Before I start I played through normally on iron man, I had a couple of attempts earlier which gave up on and restarted, this is the first one I've finished. I did back the save file up just before final mission, and have reloaded it a few times.
I regularly lost a few guys per every 2nd mission, and got my arse handed to me my first couple of terror missions.
It took me ages to capture the red leader alien, as thought he was an engineer or something and kept trying to capture a commander. By the end 3 bases, and 6 marauders per each just harvesting UFOs for cash.
1) Theres no where near enough base attacks, I didn't have a single one. The global AI should be a bit more adaptive. As soon as you get air superiority, at all levels, it just becomes silly. If the aliens can never get an attack through, it should progressively send UFOs with escort on a direct route, so at least a terror mission or base defence happens, every now and again. If your not upto scratch at shooting them down, then probably not good idea to have 6 terror sites per wave, as would be too hard and annoying.
2) The final missions is pretty poor. I sort of like the fact its just not a harder base assault, but its either to easy if just go north for objective. Or too difficult if go for secondary. And at the end, you can just walk into room at the end making the side objectives irrelevant.
a) Its also really dull, there was no psyonic effects happened at all, not sure if this was a bug.
b) The Map was dull, just big empty rooms in a line have to storm through
c) Not all alien types present, and the ones who are there just seem to stand there. No randomness or suprise. For example if you dont open the side doors, you'll never be attacked by the alien behind it.
f) think whole thing just needs rethought and made more interesting
3) I like the fact that theres a number of difficult curves, peaks and troughs. although that might be just me. Seems to be well balanced right upto extremely late game, or maybe if let it go on for as long as I did.
4) The AI. Some good bits compared to X-com. But I think there should be some variation with a strategic level AI per mission, so a quick deciders at start if the commander is aggressive or defensive etc. just so some level of unexpectness to missions.
5) Weapons, some variation beyond just strength. Armour seems spot on, as there pro's and con's.
6) I like the fact that xcom psyonics had been removed. Helps with the balance, late game X-com just turned into 2 guys in a dropship while rookies ran off spotting.
7) I'm a little disappointed with the late game UFO's, they could do with being a bit tighter and maze like, and larger. a
With a more adaptive and aggressive AI.
8) The game doesn't seem to handle shooting between levels very well. Nor moving between them.
9) Shooting a full auto machine gun near anyone, or cover is dangerous. Theres a random spread on shots and grenades. But there should be a minimum range modifier so that someone won't just shoot their mate in the head. If he's stood next to him. Also this applies for grenades and them just not being finicky.
10) Not enough maps. I understand why there's no randomness. But needs to be more maps.
Other then that, really enjoyed everything. And I've clocked up 110hours til completion. Which I'm sure is quite long.