Editing Descent II (section)

== Reception ==
{{Video game reviews
| GR = 74% (PS)<ref name="GameRankings"/>
| MC = 89/100 (DOS)<ref name="Metacritic"/>
| CGR = 291/300 (DOS)<ref name=cgr/>
| CGW = {{rating|4|5}} (DOS)<ref name="CGWJun96"/>
| EGM = 5.25/10 (PS)<ref name=EGM93/>
| GameRev = B (MAC)<ref name=GameRev/>
| GP = 7.0/10 (PS)<ref name="Game Players"/>
| GSpot = 9.2/10 (DOS)<ref name="GSpot review"/><br />5.4/10 (PS)<ref name="DM GSpot review"/>
| IGN = 7.5/10 (PS)<ref name="IGN"/>
| ML = {{rating|3|4}} (MAC)<ref name="MacAddict"/>
| MW = 7.7/10 (MAC)<ref name="Macworld"/>
| NGen = {{rating|4|5}} (DOS, MAC)<ref name=NGen18/><ref name=NGen21/><br />{{rating|3|5}} (PS)<ref name=NGen29/>
| PCGUS = 88% (DOS)<ref name="PCGamer review"/>
| PCM = {{rating|4|4}} (DOS)<ref name="PCMag review"/>
| PCPP = 9/10 (DOS)<ref name=PCPP/>
| PCZone = 90% (DOS)<ref name=PCZone/>
| rev1 = ''Maximum''
| rev1Score = {{rating|5|5}} (DOS)<ref name=Max5/>
| rev2 = ''[[Strana Igr|GameLand]]''
| rev2Score = 6/10 (PS)<ref name=GameLand/>
| rev3 = ''[[PC Review]]''
| rev3Score = 8/10 (DOS)<ref name="PC Review"/>
| rev4 = ''Total Games Network''
| rev4Score = 93% (DOS)<ref name="TotalGames review"/>
}}

Upon release, ''Descent II'' received very positive reviews from video game critics.<ref name="Metacritic"/> Citing its replay value, ''[[GameSpot]]'' commented: "If you don't like ''Descent'' at least a little bit, make no mistake, there is something wrong with you."<ref name="GSpot review"/> ''[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]'' opined that a few sequels "can boast the improvements like those made on ''Descent II''", citing the SVGA graphics, the story sequences in full motion video, and the new items. It forgave the same simple mission formula because of the improvements.<ref name=NGen18/> ''[[Computer Gaming World]]'' compared the gameplay and enhancements of the sequel to those of ''[[Doom II]]'', but complained about the graininess of the textures, and the two magazines warned that players who did not care for the original might not care for the sequel either.<ref name=NGen21/><ref name="CGWJun96"/>

The addition of the Guide-Bot was well-received.{{efn|<ref name="TotalGames review"/><ref name=PCPP/><ref name="CNET"/><ref name=NGen21/><ref name="PCGamer review"/><ref name=cgr/><ref name="CGWJun96"/><ref name="GSpot review"/><ref name="MacAddict"/><ref name="Macworld"/><ref name="PCMag review"/><ref name=PCZone/><ref name=Max5/><ref name="CGM review"/>{{Sfn|PC Player|1996|p=87}}}} In a very positive review, ''[[PC Magazine]]'' considered it to be a valuable addition to the game "because the automap is just as confusing as it was in the original game".<ref name="PCMag review"/> Conversely, ''[[PC Review]]'' felt the Guide-Bot ran contrary to the disorienting character of the series and that the Guide-Bot diminished the need to use strategy, but did write that using the robot was optional.<ref name="PC Review"/> ''[[Computer Game Review]]'' liked the AI of the new cast of robots in general and other measures taken to prevent getting lost, such as plotting map positions with markers.<ref name=cgr/> The multiplayer mode was also widely lauded.{{efn|<ref name="TotalGames review"/>{{Sfn|PC Player|1996|p=90}}<ref name=NGen21/><ref name="PCGamer review"/><ref name=cgr/><ref name="CGWJun96"/><ref name="GSpot review"/><ref name="MacAddict"/><ref name="Macworld"/><ref name=PCZone/><ref name=Max5/><ref name="PC Review"/><ref name="CGM review"/>}} ''[[Computer Games Magazine]]'' called the Capture-the-Flag mode "intensely enjoyable", but expressed concerns about the lack of outdoor levels<ref name="CGM review"/> (these were added in the game's sequel, ''[[Descent 3]]'', released in 1999).<ref name="Descent3"/> Other critics differed in how they analyzed the level design. ''[[PC PowerPlay]]'' strongly praised the scenery and the combination of maneuvers, including [[circle-strafing|shooting while strafing and turning]], with the "adventurous" style of the levels.<ref name=PCPP/> While calling the levels innovative, ''[[PC Gamer]]'' found there to be too many "claustrophobic" and labyrinthine levels. The latter view was disputed by ''[[PC Zone]]'', who described the levels as being more "complex and overlapping" compared to the original's, which it described were focused on "winding tunnels, tiny chambers, huge caverns which lead to micro alleyways, long cramped corridors [etc.]". However, the two magazines agreed that the levels were too hard on easier difficulty settings. ''PC Zone'' also praised support for virtual reality.<ref name="PCGamer review"/><ref name=PCZone/> ''Maximum'' wrote that the levels retained the 3D sensations and "ingenious structural design", but asserted the game's difficulty was made less frustrating because of the abundance of shield orbs, the inclusion of powerful weapons, and the ability to transfer energy to shields.<ref name=Max5/> ''Total Games Network'' described the music when played on a stereo system as a "veritable sonic maelstrom."<ref name="TotalGames review"/>

