Descent retro review

Maybe I'm just not seeing it but I can't find a way to disable the in-game timer, it's a little distracting. Can someone help with this?

Hi, first time on this subreddit. I was blessed to still have the copy of the Descent II CDs I grew up with, and I'm glad Rebirth has an option to play the music directly off said CDs.

However, said music is so loud that I have trouble hearing the sound effects, and I can't turn it down via the Music Volume option in the main menu. Sacrilege, I know. Anyone know how I can fix this?

Continuation from the post Descent I Soundtrack - Arachno SoundFont

I have created and uploaded the DXA archive of Descent II MIDI in Arachno SoundFont.
And just like the Descent 1 pack, it's created to be used with D2X-Rebirth.
Link: D2X-ARACHNO.DXA

I met someone who told me at one time their job was being a competitive gamer and that they made a living doing so and that they competitively played the Descent games (this would have been back in the franchise's heyday) and later Quake some. Is there anyway I could find records or documents of this? How big were the competitive scenes of these games back in their time? I was considering maybe seeing if I could interview them for a podcast or future video if I could validate things.

Hey, all! I've been getting back into Descent 1 and 2 since the Descent 3 Source Code was announced. So far, I'm liking Rebirth more than Redux; especially when using a mouse to aim.

But, onto the main thing: I own the Descent 1 and 2: The Definitive Collection CD set. I remember D2X-XL had a specialized version of Mission Builder 2 with bug fixes and such. Is there such a level editor for Rebirth/Redux? If so, where can I find it? If there is none, is there a mission builder which will work with Rebirth/Redux? And if there is, is Rebirth or Redux the better choice for it?

Notes: Using the GOG versions of Descent 1, 2, and 3.

Thank you.

D1X-Rebirth

MS-DOS

Is it just me or you guys have noticed this difference too?
Also the MIDI playback seems off even if I extract the HMP files and play it on a MIDI player.
Only the MS-DOS version produces the correct MIDI playback.
If anyone has noticed this, is there a known fix?
(I know the proper fix is to rework the the MIDI engine in DXX-Rebirth, reported the issue: DXX-Rebirth Issue:800)

Need help with Descent 2 in DOSBox Staging

I have GOG’s copy of Descent 2, and despite looking up several tutorials I cannot get DOSBox Staging to load it up.

I tried creating a batch file, and mounting the game’s iso (GOG’s copy is called DESCENT_II.gog) but it doesn’t work. Perhaps DOSBox Staging doesn’t recognize GOG’s files?

Here’s my batch file:

@echo off

imgmount d H:\DOS\DESCENT_II.gog -t cdrom

d:

descent2.exe

c:

mount -u d

cls

When I try to mount the image, Staging says “the image must be on the host or local drive.” The executables are in GOG’s folder, but when I try to run them it says “Cannot find a CD-ROM drive”. Do I need to somehow convert GOG’s files for Staging to recognize it?

I’m brand new to DOSBox Staging, and am generally terrible with command lines, but I am trying to learn. Thanks for any and all help!

EDIT: Got it working! Thanks for everyone’s help!

I'm not a coder, so can't do this myself or I would.

Get this... someone should use the model of the Pyro from the D2 cutscenes, and import it into D3 as a playable ship!

Surely that's feasible? It would be a dream of mine to be able to fly it in-game, as for me it's the gold standard Pyro. What do you think? Is anyone up for the task?

this DXA patch lets you play D2 Maximum as the main mission. complete with all the cinematic cutscenes, briefings, escape sequences, etc. it even keeps track of your high score.

Counterstrike is still playable, but without all the cinematics and stuff.

*this patch only works for D2XR and its varients.

