Does success in this game hinge on willpower or your wallet?
The First Descendant is a game that has received mixed impressions since it was first launched back in July 2, 2024. One of the most vocal criticisms of the game is the publisher Nexon’s approach to microtransactions in the looter shooter.
The Ultimate Bunny Bundle is a package deal featured in the in-game shop. For $70, players can access Ultimate Bunny and an apex predator cosmetic skin to equip.
The bundle’s main attraction is the Ultimate Bunny Descendant. Ultimate Descendants not only look aesthetically different, but also boast slightly increased stats across the board that make them more powerful than their original counterparts. The compromise is that these characters need to be levelled up individually and starting from zero.
Ultimate Bunny can be acquired for free by meeting the research requirements for Ultimate Bunny Enhanced Cells, Stabilizer, Spiral Catalyst, and a Descendant Code. Each component requires an array of materials to be gathered and must each be researched separately, taking up to 18 hours for each component, and an additional 26 hours for the main character.
Certain drops such as the Shape Stabilizers for the Descendant Code, found in Amorphous material, have a low drop rate of 3%. Players have mentioned that the displayed numerical odds may not be completely accurate, as some have experienced longer waiting times to obtain items.
Players have two choices: either invest close to 100 hours to acquire the Ultimate Descendant, or opt to spend $70 to bypass the grind.
The Premium Ultimate Bunny Bundle will require players to spend $100 to access, and additionally includes the Double Z Wing backpack, the Thunder and Lightning spawn animation, and two research materials.
Energy Activators increase the point limit of modules for Descendants, allowing for more to be equipped or to pair more higher value modules together. Modules are small perks that can be equipped to make your Descendant stronger to create certain builds and playstyles, for example increasing resistance to toxic damage.
In addition, the Premium Ultimate Bundle includes a Crystallisation Catalyst. These alter the socket type of your modules to one of five in the game. Players can choose from Almandine, Cerulean, Malachite, Rutile, and Xantic.
Changing socket types can provide more opportunities to upgrade them further, and selecting complementary socket types can half the cost of a single module.
Players have the opportunity to acquire these materials by completing the main campaign. Any additional Crystallization Catalysts can be acquired as a chance drop through completing missions, and Energy Activators can be obtained by researching them through Anais in Albion, or through The First Descendant’s battle pass.
The justification for pay-to-win depends entirely on how players define 'winning' in this game.
Obtaining these materials to make Descendants stronger does not put other players at a disadvantage. The game at this moment in time lacks any competitive player versus player mode, so any power gained will only come into effect when facing the Vulgus enemy threat.
The First Descendant is available now on PC via Steam, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S.
Comments