Actually the new XCom is a better tactical game than the original one: better balanced and with more interesting tactical options. It's also a terrible strategy game if compared to the Microprose's masterpiece, but probably the two things are related
To me APs make sense only in games where granular control over your characters is a core gameplay element, like in Jagged Alliance or Silent Storm. Otherwise, a move/attack system is more often than not a smarter solution.
Regarding to the Comparison "XCOM new" and "XCOM old". The new one may be more balanced and mainlined but its also more boring and uninteresting than the older one.
I don't see where are these "tactical options" are.I'm not following any particular order:
1) Destructible...everything
2) Better use of the Z-axis
3) Active and passive abilities that, in most cases, are not simple boosts but full fledged tactical options.
4) Equip that works like the aforementioned abilities.
The New XCOM actually is more boring than the original one - don't get me wrong - but not because of its mission framework, which is simply better than the original (try the higher difficulty levels+hardcore mode or even better the competitive multiplayer if you don't believe me). The strategic layer, on the other hand, is absolutely incomparable to the UFO's counterpart. That's why the new XCom is most boring.
Currently i see D:OS more in the JA2 tradition (and hope more granularity will be added)
Jagged Alliance 2 is the best tactical game I've ever played (and probably, 20 years from now, it still will be), but - that being said - that kind of granularity would be totally out of place here. It would slow the game like hell...
