Descent
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Revision as of 09:45, 10 June 2020 by Auto Prod Bot (talk | contribs) (Updating infobox with StrategyWiki guide link)
Developers | |
---|---|
Parallax Software | |
Mac OS (Classic) | Interplay Entertainment |
Publishers | |
Interplay Entertainment | |
Engines | |
Descent | |
Release dates | |
DOS | February 28, 1995 |
Windows | March 17, 1995 |
Mac OS (Classic) | 1995 |
Windows (DOSBox) | July 22, 2008 |
macOS (OS X) (DOSBox) | October 26, 2012[1] |
Descent | |
---|---|
Descent | 1995 |
Descent II | 1996 |
Descent 3 | 1999 |
Descent (cancelled) renamed to S.T.F.U (Ships That Fight Underground) | TBA |
Key points
- Engine is open source with modern multi-platform ports available. It is highly recommended to use either DXX-Rebirth or D2X-XL.
General information
- Official game site
- GOG.com Community Discussions for game series
- GOG.com Support Page
- Steam Community Discussions
- Descent source code download page
Availability
Source | DRM | Notes | Keys | OS |
---|---|---|---|---|
Retail | ||||
GOG.com | DOS version pre-packaged with DOSBox.[2] | |||
Steam | DOS version pre-packaged with DOSBox.[3] |
Version differences
- The classic Mac OS version was substantially improved during the porting process. It features high-res (640x480 vs DOS's 320x200) menus, backgrounds, fonts & briefing images. It also had studio quality audio tracks. This version would later be used as the base for the PlayStation version, which additionally had intro videos (verses slides) and simple lighting effects. DXX-Rebirth supports the Mac OS data files though Windows users may require these patches.
DLC and expansion packs
- The PlayStation version included additional multiplayer maps ("anarchy levels"). Although porting them to the PC would theoretically be simple, no attempt has be made.
Name | Notes | |
---|---|---|
Levels of the World | ||
Anniversary's bonus levels (no official name given) | Also included with The Definitive Collection |
- In addition to the add ons above, Interplay had many map making competitions which some players considered to be the game's unofficial 3rd DLC. Although no official compilation has been made, a user on gog.com has made one of his own with almost all competition entries included. It can be downloaded here.
Essential improvements
Source ports
- There are four (five technically) source ports available for Descent. These ports are major upgrades to the game and will improve almost all aspects of the game. Most notably, these ports support Windows, OS X, and Linux natively without the need for DOSBox.
Name | Description | |
---|---|---|
DXX-Rebirth | Focused mostly on maintaining original gameplay and being authentic. Feature List | |
D2X-XL | Focused mostly on graphical and gameplay improvements. Changelog/Feature List | |
DXX-Retro | Based on DXX-Rebirth. Focused mostly on improving multiplayer. Source & Changelog | |
Project D2X | Very old source port, hasn't been updated in a long time. This project was the base for DXX-Rebirth & XL |
Game data
Configuration file(s) location
System | Location |
---|---|
DOS | <path-to-game>\ |
Windows | <path-to-game>\[Note 1] |
Mac OS (Classic) | |
macOS (OS X) | <path-to-game> (mounted in DOSBox)[Note 2] |
Steam Play (Linux) | <SteamLibrary-folder>/steamapps/compatdata/273570/pfx/[Note 3] |
Save game data location
System | Location |
---|---|
DOS | <path-to-game>\ |
Windows | <path-to-game>\[Note 1] |
Mac OS (Classic) | |
macOS (OS X) | <path-to-game> (mounted in DOSBox)[Note 2] |
Steam Play (Linux) | <SteamLibrary-folder>/steamapps/compatdata/273570/pfx/[Note 3] |
Save game cloud syncing
System | Native | Notes |
---|---|---|
GOG Galaxy | ||
Steam Cloud |
Video
Graphics settings (GOG.com version)
Graphics feature | State | WSGF | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Widescreen resolution | A source port is required. See Source ports. | ||
Multi-monitor | Use D1X-Rebirth (D2X-XL has incorrect scaling). | ||
Ultra-widescreen | Use D1X-Rebirth (D2X-XL has incorrect scaling). | ||
4K Ultra HD | |||
Field of view (FOV) | |||
Windowed | Toggle with Alt+↵ Enter (when using DOSBox). | ||
Borderless fullscreen windowed | |||
Anisotropic filtering (AF) | A source port is required. See Source ports. | ||
Anti-aliasing (AA) | A source port is required. See Source ports. | ||
Vertical sync (Vsync) | A source port is required. See Source ports. | ||
60 FPS | Capped at 50 FPS;[4] for 60 FPS see Source ports. | ||
120+ FPS | A source port is required. See Source ports. | ||
High dynamic range display (HDR) | See the glossary page for potential alternatives. |
Input
Keyboard and mouse | State | Notes |
---|---|---|
Remapping | ||
Mouse acceleration | ||
Mouse sensitivity | ||
