The First Descendant is releasing into a packed field of co-op shooters, but it’s certainly trying its best to stand out even in its earliest days.
This free-to-play third-person RPG shooter from Nexon Games will be having a Beta trial later this month, but we were fortunate enough to get a small sample of its wares, and while nothing spectacular is there to be seen just yet, there’s promise in it.
In The First Descendant, players can choose from a selection of superpowered heroes known as the Descendants as they face off against an invading force in order to protect humanity. They do this with an ever-growing arsenal of abilities and weaponry.
The boss battles can feel pretty epicIt’s a setup that will be intimately familiar for anyone that’s played a video game in the last 10 years and it really takes the right ingredients to entice a weary player at this stage. The industry has grown at a frightening rate in recent years, and certain corners of the market are, well…cornered already. So how can The First Descendant find some wiggle room on its own?
Looking good is a perfectly valid way to go about it and even now, The First Descendant is a bit of a looker. It positively sizzles with action during the game’s linear opening, and it helps that the Descendants are well-animated, striking hero poses, making cool flexes, and using methods for holding weapons that are unorthodox, to say the least.
The opening is a fine little technical showcase, but it’s not wholly representative of the game you’ll actually be playing. At its core, The First Descendant is a looter shooter, and it’s already clear that the grind cycle of shoot, loot n’ repeat is going to be a big part of the game, and so far, I’m not seeing anything that makes that loop stand out. It’s pleasing enough, and the glimpse of higher-level gear I saw at least shows it’s going to offer something worthwhile for your trouble, but it’s asking for your time above any other game like it. Coasting by on looks might well be enough to allow The First Descendant to charm its way into a few households, but Nexon Games will need to keep ‘em sweet in other ways in the post-launch era.
The Descendants all have unique abilities…and gunsI imagine the core appeal will be joining up with friends to tackle the behemoths and baddies the game has in abundance. Through the year, all manner of average to terrible games have still salvaged something with a bit of co-op, and The First Descendant is at least a bit above average as a game on current impressions, so it has the potential to be a glitzy nightly snack in your gaming diet.
The First Descendant’s Beta test begins on October 20.
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