Summary
NEXON Games' new third-person looter-shooterThe First Descendanthas caught players' attention with its most recent trailer boasting cutting-edge fidelity and gameplay design familiar to anyone who has spent time in the genre. AsDestiny 2trudges toward the conclusion of its Light and Dark saga, which will culminate in 2024’s The Final Shape, those experiencing fatigue from the franchise could find a new home inThe First Descendant.
There is an argument to be made that the looter-shooter genre has already hit the point of inundation. Past its peak of being one of gaming’s premier trends, studios are still innovating and iterating on new titles that will refine the endless loop of hunting for ever-better loot. Almost a year since its Lightfall expansion,the currentDestiny 2cycle is a waning one, as players seek out new games to scratch that itch. Now, the upcomingFirst Descendantis shaping up as a strong contender to take up that mantle.
Something Special is Brewing Over at NEXON
Initially announced in the summer of 2022, NEXON’sThe First Descendentis set as a showpiece for harnessing the potential of Unreal Engine 5. Though its primary genre is looter-shooter, there is some shared DNA with action RPGs, and over a decade of inspiration to draw from both genres.
Gameplay videos have players likening it toWarframewith its third-person perspective, ditching the cover-based combat of titles likeThe Divisionfor the movement, verticality, and scale of first-person games likeDestiny 2.The latter may be what setsThe First Descendantapart, with teams of up to four banding together to tackle some truly colossal foes utilizing an eclectic array of active skills, acrobatic maneuverability, and the tank/heals/damage holy trinity of teamwork.
The First Descendant Already Has its Identity Figured Out
A beta forThe First Descendantin September showed promise, garnering a healthy following eager to get its hands on the game. With polish to the movement, shooting, and enemy AI systems, the game absolutely has the opportunity for mainstream appeal.
Being free-to-play will help it gain traction, and NEXON’s expressed commitment to a live-service model will hopefully result in a long lifespan forThe First Descendant. Interest in the game has renewed with a release date trailer at the Game Awards, targeting a summer 2024 debut.
The First Descendant is Not Just A Destiny Clone
The First Descendant’s narrowed focus relative toDestiny 2has its advantages and disadvantages. No dedicated PvP modes mean competitive gamers may be left wanting, but the expansive roster of playable Descendants boasting an impressive variety in combat may have been impossible if NEXON had to account for balance in PvP.
The value ofThe First Descendant’s deep cast of characterswill shine in cooperative gameplay but may pose a challenge to juggle concerning storytelling.Destiny 2utilized a decade of plot development and top-tier voice-acting to develop pathos in its supporting cast, with Guardians acting as more of a blank canvas for players. The Descendants all have unique identities, and it will be up to NEXON to decide if that amounts to little more than one-liners throughout the campaign or if the plot will weave through its entire roster.
Success Begins With The First Descendant’s Endgame
Transparency has been a large part of NEXON’s rollout ofThe First Descendant, producing a wealth of information on what the game will entail. One aspect that still needs some light shed on it is the endgame, which will ultimately be the hinge between the game having staying power or being remembered as another fad-chasing flash in the pan.
A model likeDestiny 2’s with raids and master difficulty content seems likely, but with a party cap of four, it will be interesting to see ifThe First Descendanttreads its own path through the endgame. In the meantime, NEXON’s long-term plans will hopefully be revealed ahead of its anticipated summer 2024 release.