Mouse input in menus | A source port is required. See Source ports. | |
Mouse Y-axis inversion | ||
Controller | ||
Controller support | A source port adds modern controller support. See Source ports. | |
Full controller support | ||
Controller remapping | ||
Controller sensitivity | ||
Controller Y-axis inversion |
Controller types |
---|
XInput-compatible controllers |
---|
PlayStation controllers |
---|
Tracked motion controllers |
---|
Generic/other controllers |
---|
Additional information | ||
---|---|---|
Button prompts | ||
Controller hotplugging | ||
Haptic feedback | ||
Digital movement supported | ||
Simultaneous controller+KB/M |
Audio
Audio feature | State | Notes |
---|---|---|
Separate volume controls | ||
Surround sound | ||
Subtitles | No Audio Dialogue to subtitle. | |
Closed captions | ||
Mute on focus lost | Can be enabled through DOSBox's priority settings (use the pause emulation option). | |
Red Book CD audio | Mac OS CD-ROM version only. |
Localizations
Language | UI | Audio | Sub | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
English |
Network
Multiplayer types
Type | Native | Players | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|
LAN play | 8 | Versus, Co-op |
||
Online play | 8 | Versus, Co-op |
Connection types
Type | Native | Notes |
---|---|---|
Matchmaking | ||
Peer-to-peer | ||
Dedicated | ||
Self-hosting | ||
Direct IP |
VR support
3D modes | State | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
Native 3D | Use D2X-XL (anaglyph, 3D TV).[5] | ||
Nvidia 3D Vision | See Descent 1 - 2 (DXX-Rebirth) [OpenGL]. | ||
vorpX | G3D Officially supported game trough D2X-XL, see official vorpx game list. |
Headsets | |||
---|---|---|---|
SteamVR | This game might be playable with the Revive Compatibility Layer (compatibility list). | ||
Oculus VR (LibOVR) | Use D2X-XL.[5] | ||
Windows Mixed Reality | This game might be playable with the Revive Compatibility Layer. |
Devices | |||
---|---|---|---|
Tracked motion controllers | |||
Traditional controller | See Input for details. | ||
Keyboard/Mouse |
Play area | |||
---|---|---|---|
Seated | |||
Standing | |||
Room-scale |
Other information
API
Technical specs | Supported | Notes |
---|---|---|
OpenGL | 1.0 | Requires a source port or official OpenGL patch from interplay. Also is a selectable rendering option in DOSBox. |
Glide | Requires an official patch from interplay. Also require a fork of DOSBox with Glide support if being played in DOSBox. | |
Software renderer | Default mode in source ports and only mode without graphics patch from interplay | |
DOS video modes | VGA, SVGA |
Executable | PPC | 16-bit | 32-bit | 64-bit | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Windows | 64-bit requires a source port | ||||
Mac OS (Classic) |
Middleware
Middleware | Notes | |
---|---|---|
Audio | Human Machine Interface (HMI) audio drivers |
System requirements
DOS | ||
---|---|---|
Minimum | Recommended | |
Operating system (OS) | 5.0 | 6.2 |
Processor (CPU) | Intel 386 33 MHz | Intel 486 33 MHz |
System memory (RAM) | 4 MB | 8 MB |
Hard disk drive (HDD) | 25 MB | |
Video card (GPU) | VGA | SVGA |
Mac OS | ||
---|---|---|
Minimum | ||
Operating system (OS) | System 7 (classic) | |
Processor (CPU) | PowerPC 601 90 MHz | |
System memory (RAM) | 8 MB (3 can be virtual memory) | |
Hard disk drive (HDD) | 18 MB | |
Video card (GPU) | 640x480 display with 256 colors |
Windows | ||
---|---|---|
Minimum | Recommended | |
Operating system (OS) | XP, Vista, 7, 8 (runs in DOSBox) | |
Processor (CPU) | 1 GHz | 1.4 GHz |
System memory (RAM) | 512 MB | 1 GB |
Hard disk drive (HDD) | 25 MB | |
Video card (GPU) | DirectX 7 compatible | DirectX 9 compatible |
macOS (OS X) | ||
---|---|---|
Minimum | ||
Operating system (OS) | 10.6.8 "Snow Leopard" (runs in DOSBox) | |
Processor (CPU) | Intel Core Duo 2 GHz | |
System memory (RAM) | 1 GB | |
Hard disk drive (HDD) | ||
Video card (GPU) | 64 MB of VRAM |
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 When running this game without elevated privileges (Run as administrator option), write operations against a location below
%PROGRAMFILES%
,%PROGRAMDATA%
, or%WINDIR%
might be redirected to%LOCALAPPDATA%\VirtualStore
on Windows Vista and later (more details). - ↑ 2.0 2.1 File/folder structure within the installation folder reflects the path(s) listed for DOS game data.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Notes regarding Steam Play (Linux) data:
- File/folder structure within this directory reflects the path(s) listed for Windows and/or Steam game data.
- Use Wine's registry editor to access any Windows registry paths.
- The app ID (273570) may differ in some cases.
- Treat backslashes as forward slashes.
- See the glossary page for details on Windows data paths.