I can still remember anxiously paging through my 1995 issue of PC Gamer, the front cover of which declared Interplay’s groundbreaking shooter as “The Doom Killer.” My nostalgia muscle is squealing with glee right now.
Descent is now available for purchase on Steam, and for half price at $3.49/£2.49 until February 18th.
At a time when id Software’s Doom was the first-person shooter (and arguably, the video game, period), Descent shareware 3.5” disks started making their rounds at computer conventions. It took the popularized FPS genre and removed gravity. As a result, Descent was utterly disorienting at first, but ultimately mind-blowing.
Descent’s hook was sitting the player in a small ship, and rather than blast out into open space, you’d be tasked with navigating the tight corridors of mine shafts in mind-bending mazes. It’s standard “find key, open door” fare, but with a bevy of weapons and enemy robots around every corner – all freely moveable within the 360 degree space.
Perhaps the coolest twist of the gameplay in Descent was what happened when you finished a level. After destroying a boss at the end of each mine, you had a limited amount of time to escape before the whole mine caved in and took you with it. It was an interesting balance to plan your escape route as you approached the boss, lest your efforts be wasted.
Let’s not forget the multiplayer gameplay. You want to know how old school this thing is? From Steam’s own description of the game:
Descent invites you and your buddies to dive into the action together with head-to-head combat and cooperative two-player modem and eight-player network support.
Two-player modem support! Break out that 9600 baud and busy up the phone line, guys! Time for some 1-on-1 deathmatch with full second pings!
The price on Steam is an awfully cheap ask to experience one of the landmarks of PC gaming, but be wary: while the game is satisfactory with a mouse, it plays best with a joystick (yeah, one of those antiquated things). Make sure that your system meets the steep system requirements, too. 1Ghz processors, 32MB of hard drive space, and Sound Blaster-compatible sound cards don’t grow on trees, you know.
For those of you who grew up during this title’s heyday, you likely didn’t need any convincing to head to Steam and add this bad boy to your cart right now. For the rest of you, take advantage of the 50% off sale this week and find out what all the fuss was about 20 years ago.
Last Updated: February 12, 2014
Sir Rants A Lot Llew. Jelly!!!
February 12, 2014 at 13:32
BUY BUY BUY BUY BUY BUY!!!!
AndriyP
February 12, 2014 at 13:34
LOL i like my classics but this…is a bit tooo classic for my taste
Sir Rants A Lot Llew. Jelly!!!
February 12, 2014 at 13:36
*gasp* you did not just dis my all time favourate game of all time!?
AndriyP
February 12, 2014 at 13:38
I would never do that
VampyreSquirrel
February 12, 2014 at 14:48
Good save
Mark Treloar
February 12, 2014 at 13:38
Or DRM free on GOG
Sir Rants A Lot Llew. Jelly!!!
February 12, 2014 at 13:39
But it’s on steam… I like it on steam. It gets a steam overlay and everything….
Sir Rants A Lot Llew. Jelly!!!
February 12, 2014 at 13:36
Mouse?
Joystick!?
BAH!!!! You know not how to play this game. Keyboard only! That is the only way to pilot a Pyro-GX through PTMC’s mines destroying virus infested mining droids!
Weanerdog
February 12, 2014 at 13:45
I didn’t even know it was compatible with a mouse.
Hammersteyn
February 12, 2014 at 13:48
I could never get the hang of it :'(
Sir Rants A Lot Llew. Jelly!!!
February 12, 2014 at 13:57
Use the force young one. also:
W, S: forward, backward
A, D: Strafe left and right
Enter, RShift: strafe up and down.
arrows: turn up, down, left or right
LShift: Fire Primary
Space: Fire secondary
Booyeah!
Hammersteyn
February 12, 2014 at 14:08
I have as much force as Jar Jar Binks when it comes to that game.
Sir Rants A Lot Llew. Jelly!!!
February 12, 2014 at 14:09
hahahaha
HvR
February 12, 2014 at 14:11
Same here, also with movement all the directions in mazes caused Hawkins syndrome to kick in.
Matt Buckley
February 12, 2014 at 19:59
Oh, you missed a wonderful time with the keyboard/Sidewinder 3D Pro combo.
Sir Rants A Lot Llew. Jelly!!!
February 13, 2014 at 07:28
I’d say I challenge you but the game doesn’t have multiplayer support working yet.
Matt Buckley
February 13, 2014 at 19:48
Here’s hoping Descent 2 follows suit with full multiplayer support!
Sir Rants A Lot Llew. Jelly!!!
February 14, 2014 at 06:43
I found a community made mod that ads higher resolutions to the game (and some reworked graphics to include dynamic lighting and stuff). It’s called DX-Rebirth. Guess what else it ads?
Online Internet Multiplayer support 🙂
Matt Buckley
February 14, 2014 at 06:45
OMG THAT IS AMAZING
Sir Rants A Lot Llew. Jelly!!!
February 14, 2014 at 06:46
http://www.dxx-rebirth.com/download-dxx-rebirth/
Alien Emperor Trevor
February 12, 2014 at 13:36
I’ve noticed Steam have released quite a few older titles on their store recently.
AndriyP
February 12, 2014 at 13:39
Indeed, i guess they are trying to get some kind of content…last few months have been very slow in the industry thus the influx of classics and indie games
CrasH
February 12, 2014 at 13:37
This looks intresting….Line Of Defense Tactics – Tactical Advantage
and based on a MMO thats not even released?
DrKiller
February 12, 2014 at 14:04
You need a 1GHz CPU?? Jeez
Mike
February 12, 2014 at 14:33
Yeah, but it will still only manage 30 fps on the Xbone
Admiral Chief in Vegas
February 12, 2014 at 15:37
LOOOOOOL
Gareth L (That Guy)
February 12, 2014 at 14:40
Can’t open Steam at work. This will run with my gamepad, right?
Admiral Chief in Vegas
February 12, 2014 at 15:37
O_O
Right in dem feels
Sir Rants A Lot Llew. Jelly!!!
February 12, 2014 at 15:38
Bought! Man the nostalgia. I can’t wait to get home and play it.
I hope it doesn’t take forever to download that huge 35mb game file!
Purple_Dragon
February 12, 2014 at 17:47
Used to play this and Terminal Velocity a ton.
Skyblue
February 12, 2014 at 18:48
This game fucked up my spacial awareness way more than TIE Fighter did. Used to enjoy it but could never play it for long due to the stress on my inner ear.
Grant Hancock
February 13, 2014 at 08:10
I feel sorry for people who would rather pay to play the new dungeon keeper and it’s ilk than spend a tiny bit of cash to experience a landmark of gaming history.