darts and harpoons grunt through the deaths of their colleagues, outmatched by opponents so unfairly superior, in the harshest environment on Earth. They couldn't have done a better job.

I have been working on a new "HD" soundtrack for TFTD that I plan to release as a mod for OpenXCOM (this article is great timing!). I am not finished yet, but you can listen to some of the tracks already (and download them if you wish):

• Geoscape 1: https://clyp.it/b3wf24qt?token=1171341361084200df1e81a5699dd...

• Geoscape 2: https://clyp.it/4qog1dq1?token=91b0b871435a3beac898f96cec945...

• Geoscape 3: https://clyp.it/cr2uakoj?token=f1e0cda592185ae0152d47bf70a9d...

• Geoscape 4: https://clyp.it/cf0c5xbx?token=4557e7bd10b693695f04085eeed9b...

• Geoscape 6: https://clyp.it/gyspu3ry?token=502115f5d9c7c0f0b5f844aa63ef6...

Or follow updates on the mod page: https://openxcom.mod.io/orchestra-from-the-deep

Enjoy, and let me know, shall you try them in OpenXCOM!

[kapp]

"The mod requested could not be found."

I believe the correct link is: https://openxcom.mod.io/orchestra-of-the-deep

[JohnBooty]

As a diehard fan of the series, I'm shocked! TFTD was such a major letdown to me after the predecessor, and I believe even Mr. Gollop doesn't have a high opinion of it. I'm also shocked to see the author of the linked article laud it as better than the original. I've honestly not heard that expressed by other XCOM fans.

It, bizarrely, leans heavily into its predecessor's flaws instead of fixing them or at least steering around them.

- The much more cramped battlefield areas (namely, ships) expose the very frustrating shooting/projectile mechanics. you can understand squaddies missing an easy shot in the heat of the moment. fine! understandable! but in cramped areas they make even more exasperating mistakes -- if a guy is standing next to a doorway for cover, i might expect him to miss his shot... but i do not expect him to empty half his clip directly into the door frame six inches from his face

- grenade tossing in cramped areas is essentially just a great way to frag yourself and your squadmates. dear lord. grenades are really only useful in the early game, mostly, but TFTD doesn't even let you have that!

- some weapons only work underwater, some only work in air! adding to the already mind-numbing micromanagement of equipment, not to mention the punishing difficulty

- perhaps my memory fails me here, but I remember distinctly less destructible environments, which added so much fun to the original. can't find a way into the house? Blow a wall open! But, also, watch out for collapses! So much fun and so unique at the time.

More importantly, regardless of which series entries we like the best... nice to see a fellow X-Com fan -- and so many others on here! Cheers!

[kevinmchugh]

I don't think Jimmy Maher, author of the linked article, said he preferred TFTD.

"Unfortunately, Terror from the Deep does little to correct the original’s problems; if anything, it makes them worse. Most notably, it’s an even more difficult game than its predecessor, a decision that’s hard to understand on any level. Was anyone really complaining that X-COM was too easy? All in all, Terror from the Deep is exactly the unimaginative quickie sequel which the Gollops weren’t excited about having to make.

Nevertheless, it’s arguably the best of the _post-original_, pre-reboot generation of X-COM games."

Emphasis added

[JohnBooty]

Ah, thanks. Apparently I didn't have my coffee or something. ::sheepish grin::

[devonkim]

The best video I saw for XCOM TFTD was this strategy guide for terror cruise ship attacks

https://youtu.be/WziO005uM3g

The problem with TFTD was that it crossed the time-reward curve threshold for many missions. The feedback that led to TFTD being so difficult was also related to the bug in the original that screwed up difficulty even if you played on Superhuman. So many players got the impression that XCOM was too easy and asked for a harder game

[the_af]

> some weapons only work underwater, some only work in air! adding to the already mind-numbing micromanagement of equipment, not to mention the punishing difficulty

This is Terror from the Deep's biggest fail, in my opinion. Environment specific weapons added nothing to the game but more micromanagement.

