Editing Descent (video game) (section)

===Computer versions===
{{Video game reviews
| Edge = 8/10<ref name="EDGE19">{{cite magazine|title=Test Screen: Descent|magazine=[[Edge (magazine)|Edge]]|date=April 1995|issue=19|pages=68–69}}</ref>
| GSpot = 8/10<ref name="GSpot"/>
| PCGUS = 96%<ref name="pcgamerus">{{cite magazine| author=Bennett, Dan | magazine=[[PC Gamer US]] | url=http://www.pcgamer.com/reviews/333.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19991115082344/http://www.pcgamer.com/reviews/333.html | archive-date=November 15, 1999 | title=''Descent'' | date=May 1995 | url-status=dead}}</ref>
| CGW = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="cgw">{{cite magazine| author=Vox Day | author-link=Vox Day |title=Vertigo to the Third Degree |date=June 1995 |issue=131 | magazine=[[Computer Gaming World]] | pages=104, 106, 108 }}</ref>
| PCZone=94%<ref name="PCZone"/>
| rev1 = ''[[MacUser]]''
| rev1Score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}<ref name="macuser">{{cite web | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990225083300/http://macuser.zdnet.com/mu_0696/personal/gameroom.html | url=http://macuser.zdnet.com:80/mu_0696/personal/gameroom.html | title=The Game Room | date=June 1996 | archive-date=February 25, 1999 | author=LeVitus, Bob | work=[[MacUser]] | url-status=dead | access-date=July 20, 2019 }}</ref>
| rev2 = ''[[Macworld]]''
| rev2Score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="macworld">{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970809014714/http://www.macworld.com/pages/april.96/Reviews.1966.html |url=http://www.macworld.com/pages/april.96/Reviews.1966.html |title=''Descent 1.0'' | author=DeLisio, Fred |work=[[Macworld]] | date=April 1996 | archive-date=August 9, 1997 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| rev3 = ''[[PC Magazine]]''
| rev3Score = {{Rating|4|4}}<ref name="pcmag">{{cite magazine| author=Ryan, Michael | magazine=[[PC Magazine]] | title=360° of War | date=August 1995 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010417204701/http://www.zdnet.com/pcmag/issues/1414/pcm00135.htm | url=http://www.zdnet.com/pcmag/issues/1414/pcm00135.htm | archive-date=April 17, 2001 | url-status=dead}}</ref>
| NGen = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="NG5"/>
| rev4 = ''[[PC Player (German magazine)|PC Player]]''
| rev4Score = 90%<ref name="pcplayer-review"/>
}}

The computer versions of ''Descent'' received near-universal acclaim, with reviewers widely comparing it to ''Doom'' and noting its unique use of free motion, as well as a fully three-dimensional environment.{{efn|<ref name="pcplayer-review"/><ref name="pcmag"/><ref name="pcgamerus"/><ref name="PCZone"/><ref name="rps"/><ref name="EDGE19"/><ref name="macworld"/><ref name="GSpot"/><ref name="cgw"/><ref name="macuser"/><ref name="NG5"/>}} The multiplayer aspect received equal acclaim.{{efn|<ref name="pcplayer-review"/><ref name="pcmag"/><ref name="pcgamerus"/><ref name="PCZone"/><ref name="EDGE19"/><ref name="macworld"/><ref name="GSpot"/><ref name="cgw"/><ref name="macuser"/>}} Michael Ryan of ''[[PC Magazine]]'' enthusiastically attributed the attention the game received to its unique gameplay and found no similar alternatives.<ref name="pcmag"/> ''[[GameSpot]]'' remarked that "only one 3-D shooter adds a whole new dimension to the field: ''Descent''.", particularly noting the labyrinthine environments.<ref name="GSpot"/> [[Charlie Brooker]] of ''PC Zone'' noted the game's intense environment and similarities to ''Doom'' and praised its multiplayer and ability to taunt opposing players, with only minor criticism directed toward its slight repetitiveness.<ref name="PCZone">{{cite magazine|title=Descent review|last=Brooker|first=Charlie|magazine=[[PC Zone]]|date=April 1995|issue=25|pages=72–74}}</ref> Common complaints tended to focus on ''Descent''{{'}}s ability to disorient players, as well as potentially induce motion sickness.{{efn|<ref name="pcplayer-review"/><ref name="pcmag"/><ref name="pcgamerus"/><ref name="PCZone"/><ref name="rps"/><ref name="EDGE19"/><ref name="GSpot"/><ref name="macuser"/><ref>{{cite book |title=Games Online for Dummies |first=John |last=Kaufeld |publisher=IDG Books Worldwide |year=1998 |isbn=978-0764504341 |page=[https://archive.org/details/gamesonlinefordu00kauf/page/42 42] |access-date=November 20, 2012 |url=https://archive.org/details/gamesonlinefordu00kauf|url-access=registration }}</ref>}}

