10 replies to this topic

[Cpl. Facehugger]

Dipshit? That means a stupid err... nevermind.

No matter what, there will always be one alien base and two alen outposts on the map at any one time. This is to ensure that the player actually finishes the game (similar to how you couldn't completely annhilate the aliens in Xcom 1 without going to Cydonia.) Otherwise, there would be no one except possibly pirates to fight.

You haven't finished research until you have alien message 5.
Nova bomb requires: Fusion tech tree, Enveloping Fusion Torp, Phantasm research(?), trans dimensional physics/fields(?), and finally the nova bomb itself. The nova is the ultimate weapon. It can completely destroy an enemy star system (turns it into a black hole) in addition to being highly useful in the game's story.

And you need a phantasm, because it gives you trans dimensional physics/fields and lets you get trans dimensional shields, and more importantly, the dimension jump drive.

The Shade is not important.

I'm not sure about the VCTs. I didn't use them very often, but I believe that they let you make lateral slides/rolls/etc when manipulated with the number pad
It looks something like this:

789
456
123

[Cpl. Facehugger]

Hunter probes. Also, reference the map in alien transmission five to your starmap. You should see a similarity. Use a specific or unique reference point, like a particular cluster of stars. Or you could follow alien part convoys (but that is a bad idea because the part convoys can get through and finish the weapon, resulting in defeat.)

I reccommend you use hunter probes liberally. Launch them en masse into the rough area. They will find the black hole. Then, you will face several squadrons of Shades and phantasms with Tracking Tracer Cannons(!) and Phase Cannons(!) The aliens apparently don't skimp on protection.

Not to mention that there is an alien base, several minefields, and the aliens will immediately go for any nova bomb you launch. The final mission is one tough nut to crack.

[Cpl. Facehugger]

To win the second part of the final mission, merely have a novabomb accelerate to full velocity and high tail it back to the MacArthur. To launch a nova bomb, select it like any other kind of missile. Novabombs are big and slow, so it will be nessary to keep an eye on it, because the aliens drop everything when there is a nova in the air (in that mission.) It takes around sixty seconds for the Nova to reach full velocity (Victory.) If you don't make it back to the ship in time, you get a partial victory screen.

[dipstick]

Well, as I am in this forum, I may as well revive this thread for all those wondering.

Basically, the end mission is all about the nova bomb. I would recommend using 5 Super Avengers to do it, and equip each with a Nova Bomb.

One tactic is to get everyone to launch their nova bombs as you start - the aliens go for them, and you whack the first wave, and then launch yours.

The main problems:

Aliens. Lots of them. There are roughly 50-100 UFOs on the second part of the final mission. You have very little chance of killing that many. Kill the first couple of waves, and launch quickly.

Wingmen - They do not last very long, and particularly the MacArthur. DEFEND THE MACARTHUR AT ALL COSTS!! If you do not, you will not be able to obtain a full victory. You will get a couple of warnings if it is under attack - ignore these at your peril.


In answer to the above question: the nova bomb is invariably being shot to pieces by the aliens. The bomb is very resistant to being shot at, for a missile, nonetheless it has around 50hp I believe. Therefore, a couple of decent shots with any laser will make it history, not to mention trackers.

In addition, the missile goes so slow for the first 30 seconds, that it is so easy to hit, esp for the phantasms/shades at high levels. That said, I have launched a bomb and it gets through very easily - luck of the draw.

I hope this answers a few questions that people have, and if you would like any more detail on the final mission, I will be happy to provide it - I have the strategy guide with plenty of detail, and I have done the final mission on most difficulty levels.

I haven't spoiled it all for you though....

Edit: Moved to Strategy.

Edited by dipstick, 21 May 2005 - 01:28 PM.

[Sectopod]

You sure you aimed it at the sun? I tried it before without aiming at the sun and it didnt work (I think I waited 60 secs). Apparently, the sun comes up on targeting scanners, and just point, shoot, defend the missle becuase all the aliens will go for it.

You cannot blow up the Doomsday device I spent the entire mission once confused, and kept going up to the device, until I noticed that it had a chain symbol in distance . Then I lost.

Next time, I thought of firing it at the sun, and it worked. Once the Nova Bomb reaches a good velocity, run for the McArthur (I think thats the name). Then you've won! .

Edited by Chmmr, 03 June 2005 - 03:49 AM.

[Tsereve]

I haven't found out how to get your wingmen to launch their Nova Bombs, nor is this required knowledge, as I have beaten it several times having the only Nova Bomb. I think it might slow you down or something, being so big and bulky, but that might just be the added alien skills. Anyway, here's how I do it:

Take 3 Avengers, 2 Firestorm. I've found that Firestorms are the best craft for dogfighting. I've only lost 1 Firestorm ever, and that was in the Final Mission. Anyway, only one of the Avengers needs a Nova Bomb, and you of course have to pilot it. But first, don't pay any attention to the Nova Bomb, the star, or the Doomsday Weapon. As soon as you enter the mission, put your engines on full, switch to Phase Cannons, and try to deal a decent bit of damage to each Shade in the battlefield. If you let them cloak before they have enough damage to make that little trail behind them, the MacArthur is most likely dead. Anyway, once you've got each Shade to this level of damage, have your wingmen all concentrate on one while you do another. Ironically, I alone can usually destroy 2 Shades in the time it takes all 4 of my wingmen to destroy 1. . .

Anyway, once the Shades are taken out, destroy all the Phantasms ASAP. Have your wingmen all go after one, then attack another by yourself. You should have been using Phase Cannons this whole time. With the Phantasms out of the way, the overall performance of the alien fleet will be greatly diminished. Then, have your wingment fire at will. From this point on, ignore them. If they die, oh well. The only things that matter are you, the aliens, and the MacArthur. If you have Vector Control Thrusters (which you should), of course, you will be able to easily draw the entire fleet after you. Get your engines on full, and gain some distance, but not too much that they'll go after the MacArthur. Then, whirl around, and use your Phase Cannons until they get to 2km. Then, switch to Tracking Tracer Cannons, and wreak havoc in the midst of their forces. Do not stop until every UFO is destroyed.

You should have been doing all this within a safe distance of the Alien Base in the area. Then, tell your wingmen to ignore the base. Now, switch to Fusion Missiles (I like having twin Sidewinders, a Permeator, and a Fusion on this mission) and get your engines to full. Fly right towards the base, and press Z when you are within 1km of it. At the same time, launch both Fusion Missiles at it. This will draw the base's fire towards you, as well as prevent the missiles from being outrun by you, and then running into you, which has happened to me on several memoriable occasions. If the base is still standing, use your Phase Cannons, they work remarkably well here.

Once the base is gone, you'll have a clear shot at the star. Tell your wingmen to retreat, then launch the Nova Bomb. Start running back to the MacArthur, because you'll have to be within 1km of it to retreat yourself. Wait by it, watching the Nova Bomb go. When it reaches full velocity, you have one minute to get your arse outta there. If you want to wait a while, though, make sure to leave at least 10 seconds for engage the Hyperdrive and the what-not.

I've used this strategy over 5 times on the bottom three difficulty modes. I only lost a pilot the first time, because I had no idea what I was doing