If I remember correctly, TftD was bugged as hell, too.

I absolutely love the original X-COM and think it's one of the best -- if not THE best -- games from my youth.

[int_19h]

Which of the first two X-COM games is the favorite usually depends on which one the person played first, from my experience.

[bla3]

This sounds believable to me. I played TFTD as a teen and loved it, but couldn't get into the predecessor.

[JohnBooty]

I know what you mean. So many things are like that. =)

But I'd really like to hear the case in favor of TFTD. I might go so far as to call it objectively worse!

[zenojevski]

Of course it's a matter of personal taste. But disclaimer, TFTD was indeed my first entry to the series. And yes, I hate the ship as well.

The atmosphere is absolutely terrifying. It really made me clutch for the life of my soldiers as if it was mine. It was unfair, but not without reason, as even today our submarine warfare would pale against T'Leth. So close yet so powerless.

The superb work on the graphics brings me deep into the abyss. Just look at how well the battle maps fade into the darkness. The various aliens are actually scary for once, and their shared past with the human species is realistic yet particularly disturbing. We all came from those same oceans, after all.

I already spoke about the music, but it really seals the deal.

I know this might sound it's all about the assets and the mood. But the game was already quite good, and TFTD gave that engine the content it deserved.

I will hazard a rough comparison – UFO Defense feels more like Starship Trooper, while TFTD is more like Alien. Intimate and downright scary.

[AnIdiotOnTheNet]

> Of course it's a matter of personal taste.

To a certain extent yes, but TFTD is objectively even buggier than the original. IIRC it is even possible to put the original game into an unwinnable state by simply researching things in an unintended order. Fortunately OpenXCom[0] fixed this.

[0] https://openxcom.org

[GeorgeWBasic]

Is it just me, or is that openxcom site down for everyone else, too?

[JohnBooty]

I didn't find TFTD to be scarier than X-Com/UFO Defense! Not arguing; just funny how different people have subjective experiences.

I think the game you played first will be scarier. Once you've played one, the other one is obviously just a bit of a re-skin, and just doesn't have quite the same fear factor. =)

[the_af]

> The atmosphere is absolutely terrifying. It really made me clutch for the life of my soldiers as if it was mine. It was unfair, but not without reason

I feel that way about the original X-COM ;)

TFTD crossed the line into unfair, in my opinion. And buggy, too!

[usrusr]

> The greatest contributor to that feeling is certainly the music.

If you are ever startled by a mobile phone nearby ringing with the menacing gmbigmar.mid buildup, please say hello, it's probably mine.

I found TFTD a bit too much work-like in some missions (finding that last panicked Gray on a freighter...), but they sure earned an entire spot in gaming history only for their audio.

[zenojevski]

OpenXCOM and OpenXCE fix almost all of TFTD's problems with tons of quality-of-life improvement, like the "bug hunt" mode which reveals the location of those pesky aliens when a play drags too long. Give it a spin if you didn't already!

[skocznymroczny]

I like TFTD, but it has some flaws:

- weird research paths. It was possible to ruin your game by doing the wrong research in wrong order. Also, you need a lot of luck to get some techs, e.g. to get early armor you need to kill a Deep One, which usually are only found in the beginning of the game and near the end of it. Similarly to get a vibroblade which is very useful against Lobstermen, you need to kill a Calcinite, which is a very rare spawn in the game.

- maps are too big. I like the variety, but the maps are just too big. Also they consist of tight tunnels providing perfect shooting gallery opportunities for the aliens

- tentaculats are badly balanced. I fear no lobstermen disruptors, I fear no tasoth mind control, but a one or two tentaculats can destroy your team in a single round. And they can fly across half the map to get you.

[joelbluminator]

OMG Terror From the Deep, it was so freaking great.

[Newtonip]

It was way too hard.

[fab1an]

Amazing work on the HD soundtrack! Takes me right back..