''[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]'' particularly praised the graphics and animation, intelligent enemies, and wide array of power-ups, all of which it said would "keep most gamers glued to the screen for hours". They were however disappointed by the game's delayed release, asserting it led to the game being overshadowed by id Software's then-newly released ''[[Heretic (video game)|Heretic]]''.<ref name="NG5">{{cite magazine|title=Finals|magazine=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]|issue=5|date=May 1995|page=92}}</ref> Nevertheless, they rated it the fourth-best virtual reality game in September 1995 due to its 3D environment and graphics.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Top 10 Virtual Reality Games|magazine=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]|date=September 1995|issue=9|page=43}}</ref> In its third-highest-rated review,<ref>{{cite magazine|title=The Highest Game Ratings of the Year|magazine=[[PC Player (German magazine)|PC Player]]|language=de|date=January 1996|page=48}}</ref> ''[[PC Player (German magazine)|PC Player]]'' also praised the intelligent enemies, as well as the lighting effects, the use of various graphical textures, and "genuine" 3D graphics.<ref name="pcplayer-review"/> ''[[Edge (magazine)|Edge]]'' remarked the ability to record demos that capture the player's experiences, but also criticized the slightly repetitive gameplay and noted the robots' basic algorithm of being only a little more than "fire and evade", despite their intelligence.<ref name="EDGE19"/>

The Macintosh port of ''Descent'' also received praise. Bob LeVitus of ''[[MacUser]]'' called it "one of the best Mac games ever released", attributing its popularity to its online multiplayer mode. His only criticism was the high system requirements (the port required a [[Power Macintosh]] to play) and a difficult [[learning curve]].<ref name="macuser"/> ''[[Macworld]]''{{'}}s Fred DeLisio also praised the enemy artificial intelligence, realism and sense of immersion, and multiplayer for allowing cross-platform sessions between MS-DOS and Macintosh users and allowing players to join and quit anytime without ending the sessions for everyone else, but also criticized the high system requirements.<ref name="macworld"/>

Jeremy Parish of ''[[USgamer]]'' ran a retrospective feature on the game, saying ''Descent'' combined the genre of space flight simulator with a first-person shooter experience. He also attributed the game's popularity and modifiability to the continued development of fan mods.<ref name="USgamer"/> ''[[Engadget]]''{{'}}s David Lumb retrospectively likened the game's graphical innovations to the [[computer-generated imagery]] used in the 1995 film ''[[Toy Story]]''.<ref name="spiritual-successor">{{cite web|url=https://www.engadget.com/2018/05/31/overload-game-revival-classic-shooter-descent/|title='Overload' revives the cramped combat of classic shooter 'Descent'|last=Lumb|first=David|work=[[Engadget]]|date=May 31, 2018|access-date=June 27, 2019|archive-date=June 14, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190614190431/https://www.engadget.com/2018/05/31/overload-game-revival-classic-shooter-descent/|url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[GamesTM]]'' rated it No. 4 on their retrospective "Top Five FPS" list for its truly 3D environment combined with the six degrees of freedom,<ref>{{cite book|chapter=Top Five FPS|title=Retro|publisher=[[GamesTM]]|date=2010|volume=3|page=88|isbn=9781906078560}}</ref> and ''[[Rock, Paper, Shotgun]]'' ranked it No. 13 on its list of "The best space games on PC", citing the game's numerous innovations, speed, labyrinthine level structures, and the free range of motion.<ref name="rps">{{cite web|url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/02/01/the-best-space-games-on-pc/3/|title=The best space games on PC|work=[[Rock, Paper, Shotgun]]|page=3|date=February 1, 2018|access-date=June 8, 2019|archive-date=July 27, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190727051252/https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/02/01/the-best-space-games-on-pc/3/|url-status=live}}</ref>
{{Clear}}

====Accolades====
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center;"
|-
! Year !! Work !! Category !! Result
|-
|rowspan="6"|1995
|rowspan="3"|[[PC Gamer]]<ref>{{cite magazine|title=The Year's Best Games|magazine=[[PC Gamer]]|date=March 1996|volume=3|issue=3|pages=73–74}}</ref>
|Best Action Game
|{{won}}
|-
|Best Multi-Player Game
|{{won}}
|-
|Special Achievement in Innovative Design
|{{won}}
|-
|[[PC Magazine]]<ref>{{cite magazine|title=After Hours|magazine=[[PC Magazine]]|date=December 19, 1995|volume=14|issue=22|page=130}}</ref>
|Technical Excellence Award
|{{won}}
|-
|[[PC Games (magazine)|PC Games]]<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Descent Review|language=de|last=Geltenpoth|first=Alexander|magazine=[[PC Games (magazine)|PC Games]]|date=March 1995|issue=30|pages=32–34, 36}}</ref>
|Game of the Month
|{{won}}
|-
|[[PC Computing]]<ref>{{cite magazine|title=The Most Valuable Products|magazine=[[PC Computing]]|date=December 1995|volume=8|issue=12|page=198}}</ref>
|Most Valuable Entertainment CD-ROM
|{{Runner-up}}
|}