XCOM 2 Offers More Details on Ranger, First In-Engine Image of the Characters

When the first trailer for the coming XCOM 2 was delivered by the development team at Firaxis and publisher 2K Games, one of the biggest surprises was to see one of the characters take out enemies at extremely short range using a sword as a weapon.

Now, the two companies are ready to offer some details about the Ranger class and the way it will revolutionize the strategies players can employ when attacking enemy groups.

The official XCOM 2 site explains that "No longer will all XCOM operatives be forced to withdraw back to cover when confronted face-to-face with the enemy. The Ranger can stand tall and cut down would-be aggressors at very intimate distances."

The Ranger is designed to offer an upgrade on the classic Assault, able to move across the battlefield as a scout to deliver reconnaissance info and to assist isolated human characters, but he can also become a frontline combat force, able to deliver big amounts of damage.

The sword attack can be enhanced by the element of surprise, which means that one of the most important parts in the early moments of a battle in XCOM 2 is to choose when the character can unveil himself and slice open one of the most powerful enemy units, be it Advent or a classic alien.

XCOM 2 encourages players to enhance their tactics

The new turn-based strategy title will take place in a version of the narrative where humans were unable to resist the alien invasion and were forced to capitulate, with the new overlords forcing most of the population to move into massive cities.

At the moment, the XCOM organization is reduced to a guerrilla group that needs to launch attacks on the fringes and needs more resources and better leadership to have a chance to take Earth back.

Firaxis says that it will introduce a wide range of changes to the strategy title, including procedurally generated levels, a range of new enemies and more powers for operatives.

They are also planning to make the battles more varied and more difficult, to reflect the fact that the aliens are dominating Earth and have a lot more resources to throw against the player.

XCOM 2 will be offered only on the PC at some point in November of this year.