Long War of the Chosen: A No-Nonsense Review for XCOM 2 Veterans So, you’ve conquered XCOM 2, maybe even on Commander or Legend difficulty.

So, you’ve conquered XCOM 2, maybe even on Commander or Legend difficulty. You're yawning your way through alien facerolling and looking for something to reignite that initial spark of terror and tactical brilliance. You've heard whispers of Long War of the Chosen (LWOTC). Is it just hype, or the real deal? Let's cut the crap and get straight to it: Long War of the Chosen is a total conversion mod that aims to provide a longer, more challenging, and more strategic experience than the base game. Make no mistake: this mod is not for the faint of heart. It's designed for those who found the original XCOM 2 too easy, who revel in strategic depth, and who don't mind a campaign that can easily stretch beyond 100 hours.

What Long War of the Chosen Actually Does

This isn’t just a few tweaks and balance adjustments; this is a complete overhaul. Long War of the Chosen touches nearly every aspect of the game, from soldier classes to the strategic layer. Here's the breakdown:

The Overhauled Class System

Forget the simple class specializations of the base game. Long War of the Chosen throws you into the deep end with eight distinct classes:

• Infantry: Your frontline riflemen, focused on sustained fire and suppression. They're the backbone of any squad.
• Assault: Close-quarters combat experts, wielding shotguns and swords with devastating effect. Highly mobile and deadly at close range.
• Gunner: Heavy weapons specialists, capable of shredding armor and unleashing a hail of bullets. Great for dealing with heavily armored enemies and controlling the battlefield.
• Ranger: Stealthy scouts and flankers, equally adept at melee combat and ranged attacks. They are the masters of concealment and ambushes.
• Technical: Combat engineers who use flamethrowers, grenades, and other gadgets to control the battlefield. Great for area denial and support.
• Grenadier: Demolitions experts who use grenades and explosives to clear cover and deal massive damage. Essential for breaking enemy strongholds.
• Specialist: Support units who provide hacking, healing, and overwatch support. They are the indispensable lifeline of any team.
• Sharpshooter: Long-range specialists who can pick off enemies from afar with deadly accuracy. They are the snipers and pistol experts of XCOM.

Each class has its own unique skill tree, allowing for deep customization and specialization. The Guerilla Tactics School (GTS) now plays a crucial role, allowing you to train soldiers into specific roles within those classes. This means that a rookie trained at the GTS will become a specific class, instead of a random one. This is absolutely critical for building a balanced and effective squad.

Strategic Layer Overhaul: This Ain't Your Mama's Geoscape

The Geoscape gets a complete facelift. You're not just scanning for activity anymore; you're actively managing resistance havens, assigning advisors, and issuing resistance orders to combat alien activity.

Infiltration mechanics are now paramount. Sending a squad into a mission without proper infiltration is practically suicide. The time spent infiltrating directly affects enemy strength and activity. A 100% infiltration mission can guarantee an ambush, while a rushed infiltration results in a brutal fight against overwhelming odds. Alien Rulers are still present but their unique weapons now play a bigger role on the strategic map by presenting strategic options for the Commander to consider.

Expanded Enemy Roster & Revamped AI

Prepare to face a horde of new alien types and variants. The AI is significantly more aggressive and tactical. Expect more flanking maneuvers, better use of cover, and generally smarter enemy behavior. Some notable additions include:

• The Lancer: This speedy unit can close the distance quickly and deliver a devastating melee attack.
• The Advanced MEC: A heavily armored unit with devastating firepower that can quickly overwhelm your squad.

These are just a few examples. The expanded roster and improved AI make every encounter a tense and unpredictable challenge.

Gameplay Impact: Where the Rubber Meets the Road

So, what does all this mean for how the game feels? Buckle up.

Brutal Campaign Length: Plan for the Long Haul

The increased campaign length is not a joke. We're talking 100+ hours, easily. You'll be constantly juggling resources, personnel, and research, all while under relentless pressure from the aliens. You'll be forced to make tough choices and prioritize objectives. This isn't a sprint; it's a marathon.

