Descent 2

I recently finished all the Doom Eternal content on nightmare difficulty, and then went back to play Descent 2. This game holds up so well in comparison. One reason why the new Doom is so innovative is that it requires the mastery of "hardcore" controls combos, in 3 dimensions. This is something which Descent shares, which puts it decades ahead of its time in that regard. Descent 2 does not mess with the successful formula of the first title; it only fixes its biggest issues, and throws yet more interesting enemies and weapons into the mix. For example: you now have a cute Guide Bot so you do not keep having to check your map constantly, and the terrifying "glass cannon" hitscan enemies of Descent 1 are gone. If you buy any retro game, and don't mind putting a bit of time into learning novel mechanics, you definitely want this.

While I appreciate GOG's efforts to bring this retro games to people, why is it so hard to make a Linux version for each dosbox emulated game? Ok, I downloaded the Mac version and peeled the dosbox based files out of there and run the on Linux. That works, and so far so good. However, I actually wanted to run this on real era correct hardware, with an S3/Virge/DX, and this purchase is not including the s3v.exe, nor (AFAICS) the original installer files on the CDROM image to re-install it thru that image :-/

Years ago, I discovered a Descent 2 demo. Being the kind of gamer I am, I experimented with it and progressivily got better each time. The problem was, the demo turned out to be not enough...I needed more of the fun experience and excitement it provided (like taking out those darn Thief Bots *shakes fist at them*). Years passed with no success...until now. Now not only can I enjoy what I was seeking all those years ago, but I can now play the first one of the series AND have extra downloadable content. Thank you so much, GOG! ^___^

Its basically Descent 1, same confusing level design, same annoying enemies and same frustrating puzzles. The only difference is that Descent 2 has more content in the form of new weapons, enemies and levels.

I struggle to review this game because it is the genre defining masterpiece for 6DoF games. No other game plays quite this smoothly. No other game has quite the nuance or room for skill that this game does. Weapon variety is awesome. Level variety is awesome, enemy variety is awesome. Even after over 2 decades of playing this game off and on, I still get the same feeling of skill and badassery that gripped the young me (though I play on harder difficulties and much more aggressively than my kid self could manage) This is the greatest 6DoF game ever made and this series made me love PC gaming in a way no other game franchise could have. The only modern game that comes close is Overload. Descent 3 was also really good but succeeded (and failed) in places that Descent 2 did not even try to go. If you are a 6DoF fan and have not played this game. You are missing out. I can't say it will be fun for a newcomer to play any multiplayer if you find a community for it. Those that stuck with descent this long are probably going to make your life miserable (skill gap). I have long since stopped trying to find PuG matches of descent 2. That said, you will never find bigger reasons to trashtalk than playing Descent 2 while on VoIP with your mates.