D2X-XL
D2X-XL Logo
Logo by MetalBeast

Current Version: 1.18.77
 

(Linux: 1.18.77, Mac OS X: 1.18.64, Data: 1.18.64)
 

Version History
 

     
    Introduction

    D2X-XL is an improved and modernized version of the classic 3D shooters Descent 1 and Descent 2. It uses OpenGL and offers many improvements over the original games, like high resolution textures, models, sounds and music, effects like smoke, lightning, and glow, multiplayer online matchmaking and gaming via the internet, bigger and better levels, and stereoscopic rendering including Oculus Rift support.

    D2X-XL allows you to play both Descent 1 and Descent 2 with a single program, using appropriate game elements and behaviour for each of the titles. Despite its enhancements, D2X-XL is 100% true to the original games, allowing you to turn off all extras and play Descent 1 and 2 just the way they looked back in the day when they were new.

    Due to its many enhancements, D2X-XL offers a greatly enhanced single player experience as well as improved and expanded multiplayer capabilities.

    Click here to learn more.

     
    Backwards Compatibility

    Although D2X-XL contains a lot of enhancements and new features, it is still fully backwards compatible to every other Descent 2 version and particularly to D2_Win98 and d2_3dfx (which constitute the reference for every other D2 version). As many fixes simply restore features of the original Descent 2 that were missing in D2X (like availability of all cockpit views, or working mouse steering), it is even closer to them than D2X itself. Keeping full backwards compatibility is my concern, and where I break it, it happens accidentally and will be fixed as soon as I notice it, or get notified of it.

    In multiplayer games, all game-relevant features of D2X-XL (e.g. mouselook, dual missile launch, or the cockpit window 'radar') are completely turned off if the game host does not use D2X-XL. If the game host uses D2X-XL, he has full control over these features and can turn them on or off at his free disposal.

     
    Bug Fixes And Improvements

    D2X-XL fixes virtually all bugs found in D2X 0.2.6 and adds a plethora of new features. Find a pretty complete list here.