Topic: Annual self-skill test -- my results

[Kaiaatzl]

I just completed my Descent-skills test that I do every January (started last year).  In this test I play through a small single-player campaign on a difficulty level much higher than my normal level and see how far I get.  I don't allow myself to save/reload for retries, I only save when I have to leave to take a break, and if I quit the game I must save no matter what my shield/energy/weapons situation.

This year was Descent Maximum on Ace again.  I got to level 24 before being beaten by the boss (with many deaths on the way).  This is 20 levels up from last year when I was crushed by the Red Fatty boss on level 4.  So I can say I've improved .

A more detailed report of where I had trouble follows:

I died once or twice on level 4 at the missiles of the Red Fatty boss, but then I managed to beat him by shooting through the doors from outside the room.

I died 5 times on the second lame pun map -- level 15.  Mostly it was the reactor that killed me, it is in the worst place in that mine.  I didn't die at all on that mine until after I had the red key.

I lost over half my lives on level 16 (guess who I lost them all to ).  That and I didn't make it to the exit in time.

After level 16 I was able to get mostly refilled on weapons and ammo and it went smoothly until level 21 where I was ambushed to death by a green spider bot just after I got the red key.

I died once more on level 23.

I lost the rest of my lives on level 24... one to a boarshed, and the rest to the Alien 2 boss.  Game Over.
But I still declare victory over my skill level from last year.

Next year will be Project Mandrill on Hotshot.

[Foil]

Nice!

I do the same thing (no save/reloads unless I'm taking a break, straight through, see how far I get) every time I play D1 or D2. 

[VANGUARD]

I do a sort of a skill test with Call of Duty. Sorry, not Descent related. But yeah, I'll try veteran on basically all call of Duty games.

[Kaiaatzl]

Did I mention there are no energy-to-shield converters after level 16 in Descent Maximum?
Considering how much I use it, it was pretty annoying not having it for the final 2 planets.

[-<WillyP>-]

Ha, we should come up with a standard test and post results.

[TechPro]

Hmmm.... ideas are brewing....   wish I had more time.

[VANGUARD]

if anything, I can only do Descent 3

[Matthew]

if anything, I can only do Descent 3

There are always ways...

Personally I think most of D3 is far and away easier than D1/2.

[Kaiaatzl]

Except level 4.
What a difficulty jump - for one area and then it's back to normal.

[Shroudeye]

Come on... Its easy when you get their pattern!

[Kaiaatzl]

Do we know if they move faster at higher difficulties?

I always suspected...

[NUMBERZero]

They move a hellofalot faster at higher difficulties. The time in between trains is shortened also. I think that it makes it impossible for a Magnum to get through on insane.

[Kaiaatzl]

I just use phoenix for that level now that I've unlocked it.

[Alieo]

I think a good standard would be how many lives does it take to get through D1 level 7 on insane!

[Scyphi]

Level fourteen of D3 was always getting me. Usually it's those pesky sharks that are getting me, ganging up on me and cornering me...if only they were bigger, and would stay put long enough for me to shoot them.

Of course, level fifteen of D3 can also be troublesome, but it's not so bad because you don't have to go everywhere in the level, you can just get by with covering the basics to get to the Hellion at the end.