Is "Long War of the Chosen" Worth Enduring?

For those of us in the PC gaming community who understand the transformative power of mods, XCOM 2 stands as a testament to what’s possible. And within the already impressive modding scene for XCOM 2, there's one mod that reigns supreme in terms of sheer scope, difficulty, and replayability: "Long War of the Chosen" (LWOTC). This isn't just a tweak; it's a complete overhaul designed to push even the most seasoned commanders to their absolute limits. If you're craving an intensely challenging and strategic experience, read on, because this review is for you.

A snapshot of the Geoscape five months into a Long War of the Chosen campaign. The Avatar Project looms, while XCOM must manage multiple resistance cells spread thin across the globe.

What Exactly Is "Long War of the Chosen"?

In short, "Long War of the Chosen" drastically expands every facet of XCOM 2. We’re talking about a campaign that can easily stretch to 100+ hours, where every decision matters and mistakes are brutally punished. Forget facerolling through the late game; LWOTC keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.

Fatigue: The Enemy You Can't Shoot

One of the biggest changes is the introduction (or rather, emphasis) of the fatigue mechanic. Your soldiers are no longer tireless super-soldiers. After a mission, they need rest. A soldier returning from a difficult mission like a smash and grab requiring the soldier to hack an objective while being chased by an andromedon will require at least four days of rest; continuously deploying them without adequate rest will lead to reduced aim, will, and even the development of negative traits such as 'coward' or 'glass cannon'. This forces you to manage a much larger roster of soldiers and rotate them effectively. Gone are the days of relying on the same A-team for every mission. You'll need to train up rookies and promote specialists to fill the gaps, creating a deeper, more engaging squad management experience.

A tired and battered XCOM squad is extracted after a hard-fought mission. Note the fatigue penalties and injuries that will require significant recovery time.

The Geoscape Gets Real

The strategic layer receives a massive overhaul. You’re not just scanning for missions anymore. You’re actively managing multiple resistance havens, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. And those havens? They're constantly under threat. Alien retaliatory forces can launch haven sieges, forcing you to defend your assets or risk losing valuable resources and personnel. Losing a haven can cripple your regional operations, setting you back weeks, if not months.

Furthermore, new mission types add even more depth. "Liberation" missions require multiple stages of planning and execution, while "infiltration" missions demand stealth and careful timing. Successfully executing a liberation chain involves weakening ADVENT control in the region before ultimately striking at the regional headquarters; careful planning and resource management are critical to success.

Gameplay Impact: Every Choice Matters

The increased campaign length and strategic depth of LWOTC fundamentally change how you approach XCOM 2. Early game choices have cascading effects that can make or break your campaign.

For example, choosing to prioritize research into plated armor early on might give you a tactical edge against Mutons and ADVENT MECs in the first few months, but it could delay your access to crucial resistance contacts in Africa, hindering your ability to reduce Avatar Project progress and earn valuable monthly supplies.

Haven management becomes a mini-game in itself. Assigning the right advisor to a region improves recruit numbers and reduces detection risk. Failing to defend a haven from a siege can result in lost resources (especially scientists and engineers), intel, and even the loss of resistance personnel, crippling your regional operations.

The Avenger is bustling with activity, showcasing the extensive facilities required to support a Long War of the Chosen campaign. The AWC is retraining soldiers, while the infirmary is filled with the wounded.

On the tactical level, the introduction of enemy pods with mixed unit compositions demands adaptation. You can't rely on the same old strategies when you're facing a Sectopod backed up by Mutons and ADVENT Troopers. You'll need to learn to prioritize targets, utilize cover effectively, and exploit enemy weaknesses.

The Technical Side: Be Prepared for a Marathon

Let's be honest: LWOTC is a demanding mod. It significantly impacts loading times and late-game save file sizes, issues that are common with heavily modded XCOM 2 games.

Loading times, particularly when entering and exiting missions, can be noticeably longer compared to the base game, sometimes up to several minutes on older hardware. Be prepared to wait.

Late-game save file sizes can balloon to hundreds of megabytes, potentially impacting save/load times, particularly after month 10 when soldier numbers have drastically increased. Plan accordingly when upgrading your PC.

The good news is that LWOTC is practically designed to be used with the Alternative Mod Launcher. It’s almost mandatory. This launcher allows you to manage your mods effectively and troubleshoot compatibility issues. It also plays nicely with other popular mods like "Robojumper's Squad Select," making squad management even smoother.

Community Reception: For the Hardcore Only

The LWOTC community is a unique beast. This isn't about casual fun; it's about embracing the grind, sharing strategies, and lamenting devastating losses. Pavonis Interactive, the mod's creators, are still actively involved, tweaking balance and addressing bugs. Dedicated content creators like Christopher Odd and DerAva have produced countless hours of LWOTC gameplay, showcasing the mod's depth and complexity.

Discussions on the Pavonis Interactive forums are ongoing, with players debating balance tweaks and optimal strategies. The community largely feels the mod achieves its stated goals of increasing challenge, depth, and replayability, even with the increased complexity and potential for save file corruption. There are always debates regarding the balance of certain classes or abilities, but that's part of the fun.

A desperate battle unfolds in a ruined city. XCOM soldiers face overwhelming odds in this typical Long War of the Chosen engagement.

Verdict: Are You Ready for the Long War?

So, is "Long War of the Chosen" worth trying? Absolutely. But with a massive caveat.

This mod is not for everyone. It's for players who relish a challenge, who enjoy the process of carefully managing limited resources, building a robust and diverse roster of soldiers, and outsmarting a cunning AI opponent that will actively exploit your weaknesses. It's a mod for players who are not afraid to restart their campaign multiple times.

If you're seeking an experience that demands strategic mastery, long-term planning, and a willingness to adapt to unpredictable challenges, then LWOTC is unequivocally the mod for you. It transforms XCOM 2 from a challenging game into a true test of skill and endurance. Victory feels truly earned.

Just be prepared for a long, hard fight. The aliens won't go down easy. And neither will your soldiers. Good luck, Commander. You'll need it.

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