Set in 1962, The Bureau: XCOM Declassified nails the atmosphere that makes the XCOM setting special. This game gives you a glimpse of what might have happened had aliens invaded Earth during the height of the Cold War and the space race. Unfortunately, the perfectly-executed anachronistic appearance and tone can't make up for The Bureau's biggest flaw: it just isn't fun.
At its core, The Bureau isn't that different from classic XCOM titles; it just allows for free movement from a different camera angle. While this shift in perspective doesn't inherently detract from the game, it just doesn't feel like an authentic XCOM experience. Despite the attractive setting and a few decent third-person combat scenarios, The Bureau fails to replicate the tense tactical challenges posed by previous XCOM games. Worse, it misses an opportunity to tell an interesting, character-driven story in the XCOM universe in favor of spinning yet another generic alien apocalypse story that falls apart in the end.
Space marines in three-piece suits
As Agent Carter, you're tasked with going into the field to attack extraterrestrial aliens and keep them from taking over the United States. At first, each mission feels new and vital to the freedom of the United States. That sense of fresh adventure fades as the game opens up: you're given a map with varying mission types that you or your squad mates can embark on, and it becomes clear that there isn't much variety in the types of encounters that you can have.
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