I know 'bout this months ago. I knew it's concept months ago. I know, how game-play is build by weeks ago. In my country, near russia, I follow all gaming news from kanobu.ru, where I got many many many information 'bout upcoming project.
'Bout hardcore - there's many chooses from pussycat (even your mom can play) and "imposiblue" (your mom can't handle this, even your granma) Before impossible, there's classic. Classic is what we, x-com fans, must expect to choose, as this will crush your dreams on easy game-play and will suck your life energy for many hours.
'Bout gui - it's beautiful and veeeeeeeery comfortable. As well, 'bout section units - it's great implementation, as then perks(!) will make very big deal to soldiers.
Soldiers are less in count (I love that, 'cuz original x-com method: as much possible - better, is wrong. Super-soldiers are much much effective, as well, it's much easier control less. Less chance to make mistakes.), as well many many customization ways. You can make your little very own personalized soldiers, and cry real tears, when one of them dies (common problem on classic. Thought, it's really hard), when you had thrown him from hell 5 times.
FINALLY there's normal "rescue" system, when you must get close to civilians, for rescuing them. It's most needed thing I ever wanted, as from that now, terror missions are terribly hard.
'Bout feeling - believe me, all you're "too cartoonish" gonna perish in hell, when your sniper with 5 hp points, who owned battlefield, faces cyberdisk, who is in offensive mode... holy cr*p, that thing scare's sh*t out of me.
And, finnaly, last afterword - those, who can't accept all that, should then open 5th chakra and contribute many many many upgrades to UFOAI. Make project shine!