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GRAPHICS: D+ (7) The graphics in Descent are not pretty, they are 1st generation PlayStation graphics. The only exceptions are its nice lighting effects when you fire a weapon, which are quite nice. The enemy characters are 3-dimensional, I'll give it that, but they are still quite bland and uninspired. They are merely blocky things that move around for you to shoot. Explosions and debris are done better than those in Doom, but that's not saying much. One cool feature is the ability to roll in any direction due to the fully 3D nature of the game. In Descent, there is no up or down, therefore, you can attack the enemy from anywhere, and you can expect to be attacked from any direction as well. This feature can be very disorienting at times, but that's not bad for a game. Descent's FMVs are done very well for their age, considering that this was one of the first few games to be released on the PlayStation, but they are grainy though. Overall, the graphics are true to the PC version, but could have been fixed-up for the PlayStation release.
SOUND/MUSIC: B+ (9) This is one of the best areas of Descent, sound and music. Gunfire is the standard gun-clatter sound, much like every other doom-clone (though this game doesn't fit that category). The sounds of doors opening/closing, explosions, collisions, etc. are all excellent and cinematic, but this is still not the best aural aspect of the game. It's the music that really stands out. It's simply unbelievable (you'll find a few tracks in my website, in MIDI form) and fit into the game in every level. The music is a mixture of techno, heavy metal, and other forms of noise that accompany the action in fine form, and are sometimes so good they're distracting. All the music tracks in the PlayStation version were done by popular bands that I personally had never heard of before (they're listed in the back of the box). Here's a few Descent MIDIs for your enjoyment: - Descent - Descent - Descent - Descent - Descent GAMEPLAY: B+ (9) The first time you play Descent, you'll be really confused by the odd controls, and its speed and changing prespectives will disorient you, but you'll get used to it after about an hour. Sometimes you'll feel lost but then realise you were flying at a wrong angle (even though there really aren't any wrong angles) and the entrance was on the "ceiling" or the "floor" instead of the "wall". This game moves fast and enemies attack at all times from every possible angle in every area you enter, so brace yourself. This is one gut-churning rollercoaster ride.
FUN AND REPLAY VALUE: B (8.75) Fun is what this game has plenty of. Each of its 30+ missions give you a harder task to achieve, making this game highly addictive. In some cases, new missions show different neat aspects of gameplay that you didn't expect which add a new meaning to abilities (such as rolling) that you had before. You'll want to play it over and over again. It may be no Doom, but it is fun. WORTH BUYING: YES I doubt this game will cost you more than $10 at any store nowadays, so what have you got to lose? If you can find it that cheap, pick it up, it's worth it. OVERALL: C (7.5) To order Descent, click
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