15 Video Game Franchises That Tried Something Wildly Different (And Failed)

In the late 90s, XCOM garnered a reputation as a solid tactical strategy series. Players were tasked with managing a squad of troops in turn-based combat, where every decision mattered. However, when The Bureau: XCOM Declassified was first unveiled in 2010, it seemed to be a complete departure from previous instalments. Instead of an isometric tactical turn-based game, fans found themselves looking at a first person shooter set in 1960s America. FPS-style gunplay and exploration replaced the tactical battles fans expected. The backlash towards the game's initial unveiling was swift and unanimous. To its credit, developer 2K Marin listened, and The Bureau: XCOM Declassified underwent several radical changes.

By the time the game actually launched, it was no longer an FPS. However, it wasn't a tactical turn-based game either. Instead, fans got something in between. A third person tactical shooter that retained some elements of the series' trademark squad-based mechanics. Unfortunately, this middle ground still ended up alienating plenty of fans. It wasn't a particularly compelling shooter, and it wasn't the tactical strategy game fans wanted either.

Thankfully, The Bureau: XCOM Declassified seemed to be a one-off experiment, and the developer moved to put things right with subsequent entries which were much more faithful to the original games.