XCOM: Enemy Unknown Demo is Live

The autumn, pre-holiday gaming push is upon us, and one of the more anticipated titles among hardcore gamers is XCOM: Enemy Unknown from Firaxis and 2K Games. The full game is released today, but if you want to try before you buy, you’re in luck: the demo is available on XBLA for Gold subscribers right this friggin’ minute, while PlayStation 3 gamers should be getting the demo by tomorrow, if this post on Eurogamer is any indication.

XCOM’s gotten some pretty solid reviews so far. Our own Lawrence Sonntag, an XCOM fanboy from way back in the day, gave the game a 9 out of 10 in his review. And if you’re wondering about the history of the franchise that this new game reboots, well sir, have I got a treat for you. I’m in the midst of writing up the history of X-COM, with part 1 right here, and part 2 right here, having been posted just yesterday. Stay tuned for part 3 to be posted next week (when the proverbial poo will really hit the metaphorical fan), and part 4 a week after that, which will delve a bit deeper into the people who brought the franchise from the brink of extinction.

Exciting times to be a fan of alien-fighting strategy games…