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The First Descendant

Name: Comprehensive Review and Analysis of The First Descendant
Item: The First Descendant
Author: Critik Editorial Team

2024

GenresAdventure, Action, Third Person Perspective, Shooter, RPG, Single Player, Multiplayer

AvailableJun 30, 2024

PlatformXbox Series X, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, PC

DeveloperNEXON KOREA

Overview

The First Descendant is a next-gen free-to-play third-person PvE co-op action RPG looter shooter launching with crossplay across Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation5 (PS5), PlayStation4 (PS4), and PC via Steam. Developed using Unreal Engine 5.2, players become a Descendant whose mission is to combat against alien invaders – The Vulgus who crossed dimensions over 100 years ago and brought with them the devastating Colossi and destruction– for the survival of humanity and to protect Albion and the continent of Ingris. Players will encounter spectacular stories as they grow stronger through various missions and raids to finally discover the Descendants' secret. Cooperation is crucial as players team up with one another in strategic 4-player boss fights where teamwork and tactics are key. New equipment, materials, and items obtained through a myriad of missions and boss fights will contribute to players’ character development.

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Game analysis

Monster Scorecard

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Story and Narrative

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TL;DR

Critics appreciate The Story of The First Descendant for its Destiny-like narrative and interesting characters, but the majority slam it for being generic, predictable, forgettable, and cliched. The game lacks originality, depth, and engagement, with flaws in storytelling, characterization, plot, and localization, leading to an overall disappointing narrative experience.

SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR STORY

Story Score

Positive (80-100)

Mixed (50-79)

33%

Negative (0-49)

58%

Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the story and narrative.

The Story of The First Descendant has some positive aspects highlighted by a few critics. TheXboxHub appreciates the game's narrative style resembling Destiny, offering new areas and challenging missions. PC Games acknowledges the introduction of interesting characters like Guide and Jeremy, adding some depth to the typical good versus evil plot. These elements provide some level of engagement for players looking for a familiar storyline with a few intriguing characters. However, the majority of critics express negative opinions about the story of The First Descendant. But Why Tho? and GamingBolt criticize the lack of originality and depth in the narrative, describing it as generic, predictable, forgettable, and full of cliches. Metro GameCentral and Push Square find the storytelling unengaging, dull, and lacking in originality, with little to offer in terms of depth or immersion. Destructoid, GameSpot, MMORPG.com, and Multiplayer.it all point out various flaws such as irrelevant storytelling, flat characterization, convoluted and sterile plot, abrupt ending, and lackluster localization, which collectively contribute to a lackluster narrative experience. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that The First Descendant falls short in delivering a compelling and immersive story. While some aspects like the introduction of interesting characters and challenging missions are noted positively by a few reviewers, the general sentiment leans towards criticism of the story's lack of originality, depth, and engagement. The repetitive and uninspired missions, uninteresting writing, and flat characterization contribute to an overall negative perception of the game's narrative. The game fails to stand out in a sea of similar narratives and struggles to offer a memorable storytelling experience that resonates with players.

TL;DR

story and narrative

Gameplay Mechanics

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TL;DR

Critics praise The First Descendant for its diverse character abilities and combat mechanics, including unique abilities for 19 Descendants and engaging gunplay. The game incorporates elements from popular titles like Destiny and Gears of War, creating an intense looter shooter experience with constant upgrades. However, criticism arises due to repetitive missions, braindead AI, lack of creativity in dungeons, convoluted crafting system, and reliance on real-money purchases. While the game has strengths like responsive gunplay and diverse abilities, it struggles with repetitive gameplay, lack of innovation, and progression issues, leading to a mixed reception among reviewers.

SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR GAMEPLAY

Gameplay Score

Positive (80-100)

33%

Mixed (50-79)

33%

Negative (0-49)

33%

Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the gameplay mechanics.