Soldier Fatigue & Squad Composition: The Human Cost of War

Long War of the Chosen introduces fatigue mechanics, forcing you to rotate soldiers and manage their mental and physical health. You can't just rely on your A-team for every mission; you'll need to develop your entire roster. Squad size limits and class compositions are critical considerations. A Ranger/Assault front line, supported by a Technical and Grenadier for crowd control, can be incredibly effective, but you'll need to adapt your tactics based on the mission and available personnel.

Infiltration or Annihilation: There is No Middle Ground

The time spent infiltrating missions directly affects the difficulty and rewards. A failed infiltration can lead to a disastrous fight against overwhelming odds, while a successful infiltration can turn the tide in your favor.

Combat: Lethality and Tactical Depth

Combat is brutal. Soldiers are more vulnerable to enemy fire, requiring careful positioning and use of cover. The new abilities and equipment options add layers of tactical depth. Every move counts, and a single mistake can be fatal.

Technical Side: Getting Your Hands Dirty

Installation: Prepare for a Journey

Installing Long War of the Chosen is not a simple drag-and-drop affair. You’ll need XCOM 2: War of the Chosen and the Alternative Mod Launcher. The mod is large, so expect a lengthy download and installation process.

Performance: Taming the Beast

Due to its scope, Long War of the Chosen can cause performance issues, especially on older PCs. Expect longer load times, increased memory usage, and larger save file sizes. Here are a few tips to mitigate performance issues:

• Use the "-noRedScreen" launch option.
• Reduce graphics settings to medium (shadows and ambient occlusion off).
• Clear the shader cache via the Documents/My Games/XCOM2 War of the Chosen/XComGame/Config folder.

Compatibility: Play Nice with Others

Compatibility issues are common with mods of this scale. Disable or unsubscribe from other mods that conflict with Long War of the Chosen, especially those that overhaul the UI or change core game mechanics. Follow the mod's recommended load order (Long War of the Chosen first, followed by cosmetic mods).

Bugginess: Embrace the Imperfection

Long War of the Chosen is a massive mod, and bugs are inevitable. Expect occasional glitches, such as units getting stuck on terrain or abilities not working correctly. Workarounds include reloading a previous save or using console commands (accessible by pressing the tilde (~) key). While the mod is largely stable, occasional bugs are part of the experience.

Community Reception: Love and Frustration

Long War of the Chosen enjoys overwhelmingly positive reception within the XCOM 2 community. Look at Reddit (r/Xcom and r/LongWar2), Steam forums, and YouTube – you'll find countless examples of praise for its increased difficulty, strategic depth, and replayability.

The community has also created a wealth of guides, tutorials, and tools to help players overcome the mod's challenges. Content creators like Christopher Odd and Beaglerush have produced extensive Long War of the Chosen content, and there are numerous spreadsheets and wikis dedicated to the mod.

The Long War legacy is significant. Long War Studios, led by John "JohnnyLump" Lumpkin and Rachel "Aminatou" Robison, transitioned to become Firaxis Games, the developers of XCOM 2, and developing XCOM 2's Tactical Legacy Pack, highlighting the influence of Long War on the official game.

Of course, there are criticisms. Some players complain about the "grind" or the "save scumming" required to succeed. Difficulty is a selling point for some, but a point of frustration for others.

Verdict: Is Long War of the Chosen Worth It?

For the right player, it's essential.

If you enjoy challenging turn-based strategy games, want a longer and more strategic XCOM 2 experience, and appreciate mods that significantly alter the base game, then Long War of the Chosen is for you.

Be warned: this mod is difficult, has potential performance issues, and has a steep learning curve. If that sounds intimidating, consider alternative mods like Grim Horizon (for increased challenge without completely changing the game) or A Better Barracks (for expanded soldier customization options).

But, if you're ready to have your tactical prowess tested and your strategic mind pushed to its limits, then download Long War of the Chosen. You might just find yourself lost in its depth for hundreds of hours. Just don't say I didn't warn you. Good luck, Commander. You'll need it.