Descent: Underground

Some games have managed to leave a mark on the industry even decades after they died out, which is especially visible when other studios try to copy their mechanics in new productions. However, there are also a few games that have yet to be replicated successfully until now, whether because no one dared to touch the subject, or because there just didn’t seem to be anything left to add.

The Descent series is quite the special case, mainly because it featured a truly unique gameplay, which has stood unchallenged to this day. You controlled ships instead of humans, which meant that you had the liberty to fly and move around much more freely than on foot. In theory, this gimmick would present a lot of challenges when it comes to controls, but Descent made it look easy somehow.

Descent: Underground is an attempt to revive the series and bring it back in full force, complete with a new single player campaign, exquisite graphics, and the same liberating gameplay mechanics. The developers have acquired the license from the old studio, and they are currently doing their best to mold the game into something every fan of the franchise would be proud to play. Still, it’s quite the challenge to do so, especially when the series has such a reputation behind.

To begin with, it is worth mentioning that the game is currently very early in the development phase, which means that is far from complete. There are many things missing right now, including the entire single player component, but you can still imagine how everything is going to look in the end. As of right now, you have the option to play against bots and test the gameplay, which is by far the most important element.

There are multiple types of ships you can choose from, which is a welcomed addition to the series. Each ship is different when it comes to controls and special abilities, and that’s a perfect way to make multiplayer a lot more fun and challenging. Defense drones, lasers and blast shields are all part of the recipe, and it’s up to you to use them to full potential. The matches should be that much more exciting when everyone can put a different tactic into play, and it should make the campaign more replayable as well.

Six degrees of freedom means that your ship can move in every direction, including horizontally and vertically. You control it using both the mouse and the keyboard, although it may take a while to get used to it if you are new to the franchise. It’s definitely not as straightforward as a regular first-person shooter, especially since you also have to target and shoot down enemies at the same time, but the challenge is what makes the game so attractive.

Speaking of which, the controls are smooth and responsive, which is a sign that the developers managed to replicate the system from the first games and even improve it a little bit. The ships feel like they have weight, which makes it easier to use intuition and refine your own piloting method. There are noticeable differences between each ship model as well, although they are not very different when you get right down to it.

Since a graphics overhaul was one of the main reasons this project was started, it’s only natural that the developers went for the best possible option. As such, the game uses Unreal Engine 4 to render exquisite environments, and it helps a lot that the level design is magnificent as well. A lot of work went into the environments and the ships, although it’s a bit too early to say too much in this regard, because there’s not very much to see yet.

A single player campaign with a story and missions is in the works as well, which should be interesting to see. There’s not much information on that yet, but it could turn out nicely with the right combination of action and intrigue. Even so, the multiplayer seems to be the focus, and it would be a nice change to see right now when everything else is just either a Halo or a Call of Duty copy.

With all these being said, Descent: Underground has the potential to become a major hit with the crowds, even with those who didn’t play the original. The unique gameplay mechanics have been preserved with care and improved to keep up with modern times, which is exactly what everyone wanted. The graphics are gorgeous, while the controls are just as snappy and engaging as they were back in the day.

Hence, Descent: Underground is so far one of the few games that have successfully managed to stay true to its origins and innovate at the same time, because everything is right where it should be, only shinier.