Download: https://www.mediafire.com/file/0bmw31p15vow921/D2XR-MAXIMUM.DXA/file

Install: just put the DXA file in your Descent2 folder.

https://preview.redd.it/a5v8mgtdlmkd1.jpg?width=960&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9237634dc6122040531fb65bdee49d87457c4cc4

Credits: Dan Wentz, Jeff250, ThugsRook, Ryusi117

I always loved the quality of the sythesis from Arachno SoundFont.
So I made a soundtrack pack for D1X-Rebirth with it.
https://www.mediafire.com/file/wc3kt4m39lbeq6s/D1X-ARACHNO.DXA/file

All you need to do is to put this file in the same folder as D1X-Rebirth.

And incase you are using the High Res pack from this Post:
https://www.reddit.com/r/descent/comments/1dn0c4g/d1xr_high_res/
Do not use the MIDI patch.

Ethereal Synth

Also great for Mothership, Starfinder and The Expanse

Hi all! Pudlez, the current maintainer of the DXX Retro Tracker very kindly shared a compilation of the tracker's archive earlier today. Game results are saved with filenames that are timestamped and have the host's handle and level. The HTML files themselves have way more info, but extracting complete datasets out of everything would be a pretty monumental task and involve reading 50000 files for all their info.

Anyway, I cooked up a couple graphs that give an interesting lens into D1/2 over the last decade. If you have an alias you'd like to look at a graph of hosting stats for, let me know.

There are plenty of other ways we could look at this, though most of them get pretty silly. :45 is the most common second that games were hosted on, with 912 games. The least common was :03, with just 804 games. Just one second later enjoys middling popularity, at 867. Perhaps interesting -- if a bit stalker-y -- is building activity profiles for players by when they host during a day, and what levels they host at different times (or even different seasons). Again, figuring out how to read and dump stats on all 50k+ HTML files could probably yield a ton of deeper information, but I'd hardly know where to begin.

Again, thanks to Pudlez for hosting and maintaining the tracker and dumping the archive, and for everyone who's helped contribute to it over the last 10 years! See you in the mines.

​

Games per year probably makes a lot of sense, with a big peak soon after the tracker went up and DCL started. Bear in mind 2024 isn't over yet, and the tracker started in August of 2014. still time for 2024 to grow over 2023!

Is there a seasonal cycle? Yes, but not what you'd expect! Looks like activity generally *drops* as months get colder, generally peaking in July and August. January's spike makes a lot of sense though. In contrast to the above, this data could be considered a near-complete decennial set, since the tracker's records go back to august of 2014, and it's August of 2024 as of this writing. I think the March/May/August numbers coincide with Roncli's Observatory cycle, but I don't have data to prove it -- I think we could probably count anything with 'obs' in the game title, but that involves reading 50k+ HTML files.

Is there a cycle within a month? Sorta!! Very strange, people don't like playing around the 13-16, and the end of the month. I have a hard time believing everyone's paychecks all line up on those days, but anything is possible!

This covers the top 50 most-played maps. Obviously, Logic takes the cake, but Lurk and Flea are really closely jockeying for position. Ascend might've peaked early -- tons of games on it, but it doesn't see all that much playtime these days, given 2nd and 3rd place are frequent anarchy contenders.

Let's look at who's playing. Bear in mind this is hosts, not participants, but with such a large dataset you can get a good sense of who's playing -- and probably who is hosting what. Lots of familiar names!

And we can dig into some cross-sections -- I love Swarthy's Ethylene, but do I host it a lot? You bet! ofc I get dragged into some absolute dog ass core levels and am a super fast host so I put up all kinds of stuff, especially when I was learning the game. mindtrix? fuzed? come on, really

While we're at it, let's look at a real gamer who hosts some banger levels: LEE. A good variety! Surprising: ugh is far and away top slot!

https://preview.redd.it/hve0v3s9x1ed1.png?width=1605&format=png&auto=webp&s=fb3a532095f507b78000821d44b898a5ef0778a6

I am coming from Freespace 1/2

So i recently downloaded Descent 1 on steam along with the source port d1x Rebirth and launched the game for the first time in about 30 years. Took a little bit of time just to make sure all the configuration/controls were set correctly. Game is running smoothly for the most part however im running into quite a frustrating issue. I know the save command is alt + F2 or F3 but i keep getting a message from geforce stating that ‘a supported game is required to use this feature’

Im running the game on a desktop pc straight through dosbox inside the d1x folder. Anyone know of a workaround for this issue, how to fix it or what my issue could be? desperately want to relive this game again!

