Customer Reviews

Descent

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Okay, I made the error of reviewing the Playstation version of this game. There's nothing wrong with that version, so far it seems to be the exact same game although they revamped the music, added some new tracks, and added lighting effects.
Hooha.

Anyhow, at the risk of sounding trite, I must hand the very first Descent the prize for being one of my top favorite games ever. Okay, this game is ten years old already (falls over at the realization) and its not turning heads anymore. The grahpics and overall gameplay are pretty old compared to what you're going to find on the market.

Descent 3 was good but I beat it a few times and I'm satisfied. Descent 2 was fun the first few times but it easily annoyed me for some odd reason, I don't even wanna touch it anymore. This original Descent I keep coming back to, its just that good. It does look dated and blocky but its still provides the best 360-3D movement I've ever played. The following games added all sorts of bells and whistles to gameplay and whatnot, so I suppose this comes off as rather basic in layout/levels.
The only good things that came from 2 and 3 were sweeter weapons...this is the only thing missing from Descent 1.

But I like it just the way it is.

It has the coolest, darkest atmosphere of them all IMO. It won't scare you like Doom but it'll startle you if the right robot spots you and shrieks. It has somwhat better graphics than Doom and everything (except the hostages) are in 3D. This is just fun spaceship/robot combat in zero gravity. The robots are some of the most memorable little imps, especially the bosses (although Descent 2 had more of them).

And the music...well it is MIDI and sounds cheap. But I REALLY prefer to play it with the MIDI music because that cheap synth feel adds to the galalctic/technological vibe. These are some great pulsating pieces that flesh out the gameplay, add to the intense combat and overall just fun to play on your computer when you're not playing the game. Hats off to the composers.

Sooooo if you should ever be traveling through the world of boxed computer games and should spy that cool brown and black box with the blue shield orb on it...buy it. The original box is stylish and nifty and overall the best package for this game.

Here's the only problem, they REALLY need to re-issue this for XP cuz I can no longer play the original DOS on XP. That's why I had to revert to the Playstation edition, its been mostly good enough except I miss the MIDI music. So you're going to need Windows NT or lower to play this, that's the only drawback.

*sigh* Why did the Descent saga die? Oh well. Material defender lives on in us all! Pull out your games and blast those stupid robots to pieces! Bam!

I went through all the Descent games, add ons, and even the Descent Freespace campaigns some of the developers did who split from Volition and became Parallax.
The campaign modes were a blast, but multiplayer was where this series really shined.
The movement was just completely unreal at that time, every axis involved, and trying to keep track of where you were in a 3D level.
This was about the same time the Space Orb game controller was out, and I used that exclusively in these games - nothing else compared since it was designed for things like this.
Graphics were well done for that era of gaming, and it was quite the immersive experience. Dark, spooky, with great sound effects to enhance the mood. I'd end up playing these in a pitch black house after midnight, no sounds but the game, and could feel the spine tingling.
One of the ways I can tell how good I felt a game was is through how much replay value it had. These had a LOT of replay value. It was just so incredible at the time to be able to move through the environment in all directions like that. It never got old. The AI was pretty lacking, even on higher levels, but still enough of a challenge to not simply bore you to tears.
Voice acting was also top notch.
Really wish they'd reboot this series and come out with something using today's technology - that would be an incredible game...

I hate to say it but I am one who will start a game and eventually lose interest in it. The first game I ever completed was '7th Guest', next was '11th Hour' which was interesting due to the puzzles and such. Descent was just fun for the sake of fun. If you like 3D action you will love this. I do agree that it is dated a bit (little blocky) but for some reason it just works. The music, graphics, and action make it almost worth getting a 98 system just to play this game again. I can remember fondly sitting in the dark and racing down mine shafts, glued to the screen and having to put it on pause while I let my stomach settle down. My sister could watch it about 3 minutes and would get a headache and sick to her stomach from the spiraling effect of the shafts and ship movement. Sweet game, sweet memories!

