Innovating in the looter shooter space can be challenging, especially when there are only so many kinds of progression, monetization and gameplay systems proven to work. Nexon's The First Descendant seemingly forgoes much of that by copying many of its systems from other shooters, with a dash of patrol spaces from Destiny.

While its snappy gunplay and impressive visuals will impress from time to time, it stumbles in some more fundamental ways. The storytelling is uninteresting. The characters feel like cardboard cutouts who only serve to dispense dialogue and little else. The missions and activities range from repetitive and tired to insipid and uninspired.

The end game has some potential with its Colossus but ultimately falters due to the lack of matchmaking on Hard difficulty and abysmal drop rates. The First Descendant isn't the worst option when considering looter shooters, but it only highlights how much better its inspirations can be.