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About The Bureau: XCOM Declassified
Released on August 6, 2013 by developer 2K Marin, The Bureau: XCOM Declassified puts you in the shoes of Agent Carter during the height of Cold War paranoia. This single-player shooter drops players into a covert war against an alien threat that looks nothing like standard communist forces. Set firmly in 1962, the game blends tactical squad commands with third-person cover shooting across PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and Mac platforms. You command a small team of agents as they investigate mysterious attacks while trying to survive encounters with superior extraterrestrial technology. It feels like a spy thriller where the stakes involve saving humanity from an enemy most people refuse to believe exists.
Gameplay
You control Agent Carter directly while issuing orders to three squad members through a tactical menu. The core loop involves moving between cover, scanning for enemies, and executing commands like flanking or suppressing fire. Every encounter plays out in real time, so you must balance immediate shooting with strategic planning. You can pause the action to issue new orders, which gives you time to assess threats without losing ground. Weapons feel heavy and distinct, ranging from standard pistols to experimental alien tech captured by your team. The game mode is strictly single player, meaning there are no multiplayer distractions. Sessions focus on clearing missions and managing resources for upgrades rather than endless grinding or competitive lobbies.
What Players Think
PlayPile data shows mixed feelings among players. IGDB lists a score of 63.9 out of 100 based on 113 ratings, suggesting the game missed its mark for many critics. Average playtime hovers around ten hours, indicating a straightforward campaign without significant replay value. Community moods reflect frustration with the cover mechanics and pacing issues rather than praise for the setting. While some users appreciate the Cold War atmosphere, completion rates drop noticeably in later missions where difficulty spikes. Review snippets often mention the disconnect between tactical planning and actual execution during firefights. The price has dropped significantly over time, with a historical low of $3.59 and current deals as cheap as $0.79 on Green Man Gaming.
PlayPile's Take
This title works best for players who want a short, story-driven experience without spending forty hours on it. At the current price point of $0.79, it is an easy buy if you can tolerate the clunky controls. The game does not offer any achievements to track completion, so your only goal is finishing the campaign. It is not for fans who demand tight shooting mechanics or deep tactical systems. The story holds up better than the gameplay in several spots, but you will likely feel the repetition quickly. Buy it only if you are curious about this specific entry in the XCOM timeline and want to see how it differs from the main series.
Game Modes
Single player
IGDB Rating
63.9
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Origin Declassified
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