Descent 2

About

Descent 2 is a first-person shooter game that takes place in a 3D, six-degree-of-freedom environment. Players pilot a powerful hoverbike and navigate through various maze-like levels, battling robotic enemies and collecting power-ups. The game features intense action and destructible environments, with a focus on strategic weapon usage and level memorization.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

93%

Audience ScoreBased on 121 reviews

music13 positive mentions

stability1 negative mentions

The soundtrack is exceptional, featuring heavy industrial music that enhances the gameplay experience.
Gameplay is engaging with 360-degree movement, diverse weapons, and challenging enemies, making it a nostalgic and fun experience.
The level design is intricate and rewarding, with plenty of secrets and hidden areas to explore.

Controls can be frustrating, especially when using a mouse and keyboard, and the game lacks proper support for modern controllers.
The graphics are dated and may not appeal to new players, with a low resolution that can detract from the experience.
The Steam version has issues with stability and performance, often requiring additional mods like DXX-Rebirth for an optimal experience.

music
34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
53%
9%
The music in the game has received high praise for its heavy industrial and synth elements, with many players highlighting the soundtrack as a standout feature that enhances the overall experience. While some find the volume levels distracting and prefer the option to switch to MIDI tracks, the collaboration with notable industrial artists like Ogre from Skinny Puppy has been celebrated for adding depth and intensity to the gameplay. Overall, the soundtrack is considered timeless and a significant reason to revisit the game.
- “The game also has a fantastic soundtrack, consisting of an industrial-like metal sound with some electronica as well.”
- “Descent 2 is one of the best 3D space shooters I've ever played, from the awesome music to the great gameplay, and all the little secrets in the game make it that much sweeter, great game 10/10.”
- “One major difference between Descent II and its predecessor is the added music to the game, simply amazing, would be one way of describing it, but in all seriousness, the music of the game comes from Mark Walk and Type O Negative and I believe from Ogre of Skinny Puppy as well.”
- “In a video game, however, the music is way too heavy and distracting for background music, plus the volume slider seems to do nothing.”
- “The music is loud and grating heavy metal.”
- “Each enemy has their own sound, but the music can drown that out at points.”
graphics
31 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
71%
13%
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many players noting that while they were impressive for their time, they now appear dated compared to modern standards. Some users appreciate the nostalgic value and the environmental feel enhanced by improved textures, while others call for a graphics overhaul or recommend using mods to enhance the visuals. Overall, the gameplay is often cited as a stronger aspect, overshadowing the limitations of the graphics.
- “Thankfully, a lot of good stuff from the first game has been carried on, alongside great improvements in graphics and textures to create areas with a strong sense of environmental feel.”
- “For the time, the graphics are amazing; lights break when you shoot them, weapons are upgradeable, and the AI is decent.”
- “Descent II was the first game of the Descent series I had ever played, and it was captivating how truly remarkable its visuals were and still are for such a classic game.”
- “Old game, poor graphics (only 600x800 res, runs in DOSBox), sketchy framerate, but most importantly... non-stop mayhem!”
- “The graphics, music, and interface have not changed at all from the original.”
- “Graphics are really, really dated.”
gameplay
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
58%
13%
The gameplay is widely praised for its unique 360-degree movement and exploration of maze-like environments, offering a blend of action and strategy as players navigate through robotic enemies and rescue missions. While some reviews note that the graphics may feel dated, the core mechanics and level variety are highlighted as strengths, providing a rewarding experience that emphasizes skill and creativity. Overall, the gameplay is considered polished, engaging, and a standout feature of the series, making it a must-try for fans of the genre.
- “Gameplay mainly revolves around exploring vast maze-like mining facilities located on planets and moons, clearing out the robotic enemies, rescuing the hostages spread throughout the levels, and ultimately destroying the facility by initiating the self-destruct sequence.”
- “Descent's gameplay is very unique because of the full freedom of movement in all three spatial axes.”
- “It greatly rewards skill, offers a huge variety of explosive gadgetry, and allows for creative gameplay.”
- “Depending on your point of view, the gameplay of the first two titles of the series can seem bland or refreshingly straightforward, which is very much owed to the abstract and artificial nature of the levels and the lack of unique and varying tasks and goals in different levels.”
- “Gameplay is simple and easy to control, much like the original Descent, with the added feature of having the ability to obtain an afterburner to give you a speed boost.”
- “What is there to be said about the game - it is a classic, the gameplay is frenetic, it really tests your reflexes and the enemies just keep on coming.”
story
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
33%
33%
The story in the game continues from its predecessor, featuring a mercenary tasked with stopping virus-infected robots, but it often feels underdeveloped and reminiscent of 90s shooters. While the animated cutscenes and minimal voice acting enhance the experience, the overall narrative lacks depth, focusing more on gameplay mechanics than a compelling plot. However, new missions and improved graphics add some freshness to the experience.
- “Apart from that, story text boxes were replaced with full animated cutscenes.”
- “The plot continues from the ending of the first part and is still interesting to follow.”
- “The minimal voice acting the game has is really good while it's around, along with its minimal yet interesting story.”
- “I'm not sure the story writers care.”
- “The story acts out like any shooter made in the 90s: find the key and kill the baddies.”
- “Story is... um... the robots are infected with a virus and you're a mercenary who is supposed to stop them, or something.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users report that stability is a significant issue, particularly with DOSBox, which is described as buggy and having poor resolution.
- “I just don't like using DOSBox; it's very buggy and the resolution is bad.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised, with players noting its immersive quality despite the early polygon graphics, which effectively draw them into the experience.
- “The atmosphere is incredible; even though it's early polygon graphics, I got completely sucked in.”
- “The immersive environment really draws you in and enhances the overall experience.”
- “The game's atmosphere is hauntingly beautiful, making every moment feel intense and engaging.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect to be potentially tedious, yet it offers an exhilarating rush as they race against the clock to reach the exit after completing their tasks.
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The game boasts high replayability due to its extensive lifespan, numerous levels, challenging boss fights, nostalgic cutscenes, and a wealth of secrets and hidden levels to discover.
- “The lifespan is long, with so many levels and challenging boss fights at the end of every chapter. The cutscenes are filled with true nineties charm, and there are plenty of secrets and hidden levels that enhance the replay value.”
- “Each playthrough feels fresh due to the variety of choices and paths you can take, making you want to dive back in and explore different outcomes.”
- “The game offers multiple endings and unlockable content, ensuring that every time you play, there's something new to discover.”