Descent 3 on PC

• Windows 95, 98 (DirectX 6.1 for both)
  or NT (Service pack 3 or greater)
• Pentium PC 200 Mhz (PII 300 Mhz)
• 32Mb RAM (64Mb RAM)
• Quad-speed CD-ROM Drive
• 210Mb Hard Drive space (500Mb or 980Mb)
• 100% Microsoft Mouse or compatible
• DirectX 6-certified Sound/Video cards
• 3Dfx-capable graphics card
• Network and Internet play via TCP/IP

Descent 3has an espionage-style plot, which is explained as the game goes on, but ifyou’re familiar with the first two games, then this one will need no explaining.You just have to load up and play.

If you haven’t seen this game before, then, taking control of a small spaceship froma 3D first-person perspective, the idea is to get to the end of each level killingthe bad guys (known as ‘battle-drones’ and ‘assault-bots’) while collecting powerupsalong the way, activating doorways and seeking assistance from the Guidebot.

Playing the Game

The difference between this and the previous two games is that you can fly outsideand not just underground in the canyons and tunnels. This is thanks to the newFusion games engine which powers Descent3, which blasts youseamlessly from inside to outside. Melding a flight-sim engine with a room-based,structural engine allows the action to race on at full speed, with no interruptionsinside or out.

The game features over 30 robots including :

Gyro: Powered-up and on patrol, Gyro has orders to terminate all intruders.Outmatched and cornered, he’s not above calling for backup.
Gunslinger: Waiting to make good on his six-gun promises, the Gunslinger iscool, calm and collected. Make your first shot count as it may be the only one you get.
Tubbs: Brute force with a badge. Tubbs is out to give trespassers a pounding.If you don’t watch your back, you’ll never know what hit you.
Old Scratch: Deadly alone – and a nightmare in packs – Old Scratch’s razor-sharpclaws are more than enough to clip your wings.

The game also contains 20 merciless weapons including :

Napalm Cannon: Blaze a path through the mechanised minions with this scaringnew close-quarters incendiary weapon. Fuel your inner pyromaniac as burning robots collide,ignite and explode.
Cyclone Missile: Release the hounds with this hungry new heat-seeker. Adog-fighter’s wildcard, the Cyclone streaks after your target until you choose todetonate it, unleashing a ravenous pack of six mini-missiles to hunt down your prey.
Mass Driver: Built with the sniper in mind, this powerful new telescopicrange-finder zooms in for the kill while keeping you out of harm’s way. But fire everyround like it’s your last – you may only get that one perfect shot.
Frag Missile: Scour enemy defences from the mines with stinging flak of thischaotic new weapon. Campers beware, whether hiding around the corner or waiting in adarkened corridor, there is no escaping the shrapnel fury of the Frag.

In addition to this is the useful Guidebot. Use it to find exits and powerups. The machinewill scoot off to locate what you’re after, then will run back to you and guide you to yourgoal. If the Guidebot gets caught in the crossfire it may need repairing, which will costyou some of your own personal shield energy, but it will be worth it.

You can also play over the internet via LAN, modem or TCP/IP. A host site will include aspecial registry screen to provide information about the game in question and customisableoptions are available for advanced players.

OptionsThe following lists just some of the options available within the game.

Graphics, Sound and Playability

The graphics look very good and just as you’d expect if you’ve played the firsttwo games. A 3Dfx card of some description is required and will not only lookgood but will also take the pressure of processing off the CPU. You can have agreat time zooming along and rolling your craft as you blast seven shades ofyou-know-what out of the enemy and it’s very colourful at times.

With a “Dolby Surround” logo on the box, you know your speakers will get a workout,as shots are fired at you from all angles and the whole experience is rarelyanything but loud such as when firing a Black Shark Missile. However, onceyou’ve heard the first set of whizz-bang effects and the occasional R2D2-soundof your Guidebot, plus a bit of limp dance music in the background, there isn’tmuch more to it than that.

The playability is mostly fine, but roving about can lead to getting lost or goinground in circles around the same corridors. At times you can have a great blast,but the lack of originality between levels makes it difficult to stick at itfor longer than an hour at a time.

Cheat ModeStill can’t beat the bad guys? Then type in the following during the gameto activate the corresponding cheat function.

Function – Code
• Invincibility – burgergod
• All weapons, energy and shields – ivegotit
• level skip – moreclang
• full map – threesquid
• destroy all bots – deadofnight
• Get damaged – tuberacer
• Strange graphic textures – shananigans
• Chase view – byebyemonkey
• Display frame rate – framelength
• Cloak – testicus
• Unknown – teletubbies

Overall

There’s no doubting that Descent3 is a great game to playfor a while, but it feels like the developers have lost the feel that theoriginal had. Most of the time there’s either nothing happening, or you’rebeing besieged by enemies, whereas the other games spaced the bad guys out,resulting in more of a one-on-one type of game which created an atmospherethat drew you in.

Only buy this at full price if you’ve completed Descent 1 and 2 and theirimitator, Forsaken and are clamouring for some more. If you’re anyoneelse, wait for its budget re-release.

GRAPHICS : ****SOUND EFFECTS AND MUSIC: ***PLAYABILITY: **½ORIGINALITY : ***ENJOYMENT : **——————————-OVERALL : ***

If you’re after some more info on Interplay’s games, check out the officialWebsite atwww.interplay.com

Review copyright © Dominic Robinson, 1999.