The gameplay of The First Descendant has received praise for its variety in character abilities and combat mechanics. Critics like PC Games and GamingBolt appreciate the unique abilities of the 19 Descendants, offering diverse gameplay experiences. The inclusion of special Ultimate variants adds depth to combat, with distinct abilities for each Descendant enhancing the overall gameplay. Responsive gunplay and engaging Colossus fights, as noted by GamingBolt, provide a refreshing change of pace within the game's mechanics. TheXboxHub also commends the combination of elements from popular titles like Destiny and Gears of War, creating an intense looter shooter experience that keeps players engaged with constant upgrades and customization options. On the downside, several critics have pointed out various issues with The First Descendant's gameplay. But Why Tho? criticizes the repetitive missions, braindead AI, lack of creativity in dungeons, simplistic boss mechanics, and underutilized abilities of Descendants, highlighting a lack of innovation and depth in gameplay elements. Push Square echoes this sentiment, noting the core gameplay loop as repetitive and lacking in build diversity and progression. Destructoid raises concerns about the convoluted crafting system, strict DPS checks, and limitations on experimentation, which can hinder the overall gameplay experience. GameSpot and Multiplayer.it also criticize the tedious and grindy mission design, obstructed progression, and reliance on real-money purchases, which can detract from the enjoyment of the game. Overall, the consensus among critics is mixed regarding The First Descendant's gameplay. While there is appreciation for the variety of character abilities and combat mechanics, as highlighted by PC Games and GamingBolt, the game falls short in terms of repetitive missions, lack of innovation, and issues with progression and monetization, as noted by But Why Tho?, Push Square, and GameSpot. The game seems to offer engaging moments and unique gameplay elements, but these are often overshadowed by the game's shortcomings, leading to a divisive reception among reviewers. The feedback suggests that while The First Descendant has its strengths, such as responsive gunplay and diverse Descendant abilities, it struggles to deliver a consistently engaging and fresh gameplay experience across the board.

TL;DR

gameplay mechanics

Graphics and Visual Design

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TL;DR

The First Descendant's graphics and visual design receive mixed reviews from critics. While praised for its visually appealing world and polished graphics, issues like technical problems, lack of coherence, and inconsistent enemy designs detract from the overall experience. Addressing these issues could enhance the game's reception among critics and players.

SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR VISUALS

Visual Score

Positive (80-100)

25%

Mixed (50-79)

58%

Negative (0-49)

17%

Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the graphics and visual design.

The First Descendant has received mixed opinions from critics regarding its Graphics and Visual Design. Positive aspects highlighted by reviewers include the visually appealing world built on Unreal Engine 5, featuring well-designed arenas, distinct enemy designs, and appealing character designs and kits. Critics such as PC Games on Xbox Series X and Destructoid praised the game's astounding characters, environments, and futuristic elements, emphasizing the strong visual presentation. The graphics were also commended for being sharp, polished, and refined by GamingBolt and Multiplayer.it, indicating a level of visual quality that resonated positively with some reviewers. On the flip side, negative feedback regarding the Graphics and Visual Design of The First Descendant centered around various issues. Some critics, like But Why Tho? and GameSpot, pointed out inconsistencies in the visual coherence, with cosmetic items diverging from the game's world design and enemy designs lacking cohesion and variety. Technical problems were a common concern raised by multiple reviewers, with significant technical issues such as screen tearing, frame drops, and getting stuck in scenery mentioned by PC Games on PS5 and TheXboxHub. These issues detracted from the overall experience and impacted the immersion and enjoyment of the game for some critics. Overall, the consensus among critics regarding the Graphics and Visual Design of The First Descendant leans towards a mixed reception. While the game showcases strengths in its visually appealing world, character designs, and polished graphics, it is hindered by technical issues, lack of visual coherence, and inconsistent enemy designs. The heavy inspiration from other games like Destiny, as noted by Metro GameCentral, may have also affected the game's originality and overall visual identity. Addressing the technical issues and improving the cohesion and variety in the visual elements could potentially elevate the overall experience and garner more positive feedback from critics and players alike.

TL;DR

graphics and visual design

Music and Sound Design

Analysis Unavailable

Summary unavailable

TL;DR

music and sound design

Description unavailable

Voice Acting

Analysis Unavailable

Summary unavailable

TL;DR

voice acting

Description unavailable

Technical Performance

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TL;DR

Critics agree: "The First Descendant" faces major technical issues on all platforms, hindering gameplay enjoyment. Despite high player count on Steam, performance problems like framerate drops, server instability, and input delays are significant barriers. Developers must urgently address these issues to improve game quality and deliver a smoother gaming experience.

SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR TECHNICAL PERFORMANCE

Tech Score

Positive (80-100)

Mixed (50-79)

67%

Negative (0-49)

33%

Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the technical performance.

In terms of the positives for each gaming platform, PC Games on Xbox Series X and PS5 noted that The First Descendant has managed to attract a high player count on Steam despite its technical issues. This indicates that the game has elements that appeal to players and potential for success once the technical problems are addressed. Additionally, MMORPG.com highlighted that the PC version of the game offers an engaging gameplay experience, suggesting that the core mechanics and content have potential to be enjoyable. On the negative side, multiple critics pointed out significant technical issues across all platforms. PC Games on Xbox Series X, PS5, and PC, as well as Destructoid on PC, all criticized the game for various technical problems such as framerate drops, server stability issues, rubber banding, input delay, disconnects, screen tearing, and frame drops. These issues severely impact the overall player experience and need urgent attention from the developers to improve the game's performance and stability. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that The First Descendant suffers from major technical issues and bugs on all gaming platforms, detracting from the potential enjoyment of the game. Despite attracting a high player count on Steam, the game's performance problems, including unreliable online connections, framerate issues, and server stability concerns, are significant barriers to fully enjoying the gameplay experience. The critics unanimously agree that the developers need to prioritize addressing these technical issues promptly to enhance the overall quality of the game and provide players with a smoother and more immersive gaming experience.

