Actually, I just had a really awesome couple of battles back to back. The gameplay is starting to grow on me. It took about 8 hours, but I'm glad I stuck with it.

OK, I played enough to where the game opened up more and gave me more options. You still have the risk of losing teammates permanently, and you still have to choose loadouts and upgrades and all that. It really does feel like a real-time version of XCOM where you see the origins of the whole organization. The environments are interesting and full of little 'moments', the voice acting is superb, and the challenge is definitely there. The biggest problems so far are team AI (which is CRUCIAL in a squad based tactical game) and odd technical flubs like the canned door opening animation used to cover up load times, odd character jumping/twitching, and lip sync issues. There are some really great designs and mechanics going on, but it just leaves a lot to be desired after playing the 'real' XCOM. By itself, it's a really unique third person shooter with RPG/strategy elements. As an XCOM game, it's great as a way to see the history of XCOM (really great, actually) but the gameplay just isn't on par with Enemy Unknown. I hope that helped.

The Bureau is... neat. It has a few tactical options but it's all in real-time. You get the same kind of recuit/xp/upgrade kind of progression but the gameplay just isn't doing much for me just yet. I'll play for a while longer and give a final verdict.

Quite punishing, yeah. I get in a mood to get my butt handed to me every once in a while. Maybe one day I'll beat it. Ugh.

BINDING OF ISAAC YUSSSSS !!!!

AW YEEEAAAAH
I still have Fallout New Vegas in the Collector's box... unopened. I got 100 % on Fallout 3 two days before Vegas came out... had NO desire to start a new game. Kinda worried that it won't be near as fulfilling.

Not sure what you mean by that, but it's good to hear from you, BROTHER!!!!