Em@il Games: X-COM

Em@il X-Com... Where to start? Basically, Em@il X-Com is a game, played between two people, who send turns to each other until one side beats another. The game is a far more simplified version of the tactical combat in the first three games. One player plots his/her moves, and then sends them to his/her opponent, at which time the player sees the result of their moves.

Until recently, Infogrames (and Hasbro Interactive before that) ran a server which would send the turns back and forth, but they, as is their entitlement, shut the server down, as it was costing them too much to run. While the server was shut down, the X-Com community discovered how to get round this problem although we couldn't see the result of the turn, and Tankman worked on a 'fiddle version' which would allow us to see the final turns, and send without the hassle! Unfortunately, it is still impossible to see the result of the very first move, but it doesn't really matter, and we are very much indebted to Tankman! The big disappointment with this is that Em@il X-Com is no longer being sold, as all the copies have been recalled ... =(

Em@il X-Com can look deceptively simple, and as if the map makes all the difference to the result, but good tactical play can keep the outcome completely open on all but the rarest of maps, although I am starting to doubt even that now! At the end of the game, a score comes up showing who won, or if it is a draw, and the scores you each recorded in the game.

So what are you waiting for? Download the fiddle version and start playing!

Review By Greg from x-com.co.uk