History Heartwarming / XComEnemyUnknown

* A subtle one in ''Enemy Within'' is with the design of the MEC Augmentation system. The whole reason for the useless (in combat) Base Augments is explained in their description. Their first function is to give the MEC Trooper mobility while out of the [=MECs=]. The second, more important reason? To ensure that, after their sacrifice, they will have a chance of a normal life after the war is over.

* A subtle one in ''Enemy Within'' is with the design of the MEC Augmentation system. The whole reason for the useless (in combat) base augments is explained in their description. Their first function is to give the MEC Trooper mobility while in HQ. The second, more important reason? To ensure that, after their sacrifice, they will have a chance of a normal life after the war is over.

** Even better, depending on how many civillians you save, the better the panic reduction. Letting less then four die will result in an excellent rank and you'll be looking at a panic drop of AT LEAST 3 or more. For the aliens point of view, they sent their deadliest most lethal units to mess with humanity... [[EpicFail And their troops fail so horribly that if anything, the attack did the EXACT OPPOSITE OUTCOME of what they wanted.]]
* a subtle one in Enemy within is with the Design of the MEC Augmentation system, in-universe. the whole reason for the useless (in combat) Base augments is explained in their description. their first function is go give the MEC solider mobility in-base. the second, more important reason? to ensure that, after their sacrifice, they have a Chance of a normal life after the war is over.

** Even better, depending on how many civillians you save, the better the panic reduction. Letting less then four die will result in an excellent rank and you'll be looking at a panic drop of AT LEAST 3 or more. For the aliens point of view, they sent their deadliest most lethal units to mess with humanity... [[EpicFail And their troops fail so horribly that if anything, the attack did the EXACT OPPOSITE OUTCOME of what they wanted.]]

* Whenever you succeed in thwarting a Terror mission, the panic level across the entire continent drops sharply. The aliens specifically set out to induce hysteria, but XCOM's stopping them actually made the populace feel ''more at ease'', through, as one of this troper's friends put it "a raw demonstration of the home team's prowess."

** This troper had a ''trio'' of French soldiers, all with the same last name - one heavy, one sniper, one support - that were never deployed without each other.
** And this particular troper had a whole 6-soldier squad that were deployed together on every mission. The Psionic Volunteer sniper of the group, who's appearance was that of an older man's from character generation, pushed the second, slightly less experienced sniper (his "protege", more or less) out of the final room, before doing his duty and saving the world. It was almost as though the game acknowledged his almost Team Dad status.
** This troper had one British Assault trooper, surname Johnson, who was killed at a lower level. In the next batch of new rookies hired, there was another British soldier named Johnson who turned out to be as Assault, and was assigned the nickname "Avenger" upon reaching sergeant. It was impossible not to consider the latter to be the younger brother of the former after that.

* Rarely, sometimes the name generator will actually come up with first or last names of your own friends in real life. Also, Recently, this troper aquired a new recruit called Sying Shen. As in the son/baby brother of DOCTOR Shen, the guy that runs engineering!

* Whenever you succeed in thwarting a Terror mission, the panic level across the entire continent drops sharply. The aliens specifically set out to induce hysteria, but XCOM's stopping them actually made the populace feel ''more at ease'', through, as one of this troper's friend put it "a demonstration of the home team's firepower."

* Rarely, sometimes the name generator will actually come up with first or last names of your own friends in real life. Also, Recently, this troper aquired a new recruit called Sying Shen. As in the son/baby brother of DOCTOR Shen, the guy that runs engineering!

** Skipping the tutorial and very careful play can keep that wall empty. If you haven't lost anyone, the option to look at the memorial wall is greyed out and unclickable. You're pretty much expected to lose at least some people in the game... [[NoCasualtiesRun but you haven't]].

* In the opening cutscence to the first terror mission, one of the fleeing people stops to pull a wounded man out of the way while under attack by aliens. This troper found that heartwarming every time he saw it. [[spoiler:It's a shame that he gets eviscerated by a Chryssalid shortly after that...]]
* An odd example, but while the [[spoiler:Uber Etheral]] is quick to criticize most of the alien slave races during the final mission, it's [[PetTheDog surprisingly complimentary]] toward the Thin Men.

