Difficulty Levels (Apocalypse)
X-COM: Apocalypse has 5 difficulty levels, from Novice to Superhuman. Unlike the previous games the difficulty levels seem to have no effect on the aliens' stats, but rather they alter your initial case and funding levels, the city map and the alien technology levels.
Starting Money and Funding
| Difficulty Level | Starting Funding | Weekly Income |
|---|---|---|
| Novice | 140000 | 92000 |
| Easy | 130000 | 89000 |
| Medium | 120000 | 86000 |
| Hard | 110000 | 83000 |
| Superhuman | 100000 | 80000 |
City Maps
Each difficulty level has its own city map. The higher the level the bigger the map will be. In addition to this, the larger maps also contain more potential for destruction via chain reaction - for example, if one of your craft hits a Transtellar "people tube", the collapsing segments will cause a significant amount of damage to the city (lowering your score and negatively affecting relations). Likewise, at the higher difficulty levels many buildings can be completely destroyed with just a shot or two to the right spot.
Alien Technology
The higher the level the quicker the aliens will bring their most advanced weapons and equipment to the battlefield, such as Devastator Cannons or Large Disruption Shields. For more information check the specific page dealing with alien technology levels.