As commander of X-COM, which is a covert organization formed by the world's governments to investigate and defeat the alien invasion, you: Intercept UFOs as they sweep across the Earth; Track all alien activity on the Geoscope rotating globe display; Plan a strategy for research and manufacture of captured technologies; Take charge of tactical operations in the 3-D isometric Battlescope display; Investigate UFO crash sites and alien bases, and Monitor the political situation.