Actually i find insane ironman somewhat relaxing. After my veteran game which was rather too easy and boring (just imagine - i was not able to spend all my money, too huge income. I made almost all downed alien's ships). There is no joy in such play. No fun and no cookies!!!
Okay II is REALLY punishing, but all you need to relax is... relax and don't speed up things.
Hard targets gives you bigger rewards.
All you need is "Don't worry and be happy".
Actually i think that xenonauts need another difficulty... called "nightmare"?
I mean in previous settings aliens only test you. They increase their efforts to take you down each month. They actually play with you rather than invade earth. it's too boring. And too stupid.
What i really really want is invasion mode. Yep, it shouldn't give you all top-tier ships at start without low-tiers. Aliens should use combined forces. Like at start you may see 3-4 scouts and maximum 1 carrier or bomber/carrier/whatever. They should act like invasion forces and not like beggars. Each month aliens should use top-tier ships more often as they explore earth and try to bomb you into the ground.
Aliens should use all their ground weaponry from the game start.
But to allow player to do something starting money should be bigger, and player should be allowed to have at least 3 prebuild bases at start. Goverments gave them to Xenonauts because of "An iternational aggreement".
At least if you read the lyrics, supplied with this game, you'll find this more close to that text. This would be invasion and not beggar run. This would be challenge.
But i think that player should research weapons and other stuff sequentialy. Wolf need jackal. Maradeur needs Corsair. An so on.
