"XCOM:  Enemy Unknown" will mark the comeback of a classic franchise that hasn't put anything out in over a decade.  The game was developed by Firaxis Games, who are the makers behind Civilization V.  The highly-anticipated strategy game puts a gamer and his/her armed soldiers up against a plethora of alien invaders.

Arguably better then its predecessor, the latest XCOM is described by PC World as "terrifying, brutish and brilliant."  The premise of the video game centers on the increasing domination of aliens, whose human abducting ways must be brought to a halt.  Most of the time spent during game play involves combating.  However, there is a decent amount of narrative involved as well.  To top it off, there are also bonus missions that can be embarked on.  Although the missions are considered tactically brilliant by many experts, there is a strong presence of terror in the game.

The soldiers used during play are split up into four classes:  The Heavy class possesses both a mini-gun and an equally impressive rocket launcher.  The Assault class professionalizes in close battles, which includes shotguns.  There's also a Support class, which is essentially well-versed in all aspects and can obtain bonuses toward healing powers.  Last but not least, there's the Sniper Class, which are skilled in causing high damage at far ranges. 

As members of the gamer's squad partake in challenging missions, ranks can be compiled, which will unlock brand new abilities that can be customized and are choosable.

As mentioned prior, intelligence through strategy is imperative for optimal performance during game play.  Much like a real-life war zone, one must maintain a proper head to keep their soldiers from an ambush.  The environment itself is also challenging, and can serve to take out the troops as well.  Fighting smarter gets the gamer further than engaging in all-out shootouts.

XCOM: Enemy Unknown will be available for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and the PC.  The game is set to be released on Tuesday, Oct. 9. 

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Tags: offbeat video games