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
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
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,
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.
