Created by Julian Gollop - the creator of the original X-COM series - Phoenix Point may be the closest thing to a third entry in the XCOM series as Firaxis work on Marvel’s Midnight Suns. The core mechanics will feel familiar to fans of the original series and the reboot but Phoenix Point brings enough of its ideas to the genre to create an interesting and complex strategy game of its own.
The premise shifts the main enemy from invading aliens to a Lovecraftian virus that has transformed humans and animals into grotesque sea creatures. Despite the differences in themes, Phoenix Point will likely be a more pure XCOM experience than Firaxis' turn-based Marvel effort. The diplomacy mechanic from XCOM: War of the Chosen is a major influence here but has been expanded further. Additionally, there are complexities involved with keeping the player’s soldier's sanity and resolve in check. There is a steep learning curve but these tips will help new players ease their way into the game.
10 Play The Tutorial
It may seem obvious but making sure that the tutorial mission has a tick next to it is the first thing the player should do before starting a new game. The gameplay is comparable to the XCOM series but the interface will still take some getting used to.
As a result, taking some time in the tutorial to play around with the menus and options before getting into the main campaign is advisable. Phoenix Point is a game that was designed for the PC and some of these controls haven’t translated as seamlessly to the controller. They will become second nature in time, however, so messing around as much as possible in the tutorial missions will give the player UI familiarity.
9 Build A Sarab Vehicle
The Scarab is an armored personal vehicle that's capable of attacking long distances with rockets and carrying soldiers to their destination. Additionally, it can cover more ground on a map, smashing through obstacles, breaking down barriers, and revealing enemy positions as a result.
It's also a great way to evacuate soldiers that are injured in battle or keep them protected from an attack on the battlefield. It's an invaluable asset that gives the player the upper hand in a variety of situations.
8 Free Aiming Is Invaluable
The Free Aim is a mechanic that lets the player target specific body parts on an enemy. This means that players can fight strategically by focusing on weak points.
The many enemies have specific weak points that will make them vulnerable. It's not always the head that should be targeted first some creatures and enemies have body parts, armor, tentacles, roots, and weapons that should be disabled first.
7 Don't Overlook The Overwatch Mechanic
One of the most useful mechanics in Phoenix Point is the use of the Overwatch feature. It's not as accurate as taking an aimed turn but it's a great defensive technique to ward off enemies.
The enemy will often use the element of surprise on the team but aiming the cone in the desired direction near toward a spawn point is a great way to get a few shots in between rounds as they approach.
6 Adjust The Speed On Geoscape
The Geoscape is a view of the planet and this is where the bulk of the game's strategy is implemented. Tactical missions and points of interest become available for the player to explore.
However, time is of the essence Phoenix Point so controlling the pace of the game will go a long way in helping with some of the micromanagement that's involved. An hour passes by every second at the default speed but at the slowest speed, it is five minutes every second. Of course, if someone wanted to speed the game up they adjust the settings so that five hours will pass by every second.
5 Build a Medical Bay
On the battlefield, it won't be long before the player notices that some of their soldiers are getting injured between missions. So building a Medical Bay will go a long way to improving the strength of the Phoenix Project.
Unsurprisingly, having a medical facility will mean that the player's soldiers will be able to get back into the fight as soon as possible. It's also advisable to build and maintain the Living Quarters to recover their Will and Resolve.
4 Build A Training Facility
The next Basic Building one should focus on is the Training Facility. As the name suggests, building this facility will provide the soldiers with the necessary training to get stronger, faster, and earn more experience points.
The beauty of having a Training Facility means that even when soldiers are resting back at the base they'll still earn experience when the active fighters are undertaking various missions across the world.
3 Don't Lose Track Of The Main Missions
It's very easy to get lost in the game's many side missions, trading minigames, rescue missions, allying with factions, and more. Participating in these missions will lead to a more successful career in Phoenix Point.
However, neglecting the main story when the clock is still ticking down Is ill-advised. The more time that passes means the pandemic spreads further making the game a lost cause going forward.
2 Research Is Important
For the player's soldiers and capabilities to improve, Research Projects are vital for turning the tide of combat. There are main campaign research missions, Factions Research, Reverse Engineering, and Pandoran Research.
All modes of research are useful to the player and many of these will be introduced in the main story. However, it's a good idea to keep the research flowing to provide the soldiers with an advantage on the battlefield.
1 Don't Overuse The Same Strategy
The artificial intelligence in Phoenix Point is very good at adapting to the player's strategy. This is especially true when the player uses the same tactics over and over again.
Avoid getting complacent and try to adopt new modes of attack as much as possible. Whether it's flanking enemies, splitting up the team, or even taking the defensive approach to take down waves of enemies just try and be as unpredictable as possible.