Warped Core: The Blog/Anti-Blog Reaction: REVIEW - Lost, but not forgotten: A gaming past revisited.

That's right, my computer is finally built! There is however an unfortunate problem with the cable lines in my neighborhood preventing me from attaining internet access at the moment, so I have had some time to dust off some old gear and relive some old memories. We're not talking ancient history here, but definitely of things from which most gamers have moved on to newer and "better" things. Alright, so what am I talking about already? Descent 3, and the PantherXL.
I have followed Decent since it's inception. Not quite a first person shooter, yet not quite a flight sim either, the series sits in a unique category all to its own. I have yet to find another game that equals the feeling of getting lost in a 360 degree maze, as Descent does so well. This third installation of the series is by far and away the best, a culmination of everything that made the previous two great, with all manners of new features as well. This episode takes the fight above ground, and while many of the levels are still of the same mineshaft mayhem that gave so many gamers vertigo in the first two games, there are numerous levels that now have you fighting out under the beautiful open sky. The game is several years old now, but the time and effort put into its creation still shines through. The game scenery and graphics are beautiful and even the animated cutscenes are still of good quality, even by many of today's game standards. This game also by far has my favorite opening sequence to any game ever, with a cinematic quality so strong it feels more like the beginning of a movie than a game. The opening theme song during this sequence is breathtaking, and the soundtrack in general is quite excellent as well. The sound effects are also superb. It still holds on to many of the sounds that greeted gamers in the series' first installment, providing some updates on them, with many new effects added as well. The game picks up right where Descent 2 left off, and you are now seeking revenge against the very man that employed you in the previous games, after his attempt to have you killed. Descent 3 has a much stronger plot than its predecessors, and is aided by the animation sequences between levels. Where previously the goal to each level was nothing more than blowing up a reactor somewhere, each mission now has clearly defined and varying objectives, progressing you through an actual storyline (what a concept). The controls, as always, are stellar. They are extremely customizable to practically any joystick, keyboard, mouse, or any combination thereof. In fact, you almost need all three to play this game well. Maintaining constant control over three different axes is no simple task without a joystick. If you were to play a match online (assuming anyone still does play it online), it becomes immediately evident who has the control of a joystick and who is a "keyboard lamer". Descent 3 has evolved elegantly from it's ancestors into a game that holds true to its origins yet has adapted to a more modern gaming style, look, and feel. Yet somehow, the game still flopped. Perhaps 360 degree disorientation just isn't what the general public looks for in a game. The game failed so miserably in fact, that no one even dares to pick it up again for a Descent 4 sequel, which is really quite unfortunate. I truly hope that one day, someone will decide to pick up this series again, dust it off, and give it another run. But in the meantime, Descent 3 still has some gas left in it.
In an analogous predicament, is the MadCatz PantherXL. A device that is similarly unique in the game controller world, it resembles a joystick and a trackball half melded together into one giant conglomeration of the two. I admit I was skeptical of the beast in the beginning myself, but it only takes a short while to get used to it, and I have found that it provides an unequaled level of control in first person shooters and flight sims alike. My only complaint is the miniscule excuse for a throttle control. On a monstrosity that big there is surely plenty of room to stick a respectably sized throttle, yet they tossed in this tiny little piece of plastic instead, almost as an afterthought. That one caveat aside, it is one of the finest gaming peripherals I have ever laid hands on, with its solid construction, lots of buttons, and unique design. Too bad they don't make them anymore. MadCatz has long since dropped out of the PC peripheral business to focus solely on the console gaming market, and thus the PantherXL has sadly dropped out of production. The controller hasn't even had official support since Windows 98, but luckily I managed to dig up some Windows 2000 drivers for it off the internet. While I now have it running flawlessly with Descent 3, several other titles I have tried will not even recognize the controller. I am uncertain whether this is an issue with the drivers I downloaded or the games I am trying to play with it, but either way, support for this controller is definitely dying out. And so yet another brilliant and unique gaming product fades away into history and memory.
With the overabundance of new games devoid of creativity or ingenuity, sometimes it's good to look back and remember the landmarks in one's gaming history and recall a time when game designs that are now cliche were once clever and new. While I know it is now virtually impossible to get your hands on a PantherXL, I would still recommend Descent 3 to anybody with a decent joystick of any kind, as there are still copies of the game floating around that can be had for under $15.