** Skipping the tutorial and very careful play can keep that wall empty. There's nothing quite like looking at the list of men you've lost and finding it blank.
*** Actually, it's better then that. If you haven't lost anyone, the option to look at the memorial wall is greyed out and unclickable. You're almost expected to loose people in the game... but you haven't.

** Skipping the tutorial and very careful play can keep that wall empty. There's nothing quite like looking at the list of men you've lost and finding it blank.

** Even more so, with the above in mind: visiting a memorial wall with only a few pictures on it. The fallen are remembered, but it feels good to make sure that wall is kept sparse, and that the men and women under your command are kept alive and well. It's good to remember those who have died in the line of duty, but better that there are many more who can do the remembering.

** Alternatively, beating the mission while you don't have anyone that can stabilize. If you beat the mission during the time the soldier is bleeding out, he'll be considered as stabilized and taken back to base alive.

* The Memorial Wall, combining this with a TearJerker. It could have been just a plaque on the wall, or a notice board. In this game, its surrounded by shot glasses, with a few pictures posted up on the wall, starting out as a few wallet-size clippings if you've only lost one or two and growing to a full size remembrance with almost none of the wall covered if you're sending troops into the meat grinder. All the while, somber Taps-esque military music plays in the background. It is really touching that in-universe, your soldiers aren't simply anonymous weapons sent into a meat grinder, but comrades who remember their fallen dead. Gone, but not forgotten.

* When a soldier is either killed or knocked out, and one of your soldiers panics and kills the alien who took out their buddy. It's heartwarming to think that maybe that shot was payback.
* The Memorial Wall, combining this with a TearJerker. It could have been just a plaque on the wall, or a notice board. In this game, its surrounded by shot glasses, with a few pictures posted up on the wall. All the while, somber Taps-esque military music plays in the background. It is really touching that in-universe, your soldiers aren't simply anonymous weapons sent into a meat grinder, but comrades who remember their fallen dead. Gone, but not forgotten.

* When a soldier is either killed or knocked out, and one of your soldiers panics and kills the alien who took out their buddy. It's heartwarming to think that maybe that shot was payback.

** This troper had a ''trio'' of French soldiers - one heavy, one sniper, one support - that were never deployed without each other.

** And this particular troper had a whole 6-soldier squad that were deployed together on every mission. The Psionic Volunteer sniper of the group, who's appearance was that of an older man's from character generation, pushed the second, slightly less experienced sniper (his "protege", more or less) out of the final room, before doing his duty and saving the world. It was almost as though the game acknowledge his almost Team Dad status.

* Having been assigned two soldiers with the same last name, it's always heartwarming to think that there's a couple or siblings out there trying to save the world together. [[spoiler: Bonus points if one of them becomes The Volunteer.]]

* An odd example, but while the [[spoiler:Uber Etheral]] is quick to criticize most of the alien slave races during the final mission, it's surprisingly complimentary toward the Thin Men.

* An odd example, but while the [[spoiler:Uber Etheral]] is quick to criticize most of the alien slave races during the final mission, it's surprisingly complimentary toward the Thin Men.

* An odd example, but while the [[spoiler:Uber Etheral]] is quick to criticize most of the alien slaves races during the final mission, it's surprisingly complimentary toward the Thin Men.

* In the opening cutscence to the first terror mission, one of the fleeing people stops to pull a wounded man out of the way while under attack by aliens. This troper found that heartwarming every time he saw it. [[spoiler:It's a shame that he gets eviscerated by a Chryssalid shortly after that...]]

* Breathing that sigh of relief when a soldier in critical condition is stabilized. They're badly hurt and will probably be out of combat for weeks...but they're alive.

* In the opening cutscence to the first terror mission one of the fleeing people stops to pull a wounded man out of the way while under attack by aliens. This troper found that heartwarming every time he saw it.
** It's a shame that he gets eviscerated shortly after...
*** By a [[BizarreAlienReproduction Chryssalid]].. we all know what that [[ZombieApocalypse entails]].