Wire frame of a Droid would be cool

all tracks were ripped from real CDs and are in high quality 320kb OGG format.

they are all packed as DXA files for easy use with D1XR or D2XR and will play in the correct order.

Descent MacPlay

Descent PSX

Descent 2

Descent 2 MacPlay

Descent 2 Infinite Abyss

Descent 2 Vertigo

Descent 2 Maximum PSX

Forsaken PC

https://www.mediafire.com/folder/lykv9my7cym1x/Soundtracks

to install in D1XR or D2XR: just place whichever DXA pack you want into the games main directory. you can only have 1 soundtrack installed at a time tho. all files will work in either game.

credits: just me

this is an old high-poly D2 Pyro-GX model in .MAX format from wayyyyyy back.

supposedly it was used for the D2 cinematic cutsceens, but i cant verify that.

https://www.mediafire.com/file/1hlulmfy7vyag8s/PYRO-GX.max.zip/file

here is a large selection of pre-rendered MIDI soundtracks. all tracks are in high quality OGG format.

https://www.mediafire.com/folder/qrq8gge8fmtw6/Midi_Soundtracks

they are all packed as DXA files for use with D1XR or D2XR, but you can unpack them with winzip/winrar/7zip if you just want to listen to them.

includes: awe32, awe64, sc-55, sc-d70, ensoniq, & roland sound canvas. all rendered on a real SBLive soundcard, not an emulator.

to install in D1XR or D2XR: just place whichever DXA pack you want into the games main directory. you can only have 1 pack installed at a time tho.

credits: all packs rendered by me except for the SC-55 and SC-D70 packs.

these are the files needed for D1XR high res. high res meaning the same res as Descent2.

this includes:

high res cockpit, hud, fonts, backgrounds, & map... everything from the old MAC version for use in D1XR PC version.

download:
https://www.mediafire.com/file/ph9oemm9hb8thsd/D1XR-HR.zip/file

https://preview.redd.it/pj9kuvvdwe8d1.jpg?width=1920&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7ff37c116ed5975f91a45a8606ad68c05c83b2af

to install: just drop the files into your Descent folder.

*the midi patch is not needed if you use Redbook. the GFX and SFX patches are manditory.

credits: the D1XR forum members.

Hi all! I got D2X XL up and running and it works great. I am playing with a PS4 controller and took just the longest time getting everything mapped how I want. Problem is left/right/up/down is way too fast. Can I lower the sensitivity I don't see anything like that in in-game options?

I just listened to the soundtrack of Descent II and realized that the industrial metal was on point as the sountrack for Doom (2016). Just it was 20 years earlier!

As much as Mick Gordon has been hyped for the composing, Descent II has already been there.

I'd like to do what this guy here did, but my skills in programming are chiefly notable for their absence and I've historically always failed at compiling anything more complicated than 3D printer firmware. Indeed I went about a third of the way through this document before I stopped understanding... well, everything. And of course that guy didn't share his modded binaries.

It can't be just me and him who want to play like this, so I wonder if anyone else's ever recompiled Rebirth with uncapped ammo (ideally for the vulcan/gauss as well) and could share the binaries. I assume it wouldn't really be uncapped but just set to something stupid high like 999999.

As for why I want to play like this, I have a bit of an OCD thing and like to leave the levels completely empty of powerups, but I hate having to waste a shot just so I can pick up a box of ammo. I'd much rather just hoard it all and then go all Macross with the missiles when the urge strikes me.