Computer game review
PC ASCARON
Release date Out now

Three games in which you must pit your wits against a formidable alien enemy…

Containing three titles, UFO: Aftermath, UFO: Aftershock and UFO: Afterlight, the three games in this pack are a successor to the classic X-COM. Perhaps inevitably, the first game is a little shaky, but as the series progresses they improve and expand immeasurably.

Aftermath begins with you taking control of a band of survivors and starting a campaign to halt the invasion. The game is played as a turn-based set up, where you can research skills and weapons, and build production centres. This leads on to better weapons and ammo as you progress. The research and production is completed in a very simple fashion, stating how many days it will take for your requested assignment to be completed.

The first sequel, Aftershock, introduces exciting new technologies to research and weapons to create, which are categorised into low-tech, high-tech and alien. There is also a diplomacy section that takes the UFO series a step forward; this offers the option to attempt to find a less violent solution to the struggle.

The final game in the series, Afterlight, sees the focus shift to Mars. The story here focuses on a small colony on the planet that has lost contact with Earth. You are given the job of taking control of all of Mars and beating the alien menace.

The final instalment is undoubtedly the best of the three, playing far more smoothly and featuring much better game design. The opportunity to control the colony makes for a great addition. Whereas in the first two games you have only research and production under your control, in Afterlight there are new options such as Civil Engineering which allow you to build new structures on your base. The game also features an operations manager, who will alert you when important events happen around your base. Jonathan Wilkins

VERDICT: 6/10
Worth having, the UFO Trilogy is enormous fun, although it is probably the third, and best, game in the series that will spend the majority of the time in your disc drive.