The original Descent, released way back in 1995, was a gravity-defying first-person experience where you not only piloted a ship in 3D space but did your best to avoid getting nauseous from the constant perspective shifts. The mechanics introduced were impressive for the time as you were able to turn upside down and navigate from side to side – which was a huge departure from the straightforward demon-smashing of games like DOOM. I never played the original, but I did see gameplay footage of it and it seemed like fun.
And that’s a good thing as Little Orbit was more than happy to show off a full remake of Descent for the modern gamer. On top of simply flying around and fighting robots, in this update you’ll need to mine for resources while under the radar of major corporations who seemingly control everything in sight. Did I mention this all happens in zero-gravity where you’ll need to spin, twist, and constantly reorient yourself just to stay alive? Better stock up on the Dramamine.
Originally called Descent: Underground, the game’s roots seem just as exciting as the gameplay itself. A successful Kickstarter campaign back in 2015 led to a (very) Early Access release later that year before the game went to BrightLocker in 2016. After running out of funds and ending up in what’s being called “crowdfunding hell”, publisher Little Orbit swooped in to help the team fund and complete the game, now simply called Descent.
One of the cool aspects of the new Descent is it has a co-op mode where you can invite friends into your game, not unlike Ubisoft’s Far Cry 5, letting you play through the main campaign with up to four players. There’s a vast selection of ships to choose from as well, each with its own abilities, broadly fitting into RPG classes ranging from tanks to healers. Over time, ships can be upgraded and will change in appearance based off of the player’s choices.
All in all, Descent is looking to be not just a faithful remake of a genuine classic, but one that should fit in nicely with the recent glut of other faithful remakes that have reminded us that a good idea never goes out of style. The full game is slated for release on PC and available consoles later this year – stay tuned for a full review when it does.
