Cell Sword

A very respectable and somewhat surreal 6DoF. Not as large or complex as Descent (I finished in under 2 hours on hard mode), but worth a look. Note that this does have first-person mode and those twisty Descent-like corridors, it's just not really apparent in the trailer. There's no automap, but levels are small enough that you generally shouldn't need one. Even though they're not large, I appreciate that they are hand-crafted rather than procedurally generated. There are some blemishes: my main complaints are occasionally glitchy or unclear graphics, only one weapon in your loadout at a time, and some large open rooms with many small enemies that take a while to clear. You will probably want to turn off the depth of field blur, as it is a pretty strong effect.

The story feels like it’s straight out of an '80s sci-fi film. In a future where tiny drone-like organisms called “Rust” invade human bodies and destroy organs, powerful corporations turn to an unlikely solution. With video games now obsolete, gamers pilot miniature ships known as Scythes through the human body to combat the Rust. The game unfolds over several acts, encompassing 13 short missions. Storytelling is minimal, delivered only through brief messages before each mission. Multiple difficulty levels let you tailor the experience to your skill, including a casual mode where enemies are less threatening. However, progressing to the next act requires earning medals, which are awarded based on speed and performance, so you may need to replay missions to meet the requirement. Gameplay centers on navigating organic environments, veins, chambers, and compartments, lasting Rust enemies and racing to the exit. If you’ve played “six degrees of freedom” shooters, the movement will feel familiar: you can move in all directions and freely rotate your ship, similar to a first-person shooter with full spatial freedom. Thankfully, the shooting mechanics are modern and fluid, best controlled with a mouse for precision. Aside from four quick-access buttons for switching weapons picked up mid-mission, controls are streamlined and easy to grasp. Resource management adds some depth. You'll need to collect three types of supplies to replenish your ship’s energy, ammo, and shields. Movement drains energy gradually, and while resources are generally abundant, wasting time can put you at risk. As you collect new gear, whether weapons, batteries, or other upgrades, they become available in the pre-mission loadout screen. You can customize your ship with weapons, shields, batteries, and ammo, plus three mod slots that enhance specific stats like shield efficiency or projectile damage. One drawback is the lack of navigational aids. There’s no map, radar, or clear indicators of your progress through a stage, making it easy to get lost or backtrack through already-cleared areas. You also don’t know how many enemies remain or how much gear is still hidden. A ping system exists, but it only shows the direction of enemies or the exit through walls, not how to reach them. On the plus side, each mission takes place in a different part of the human body, with varied and often surreal environments. You’ll encounter friendly drones bearing corporate logos, viruses, worms, bizarre ad-covered boxes, and cryptic wall carvings that hint at a deeper mystery. After each mission, you’re treated to a humorous summary of the patient’s outcome.

Once you've started entering patients, you may not want to ever come out!

I am well used to indy games and a fan of retro title. Cell Sword has awful depth of field and playability issues - cant see what I am doing ( graphic card up to date etc). Real shame - this appealed just looking at it.