I had to chime in here, I know that there's not many reviews for this year if any at all; but ever since finding the updated engine to run Descent on XP I have a renewed interest in this game. I was never really able to complete it, but dated graphics or not it is extremely addictive! What makes this funny is that when I was first introduced to it, probably some 3 years after it was created, I was already into another epic game of which I will describe as: 3 unique races embattled...I think those in the PC gaming arena knows what this is. I watched one of my then associates frantically moving through this FPS (which, up to that point had became simply boring to me, given what I had seen with popular titles from the early 80's). I simply told him, "Nah, that FPS stuff doesn't really hold my attention". My curiosity was peaked at some point, as his gameplay reminded me of other titles that I had enjoyed such as Xwing...So, to feed the curiosity, I tried the demo. I wasn't too hopeful in having to use the keyboard, so I tried out my then much easier to use Gravis Xterminator...I was HOOKED. I am currently somewhere around level 19, and have become so entranced by it that I have most of the series, maybe with only two exceptions. I was lucky enough to land cheap copies after checking popular online stores. This is well worth the effort...Thanks Rebirth writers!

To people who have browsed this game.i used to own this game years ago and started playing this a little bit after i got doom. i gotta say,like the rest of the comments that were posted about this game.it is a classic that really did change my view about videogames in general.its classic midi audio and 3d graphics and unsuspected turns and twists leaves this game to be much desired by any avid classic gammer.all i gotta say is GET THE GAME!!!!!!! some new games these days just only get some people cuz of the graphics and other stuff and they don't fit the bill at times.i say take a blast to the past and kick some robot ass!

This is the game that got me into PC gaming. I played Descent before Doom and while I liked Doom I loved this game. For its time it had excellent graphics and gameplay which is something the other Doom clones lacked. Because the game allowed movement in 360 degrees along six axises it may have been ahead of its time.

For anyone that wants to relive Descent's gaming goodness on Windows XP/Vista/7 here's a link to the Rebirth project: [...]. It's an open source version of Descent and Descent 2 updated to support OpenGL for 3D acceleration. You'll need copies of both games which can be purchased at [...] (Good Old Games) for $[...]. All the information to get the games going is in the readme.txt files for both.

Enjoy!

If you're prone to motion-sickness, steer clear of this one. When we got our first PC in 1995, the shareware version of Descent came loaded on the hard drive - sans documentation of any sort. Being adventurous, I started it up and proceeded to fly through the darkened, robot-infested mines by the seat of my pants; upside-down, sideways and every way but the right way since I was clueless as to the controls. After about a year, I finally finished the 7 levels and was determined to go further so bought the retail version and finally learned how to save the game and control the spacecraft properly.
At which time, I became officially addicted to DESCENT. It was the most fun I'd ever had on a computer TO THIS DATE and I played it over and over until I found the 3 secret levels and completed them as well.
The 360 degree 3D movement and the variety of weapons make it a challenge and the music and sound effects keep it always interesting. I have Descent II and III, but the original was the best.

The problem is that the original game will not run on XP. I really wish Parallax would re-write the software for modern computers. I'm sure it would sell, if only to the existing fan base. All gamers I've told about it professed interest in the game and would try it if it would just RUN on their computers.

A 5-star game for production, music and gameplay.

I'm sure some will disagree, but this is a game that got absolutely everthing right, from sound, to graphics, to balance, to gameplay. It has an X factor that is hard to come by. It's by turns maddening, addicting, scary, thrilling, and deeply rewarding.

Doom was a jaw-dropper when I first saw it. Doom was cool, no doubt, but there's something about this that's for some reason 10X cooler than Doom. From the labyrinthine "mines" to the cool robots, to the lightning effects- the whole thing just straight up rocks- even in 2009!!!! Do yourself a HUGE favor- go to GOG.com, pay 5.99, and get Descent 1 and 2- 60 levels of old school goodness- hey, if you don't like it, you're just out 5.99. If you have ANY taste for old school three dee blast fests- get it get it get it!!!

BTW I have no affiliation with GOG, Parallax, etc. I'm a dentist.

If there was a classic video game I would say is the best, this is it. Although its ont for sale anymore, I would highly suggest trying to purcase it else where. 7lvls of pure original descent. I just want to say this is the bset game interplay has ever made.!.