Summer Games Challenge 2015

[MrPopo]

Yeah, the game really takes advantage of the full 3D movement. The level designers were amazing, especially considering how early this game came out in the development of first person level design.

Oh, and look forward to a bit more ramping up in the near future. I won't spoil when.

[Ack]

Descent

Made it a good bit further. I'm now sitting at the start of level 22(I believe I am still on the Uranus missions, but this is probably the last one). I did an exploratory run but found rooms loaded with red hulks and even one with a driller spawner. Yuck. The game is still finding new ways to ramp up, with moving keys and beefed up reactor defenses being the two most recent changes. It's making things more interesting. It's also making things harder... Ah, Descent, you are a harsh mistress indeed. But one I intend to conquer.

[Sarge]

I've actually been playing a little bit of Descent II, myself. Using d2x-rebirth, since it seems to run a bit better than me using DOSBox. I ended up mapping the keyboard WASD-style, putting my roll buttons on Q/Z, and my slide up/down on E/C. Mouse aiming, with the sensitivity jacked up quite a bit.

And yes, those games are awesome. I liked this much more than Quake or Doom or others of that ilk.

Anyway, I'm totally counting Majora's Mask as part of the challenge, despite it being the 3DS version. I very nearly finished the N64 version (on GC) back in the day, so I don't feel bad, plus, other than some very useful time-saving mechanics, it's the same game. I'll leave impressions over in the Games Beaten thread.

[Ack]

I've actually been playing a little bit of Descent II, myself. Using d2x-rebirth, since it seems to run a bit better than me using DOSBox. I ended up mapping the keyboard WASD-style, putting my roll buttons on Q/Z, and my slide up/down on E/C. Mouse aiming, with the sensitivity jacked up quite a bit.

Currently my control scheme is W accelerates, S moves in reverse, A and D slide left and right, Q and E roll, Space is slide up while Left Shift is slide down, and I use mouselook with the sensitivity maxed out. If I could, I'd actually increase the mouse sensitivity further, but it's working for what I need to do with it.

Most of the time I use the level 4 quad lasers and homing missiles, unless I run low or encounter massive groups. Then I start to change things up with the missiles, and I sometimes use the vulcan to try and stunlock enemies, though it doesn't seem to work against the medium hulks and their missiles. I used the spread and plasma a bit at first but ended up dropping them eventually, while the fusion cannon I've basically stopped using. I've also never used mines. They just don't seem as important, especially since enemies cannot open doors.

While I can't say I prefer this to the likes of Doom, I do think Descent is definitely up there. There have been quite a few times where I've entered a room with the music going and immediately thought of Doom though. I like that at times I can sense the influence.

[Sarge]

I think I like that idea better, putting the slide up/down on Space/Shift. I may see how that works out. I know that I'm not very far into DII. I don't remember how far I got back in the day, but I'm pretty sure I never beat it. I did beat the first one, though.

[MrPopo]

Oh man, level 22. It's actually the first Neptune mission, and it introduces the most evil enemy to the game.

I agree with you on the usefulness of the various weapons. Quad Lasers are a good bread and butter while the Vulcan is great for single enemies you want to stunlock. The others are meh, though there's a few instances the Fusion can be good because it pierces; the problem is you don't really know those are coming until you've already done the level once.

I've found Mines to be useful in a couple of instances where you know monsters are going to spawn; one level (I don't know if you've gotten to it yet) has monster spawners that trigger after you pick up a key, so if you drop some mines ahead of time it will keep robots off your back long enough to get through the area.

[Ack]

Oh man, level 22. It's actually the first Neptune mission, and it introduces the most evil enemy to the game.

Not making me look forward to it. This level already seems tough.

I believe I've already encountered the area where the robots start spawning when I grab a key(level 16 I think had a room like that). I've also encountered a few levels where enemy spawners are in the starting room, which was painful to say the least.

Glad to hear I've made it to Neptune. I wasn't sure if I had or not, but this only leaves Neptune and Pluto. By the way, what are the minibosses I've heard about? I haven't encountered any as far as I know. Is that what I find in level 22?

[MrPopo]

No, Minibosses start in level 23. They also showed up in the secret levels that you could access earlier in the game; there's three of them and they tend to feature robots you won't see for a while.

[Exhuminator]

When I played Descent in 1995, I found it to be incredibly boring. I understand it's supposed to be an engaging shooter due to having the third axis of traversal and flying around labyrinthine tunnels. But thematically speaking, I just couldn't get into it. There were other 3D space shooters of the era that held my interest however.

Glad you dudes enjoy the game though.

[Kidpanda]

Not a game on my list, but I gave it shot last night.......

Damn Kaboom! is hard!

What's your high score? I'm looking for some competition on this one.