When comparing BlazBlue: Chronophantasma Extend vs XCOM 2, the Slant community recommends XCOM 2 for most people. In the question“What are the best action games on Steam?” XCOM 2 is ranked 4th while BlazBlue: Chronophantasma Extend is ranked 53rd. The most important reason people chose XCOM 2 is:
One of the main aspects of XCOM 2 is preparing your squad for each mission. You need to consider the terrain, objective, and enemy types. Based on these you'll select the appropriate soldiers, weapons, and gadgets. A lot of the missions have some leeway, so you'll be able to form a squad that fits your playstyle. It can either be a group of stealthy rangers, running in with machetes to surprise the enemy. Or it can be a group sharpshooters, allowing you to systematically clear the area from afar with sniper rifles. After each successful mission/kill your soldiers will earn experience. With enough experience you'll be able to promote them and earn learn new skills. You can also research new weapons and build them. A lot of it comes down to looting alien technology and reverse engineering it back at the base. All these things add up and it's really exciting watching your soldiers grow into unstoppable killing machines.
Specs
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Pros
Pro Allows for many different styles of fighting
With a roster of 24 characters (and 2 that can be purchased through DLC) that sees each having a different look and fighting style, there should be an option available for whatever kind of style one prefers. Whether that is close combat, ranged combat, tanks or really fast characters, there is a good mix to be found.
Pro Traditional 2D fighting game style
BlazBlue sticks to the tried and true method of using hand drawn sprites for their characters as well as their backgrounds, which may appeal to those that grew up with fighting games of this sort.
The actual fighting in the game is also traditional in the sense that there is a weak, medium and strong attack for each character as well as different combinations for eachs special moves. A tried and true method developed in the early nineties that still works great to this day.
While not just for nostalgia's sake there is also some benefit to 2D fighting such as being able to fight in the air as well as an overall sense of better space control.
Pro Accessible multiplayer
The multiplayer (PvP) section of the game can be played locally as well as online, meaning players can play at home with friends on one screen as well as with friends or random opponents online. This gives the player the choice of how they would like to play multiplayer, which is not something all PC fighting games do.
The online mode also offers a wide selection of options from ranked matches to player matches as well as online lobbies and viewable rankings.
Pro Good tools for practice
The game offers a training mode as well as a challenge mode. The training mode is an arena where the player can practice any move they like, over and over in order to nail down how to perform them on command easily. Training mode also offers a tutorial section that walks the player through how to perform specific maneuvers and actions in the game. The challenge mode on the other hand is like a tutorial with tasks in that it teaches the player how to do specific maneuvers while tasking them with pulling it off in a specific situation. This makes for a great way to learn all the ins and outs of the game's characters as the it walks you through how to do each task it is asking.
Pro Unique blocking element
In the game there is a secondary block with a meter tied to it that limits its use. This is called the barrier guard. The barrier guard allows for better blocking over a regular block, but is limited to the power found in the barrier guard gauge. This adds a strategical element to the gameplay, as the user needs to access whether or not using the barrier guard is worth it at them time they want to use it as when they run out they will be left with less defenses.
Pro Works great for online competitive fighting
Latency is barely an issue with Chronophantasma Extend (something all online fighters have to deal with), which makes this a good game for competitive online fighting as there should be few problems with missed frames (something that is always important for pulling off moves at the precise moments they need to be executed). The series as well as this game in particular also lends itself well to competitive fighting thanks to the precise controls as well as the vast array of characters available, each with their own look and fighting styles.
Pro It's fun to manage your squad
One of the main aspects of XCOM 2 is preparing your squad for each mission. You need to consider the terrain, objective, and enemy types. Based on these you'll select the appropriate soldiers, weapons, and gadgets. A lot of the missions have some leeway, so you'll be able to form a squad that fits your playstyle. It can either be a group of stealthy rangers, running in with machetes to surprise the enemy. Or it can be a group sharpshooters, allowing you to systematically clear the area from afar with sniper rifles.
After each successful mission/kill your soldiers will earn experience. With enough experience you'll be able to promote them and earn learn new skills. You can also research new weapons and build them. A lot of it comes down to looting alien technology and reverse engineering it back at the base.
All these things add up and it's really exciting watching your soldiers grow into unstoppable killing machines.
Pro Makes you feel more for your characters than most character driven games
One of the more fun parts about this game is managing your squad. You can customize the looks, voices, and even names of your soldiers. As you take your soldiers on missions you'll get attached to them. This will create a lot of tense moments when your soldiers are about to die and you desperately try to save them.
If you decide to input the names of your friends or family, multiply the tension by ten.
Pro Excellent suspense
Throughout the campaign you'll always be running against the clock. You have a limited window of time to save humanity before the aliens take over completely. Successful missions only set them back slightly. Unsuccessful missions set you back significantly. It always feels like you're in an uphill struggle and failing means the end. It always feels like you're not gaining an advantage and the aliens have something else in store. This is reinforced in the missions. You never know what type of aliens there will be or what their reinforcements will bring. Encountering new species makes you fear for the well-being of your squad. It's rare for a game to keep you feeling like this.
Cons
Con Poor story
The story found in the game for each character in the story mode is not written that well and is mainly fan service for those familiar with the franchise. So for newcomers or those that are looking for a deep and involved story, they may be disappointed.
Con Theme may not be for everyone
Being that the game is heavily themed as an anime, the look of the game may not appeal to everyone. For those that are not fans of anime or risque clothes on women this may be a game to stay away from. While none of this detracts from the gameplay itself, some may not enjoy spending money on something that is not visually appealing to them.
Con Demanding on hardware
Will not run on low-end graphics cards like the GeForce GT 740M or the HD Graphics 4600 / 5600.
Con Complaints about the new launcher
Sadly the Steam rating has dropped because of the new launcher, problems can be solved however: XCOM 2 How to Bypass the 2k Launcher without External Files or Configuration Guide.
Con Steep learning curve
XCOM 2 is not just about managing a squad of soldiers, you also have to manage your base and operations on a global scale. This includes managing your resources, identifying which missions you should prioritize, and allocating research for new technologies. It might take a while to learn everything needed to fully enjoy this game, especially on higher difficulties.