The first major boss of the first descendant: a disappointing encounter
With its first significant boss, Commander Greg, The First Descendant tries to create an unsettling environment but falls short of expectations. Greg falls short in terms of both name and combat techniques, so leaving a disappointing impression even though the game presents terrifying enemies like the Colossi and the Volgus commanders.
A Laughable Name for a Real Danger
Commander Greg's name seems out of place even with the bleak backdrop of the game. Although other characters— Ajax, Jayber, Shared, Blair, and even Bunny—have names that don't particularly weaken the story. But for a main antagonist especially, "Greg" simply does not arouse a feeling of fear or intimidation. It seems as a joke gone too far in the development process, a placeholder name, or a lost chance for a more powerful moniker. As the original Dragon's Dogma shows, even a small change like "Grigori" could have caused fear.
Commander Greg: Players' Easy Target
Meeting Commander Greg at the conclusion of the "Slumber Valley" mission turns out to be a disappointing event. For even a first boss, the fight itself is repetitious and devoid of any actual challenge. With basic movement, players can readily avoid Greg's most lethal attack—a precision bomb. Here we introduce the irritating mechanism of boss immunity resulting from floating drones, a mechanism that gets more and more tiresing in later boss battles.
The Possibility of an Increasing Difficult Fight
Changes that raise the suspense and challenge would have greatly enhanced the boss fight. Reducing the interval between Greg's order and strike execution, for example, would compel players to react faster and more deliberately. Greg could have added a move where he consumes a minion for health instead of depending just on drones, so adding another layer of intimidation and motivating aggressive play. These changes would have made the contact more interesting and dynamic.
Value of a Good First Impression
The first chance to create awe and challenge disappears when The First Descendant meets Commander Greg. The game's whole mood suffers from the poor name and simplicity of the fight. Greg leaves first impressions of disappointment even though the game offers other challenging bosses. A better tone for the demanding interactions of the game would have come from a more robust and interesting first meeting.
