The First Descendant’s Biggest Blunder Risks Making it Obsolete With Time

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The First Descendant's Biggest Blunder Risks Making it Obsolete With Time

Highlights

  • The First Descendant gained surprising success despite early criticism for being generic and microtransaction-heavy.
  • Engaging narratives play a crucial role in the success of live-service looter-shooters games like Destiny 2.
  • Nexon needs to prioritize meaningful narrative content in order to improve The First Descendant’s future prospects.

As a seasoned gamer with over two decades of experience under my belt, I’ve seen countless games rise and fall, some due to their lackluster campaigns. The First Descendant is one such game that has managed to gather a decent player base despite its initial criticism. While it’s clear that the developers have taken inspiration from other successful looter-shooters like Destiny 2, they seem to have missed the mark when it comes to narrative content.

The newly launched game “The First Descendant” has surpassed initial predictions for its success, surprising many in the gaming community. Initially dismissed by a significant portion of gamers upon its unveiling, the game was seen as overly similar to titles like “Destiny 2” and “Warframe”, and also linked to Nexon, a company known for its games with heavy microtransactions. However, against all odds, “The First Descendant” has managed to gather considerable interest, reaching a peak concurrent player count of 265,000 on Steam.

One intriguing factor behind the popularity of “The First Descendant” is that initial critiques, for the most part, seem accurate when compared to the final version. The game features a lot of microtransactions and gameplay focused on grinding, and both its art design and lore have been widely criticized as generic and lacking inspiration. However, it seems that the core gameplay of this live-service breakout has been compelling enough to attract players in the gaming market. Yet, if the allegations of unoriginal writing and design prove accurate over time, these could potentially harm its reputation.

The First Descendant’s Lackluster Campaign Could Deal It a Death Blow

A Strong Campaign Can Play a Big Role in a Live-Service’s Success

Live-action games such as Destiny 2 offer captivating storylines that keep gamers engrossed for extended durations. Games like Overwatch, which has less emphasis on narrative, still boast an array of endearing characters that encourage fans to remain dedicated to the franchise for years, often continuing their involvement even when gameplay starts to feel repetitive. Essentially, enjoyable gameplay can propel a live-service game forward during its initial stages, but a strong, immersive storyline is usually what ensures players keep returning for more.

Previously discussed is the allegation that “The First Descendant” has been found to imitate other franchises, extending beyond superficial concepts or visual styles, but encompassing fundamental plot points as well. The game’s narrative, which revolves around a futuristic military battling an alien invasion, appears uninspired and artificial, suggesting a lack of creativity in its creation and serving as a foundation for repetitive gameplay. This predictable nature, combined with one-dimensional characters and dialog heavy with technical jargon, makes it challenging to engage emotionally with the storyline.

The First Descendant Could Bolster Its Campaign in the Long Run

Nexon has been open about their future strategies for “The First Descendant,” revealing its Season 1 roadmap only a few weeks back. At this point, it seems that the game is primarily concentrating on introducing fresh characters to play (the Descendants), as well as new cosmetic and gear options. This approach is common for live-service games, but if Nexon consistently invests in “The First Descendant” by offering more than just cosmetic and gear updates, it could bode well for the game’s growth and development in the future.

If The First Descendant intends to maintain its similarities with other live-service games, it should also adopt their storytelling methods. For instance, Destiny 2 has unfolded a tale over seven years, using premium expansions as new chapters in an extensive, epic narrative. Although The First Descendant doesn’t necessarily have to mirror this exact structure, incorporating more narrative content in future updates would be advantageous, particularly since many players have completed the initial campaign and are left wanting more engaging storylines.

Instead of dismissing “The First Descendant” as yet another free-to-play looter-shooter, it’s worth considering its potential to captivate players for years rather than months. Its solid foundation in gameplay and visuals could be further reinforced by a deeper focus on its story. Introducing more character or narrative depth through these hypothetical expansions might make the experience even more engaging.

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2024-08-10 19:06