Reviews for the Macintosh version iterated many critical points found in those for the DOS version. Making similar comments about this version as the ones about ''Descent II'' for DOS, ''Next Generation'' noted it as an unusual case of a Macintosh port releasing shortly after the DOS version.<ref name=NGen21/> ''[[GameRevolution]]'' enthusiastically lauded the graphics and the fluidity of the animations, its only criticism being the complexity of controlling the ship using only the keyboard and not a joystick. It thus highly recommended using one, and also suggested that a direction indicator would have helped beginners become adjusted to the controls.<ref name=GameRev/> ''[[Macworld]]'' judged the graphics to be "extremely detailed and well rendered", but noted that some smaller robots resembled [[origami]]. ''[[MacADDICT]]'' wrote that the use of animated textures by the levels' new settings brought about a realistic alien world. It also put forth criticisms specifically for the Macintosh version, such as the high system requirements for the [[Power Mac]] and freezes that can lead to corrupt player files, which can be prevented by turning off all of the nonessential [[Extension (Mac OS)|system extensions]]. The two aforementioned reviewers cautioned about the game's potential to induce [[motion sickness]], but ultimately recommended it.<ref name="MacAddict"/><ref name="Macworld"/>

The PlayStation version received rather mixed reviews. Most of the critics praised the artificial intelligence.{{efn|<ref name=GameFan/><ref name=NGen29/><ref name=EGM93/><ref name=GPro103/><ref name="IGN"/><ref name=GameLand/>}} The most negative reviews came from [[Glenn Rubenstein]] of ''GameSpot'' and Shawn Smith of ''[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]'', both of whom said they disliked the entire ''Descent'' series and its basic concept of 3D navigation in levels which have no clear "up" or "down",<ref name="DM GSpot review"/><ref name=EGM93/> as well as ''[[GameFan]]'', which lambasted the habitual inferiority of PlayStation ports of good PC games.<ref name=GameFan/> Smith and his three co-reviewers all criticized the choppy frame rate, though Crispin Boyer noted that the problem is largely eliminated when playing with the cockpit displays on. Both Boyer and Dan Hsu praised the additions over the original ''Descent'', such as the Guide-Bot and the new lighting effects.<ref name=EGM93/> Both ''GameFan'' and Dmitry Reznikov of ''[[Strana Igr|GameLand]]'' lauded all of the PC version's improvements included in the port, but the former reported an average rate of ten frames per second that would drop even lower with the cockpit displays disabled, and the latter believed that the frame rate drops cost an otherwise straight port of the PC version the opportunity to become a PlayStation hit.<ref name=GameFan/><ref name=GameLand/> Rubenstein disputed the criticisms of the frame rate, which he called smooth,<ref name="DM GSpot review"/> and ''[[GamePro]]'' said the frame rate only drops when the action is at its most intense. He praised the additions to the original ''Descent'' such as the FMV cutscenes, the Guide-Bot, and the Thief-Bot.<ref name=GPro103/> ''Next Generation'' was also pleased with these elements, summarizing that the game "features just enough improvements to the aging series to make it a welcome addition to the fold". However, it judged that the ''Descent'' series lacked the intensity and mood of competitors such as ''[[Doom (1993 video game)|Doom]]'' and ''[[Quake (video game)|Quake]]''.<ref name=NGen29/> These views were echoed by Roger Burchill of ''[[Ultra Game Players]]'', who felt that the ''Doom''-styled gameplay became dated, though he did welcome the link cable-based multiplayer mode.<ref name="Game Players"/>

''Descent II'' was a finalist for [[CNET Gamecenter]]'s 1996 "Best Action Game" award, which ultimately went to ''Quake''. The editors wrote that "''Descent II'' offered even more insane vertigo action than the original, plus an added bonus that set the tone for computer gaming in 1996--a multiplayer mode".<ref name=gamecenter1996>{{cite web| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970205013139/http://www.gamecenter.com/Features/Exclusives/Awards96/indexa.html|url=http://www.gamecenter.com:80/Features/Exclusives/Awards96/indexa.html|title=The Gamecenter Awards for 96|work=[[CNET Gamecenter]]|archive-date=February 5, 1997|url-status=dead|access-date=July 23, 2019}}</ref> In 1996, ''Computer Gaming World'' declared ''Descent II'' the 123rd-best computer game ever released.<ref name=cgw150>{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/Computer_Gaming_World_Issue_148|title=150 Best (and 50 Worst) Games of All Time|magazine=[[Computer Gaming World]]|date=November 1996|access-date=April 22, 2021|issue=148|page=78}}</ref> It was also ranked {{abbr|No.|Number}}&nbsp;46 on ''PC PowerPlay''{{'}}s list of the 50 games of the century, due to the game's "schizophrenically devised" maps, robots' artificial intelligence, and atmosphere whose intensity the magazine considered to be previously unparalleled.<ref name=PowerPlay-GotC>{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/PCPowerplay-044-2000-01|title=Game of the Century: Top 50 Games of All Time|magazine=[[PC PowerPlay]]|date=January 2000|access-date=December 31, 2020|issue=44|page=36}}</ref> Later in 2000, the same magazine ranked it No.&nbsp;90 on their list of the top 100 games of all time, calling it the best of the ''Descent'' series.<ref name=PowerPlay-Top100>{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/PCPowerplay-052-2000-09|title=The Top 100 Games of All Time|magazine=[[PC PowerPlay]]|date=September 2000|access-date=January 2, 2021|issue=52|page=53}}</ref>

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