First Descendant, developed by Nexon, is a game that does nothing new, yet manages to capture a significant market share by combining elements from popular titles like Destiny, Warframe, and Tom Clancy’s The Division. While it lacks innovation, First Descendant still manages to be an engaging and fun experience, albeit with some flaws.
Gameplay and Combat
First Descendant is a third-person action-based looter shooter with snappy combat, good gunplay, and great pacing. The game features a grappling hook for mobility, which adds an interesting dimension to combat. Players can choose from 14 characters to run missions and defeat enemies, which is enjoyable.
Progression and Crafting
The game has a complex progression system that includes mastery rank, gear score, weapon proficiency levels, and character levels. There’s always something to do to increase the power fantasy and new missions or objectives to grind.
However, obtaining new characters, weapons, components, or upgrade items requires grinding specific missions. The intricate web of craftable items and materials is spread across various activities, making targeted farming tedious and often restricted by randomness.
Endgame and Bosses
The endgame boss battles, called void intercepts, are well-designed and satisfying. Each boss has unique mechanics that keep the fights engaging. However, the minibosses in regular missions are repetitive and annoying, contrasting with the high-quality void intercept battles.
Monetization and Controversy
A significant portion of First Descendant is designed to encourage spending money. Crafting timers and the lack of a trading system can be frustrating for players who spend hours grinding for specific components. Additionally, Nexon’s history of falsifying loot box drop rates in other games raises concerns about the fairness of the game’s randomized reward system.
Technical Issues and Privacy Concerns
First Descendant suffers from occasional severe frame drops and employs two forms of anti-cheat software, one of which is Nexon’s proprietary Black Cipher. This software has been controversial due to concerns about privacy invasion, such as monitoring browsing history.
Conclusion
First Descendant is a fun but flawed game that rehashes successful concepts from other titles. While it lacks personality and innovation, it provides an engaging loot-based experience that keeps players coming back for more. However, the game’s grindy monetization gimmicks, repetitive mission structure, and potential for wasted time can be irritating.
Despite its flaws, First Descendant has an excellent foundation for the future, provided Nexon focuses on improving the game rather than just the cashflow. It’s a 6 or 7 out of 10, offering a “perfect mediocrity” that attracts players from existing communities who may eventually return to their main titles.