TL;DR

technical performance

Replay Value

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TL;DR

Critics are divided on the replay value of The First Descendant. Some praise its multiplayer missions and looter shooter mechanics for long-term engagement, while others criticize issues like excessive grinding, abysmal drop rates, and predatory monetization. Overall, the negative aspects seem to overshadow the positives, with many highlighting discouraging gameplay elements that hinder the game's replayability.

SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR REPLAY VALUE

Replay Score

Positive (80-100)

13%

Mixed (50-79)

25%

Negative (0-49)

63%

Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the replay value.

The First Descendant has garnered mixed opinions from critics regarding its replay value. TheXboxHub praises the game for offering replay value through multiplayer missions, constant upgrades, and looter shooter mechanics, which incentivize players to keep improving their gear and abilities. This highlights the potential for long-term engagement, which is a positive aspect noted by some reviewers. On the other hand, several critics like GamingBolt, Metro GameCentral, and GameSpot point out various negatives that impact the game's replay value. Issues such as excessive grinding, abysmal drop rates, overpriced monetization, lack of matchmaking for Hard activities, and a grindy progression system hinder the overall experience. These factors contribute to a sense of imbalance, frustration, and potentially discouraging extended play, as highlighted by Destructoid and MMORPG.com. Overall, the consensus among the critics leans towards the negatives outweighing the positives when it comes to the replay value of The First Descendant. While some reviewers appreciate the potential for long-term engagement and grinding for weapons and characters, the prevalent issues such as predatory monetization, lack of variety in missions and skills, and the grindy progression system seem to deter players from fully enjoying the game's replayability. Multiplayer.it's criticism of demoralizing grinding and predatory monetization reflects the sentiment shared by many critics, indicating that the game falls short in providing a truly engaging and rewarding replay experience for players.

TL;DR

replay value

Overall Verdict

MONSTER

OVERALL SCORE DISTRIBUTION

Monster Score

Positive (80-100)

16%

Mixed (50-79)

70%

Negative (0-49)

14%

Based on analyzing all available reviews that scored and critiqued the game.

In analyzing the opinions of the critics, it is evident that there are some positive aspects of The First Descendant that are highlighted. PC Games, in their review on Xbox Series X, mentions the game's promise with diverse gameplay mechanics and character abilities. TheXboxHub also praises the game for being a solid start with the potential for long-term success, drawing comparisons to Destiny's evolution. These positive remarks indicate that the game does offer engaging gameplay experiences and has the potential to captivate players with its mechanics. On the other hand, several critics point out various negatives about The First Descendant. But Why Tho? criticizes the game for lacking originality and feeling like a cheap imitation of other loot-based games, with a heavy focus on monetization. Push Square criticizes the game for encouraging players to pay to skip content rather than enjoy playing it, likening the experience to using a fidget spinner while on a Discord call. GameSpot criticizes the game for its predatory monetization, lackluster story, repetitive gameplay, and frustrating progression system. These critiques highlight issues such as lack of originality, profit-driven design choices, and a focus on extracting money from players, which detract from the overall experience. Overall, the consensus among the critics is mixed regarding The First Descendant. While some critics acknowledge the game's potential and engaging gameplay experiences, others criticize its lack of originality, heavy focus on monetization, technical issues, and poor storytelling. PC Games on PS5 notes that the game shows promise but is hindered by technical issues that need urgent attention. Metro GameCentral describes the game as a depressingly generic free-to-play looter shooter lacking originality. Destructoid expresses conflicted feelings about the game's strengths and limitations. The general sentiment leans towards the game having potential if developers address its current shortcomings, but it falls short in standing out from its inspirations and delivering a truly captivating experience for players.

TL;DR

The First Descendant receives mixed feedback from critics. Positive aspects include diverse gameplay mechanics and potential for long-term success, but criticisms focus on lack of originality, heavy monetization, and technical issues. While some see promise in the game, others feel it falls short in delivering a captivating experience due to its shortcomings and unoriginality.

MONSTER

Reviews

46 reviews found

TheXboxHub

Xbox Series X

Jul 15, 2024