New Game The First Descendant Launches with 14 Unique Characters

The latest entrant in the looter shooter genre, The First Descendant, is making waves with its unique blend of campaign missions, big-budget cutscenes, and endlessly customizable weapon traits. While the game has drawn comparisons to Destiny, it brings its own flavor to the table.

Gameplay Mechanics and Boss Fights

Every mission in The First Descendant feels like a minor variation on a theme: either eliminating everything that spawns in a room or defending a position while shooting everything in sight. The boss fights, too, have a recurring gimmick involving "immunity spheres"—floating balls that need to be shot to make the bosses vulnerable. This mechanic has become so common that it's already an inside joke within the community.

Despite these repetitive elements, the game offers a plethora of activities. From campaign missions to Strike-like repeatable missions, there's always something to do. The hero shooter approach with the Descendants themselves adds another layer of depth. Each character has unique abilities, such as laying down shields, healing, or speeding around the map.

Character Variety and Customization

At launch, there are 14 Descendants to choose from, each bringing their own set of skills and abilities. This is a significant improvement over Destiny's modest class variety. While unlocking new characters for free takes time, and purchasing them costs a hefty sum, the variety keeps the gameplay fresh and engaging.

The customization options extend to weapons as well. The game allows for endlessly customizable weapon traits, adding another layer of strategy and personalization. This feature alone could keep players engaged for hours as they fine-tune their loadouts.

Monetization and Progression

While The First Descendant is free to play, it's easy to see where Nexon might introduce progression roadblocks to encourage spending. However, even if players choose to duck out before hitting these paywalls, they can still enjoy a substantial amount of content for free.

For those who have had their fill of generic looter shooters for the year, The First Descendant might not be groundbreaking enough to hold their attention long-term. Yet, its blend of familiar mechanics and new twists makes it worth a try for fans of the genre.

In summary, The First Descendant offers a rich tapestry of missions, customizable weapons, and diverse characters. While it may not revolutionize the looter shooter genre, it provides enough variety and depth to keep players engaged—at least until the next big thing comes along.