I would definitely suggest grabbing DXX-Rebirth: http://www.dxx-rebirth.com/

It is a source port, meaning it's NOT a mod. It's the same game with improved graphics and fixed bugs, but actual gameplay is almost exactly like the original.

I would sign up on the forums (the link's near the lower left of the homepage) and get the installer and the MiniDev. (I think they're both in the General section.) If you have any questions or need any help just post here or there and I or someone else will be more than happy to help! :)

I use the keyboard for movement and the mouse for rotation/firing.

W/S for accelerate/reverse, A/D strafes left/right, Q/E rotates the Z axis, R/F strafes up/down.

Mouse handles X and Y rotation, and firing.

Various other keys do the extra stuff like flares and bombs and rearview and the like, customized however. The default keybindings are almost unusuable unless you have a joystick with a lot of buttons on it.

Also I use D2X-XL, which is an alternative source port. I like it a lot, it adds complexity or extra features to the game if you want them, but also can just be a graphics upgrade if you so choose. I've also heard good things about Rebirth, but I've never used it.

Yes, know about this port. But I'm still playing it in DOSbox.
But its a nice port, I will start playing with it too.

@bevinator
It's not too hard playing only in the Keyboard.
But a joystic would be amazing

Hey, sorry for the double post, but I have a question

In Descent 2, there is a small robot that show where the keys and doors are, is there a way to order it to show where the hostages are ?

There is a way. I think you have to SHIFT F8 or something like that. Look at the readme file and it might say it in there.

I would suggest a joystick where the handle twists.

Found a topic about the GuideBot in the game manual, its SHIFT F4 .
It's from far the best thing in DESCENT 2 for me. because we dont get lost

You can always use the automap to find locations you've not been to before.

LoL I was using only the default Keyboard but after level 10 of D2 I had to change my conf.
Now i'm using mouse and w/s acelerate a/d for strafe and q/e up ; c/x down
It was the best that I could do to get more fluid controls =P

Badly...;o)

I have used keyboard + twisting joystick since day1. My config:

f/v: forward/backward
w/s: up/down
a/d: left/right
c: afterburn

Works really well for me!

I'm using a gamepad with the help of Xpadder to map all the usual keyboard controls for sliding and acceleration to the left hand stick, while using a mouse for aiming and firing with the right hand. I tried setting the mouse to the right stick as well, and while technically it worked fine, for some reason it was hell of confusing for my brain to process. :)

This feels more natural to me than using a keyboard. With the DXX port (and possibly the original game), all of the axis show up for mapping in game, so you get analog movement of the sticks and triggers, rather than the on/off state of tapping keys. Therefore you can inch forward slowly and carefully, or throw caution out the window and go full throttle.

I honestly think this is the best setup I've tried so far and recommend it. (I do also have a Logitech 3D joystick which would be similar, and have used it before, but for the moment I'm enjoying the extra precision of mouse aiming)

I've been playing with a Xbox controller so far I have only been working through D1 but I have opened up D2 to set the controls and mess around a bit.

L Stick u/d: throttle
L Stick l/r: Slide l/r
R Stick u/d: Pan u/d
R Stick l/r: pan l/r
L Trigger: Slide down
R Trigger: Slide up
L Bumper: secondary wep
R Bumper: Primary wep
A: Roll left
B: Roll right
X: drop mine
Y: Flare
Dpad U: auto map
Dpad D: rear view
Dpad L: toggle main wep
Dpad R toggle Secondary wep

Special for D2:

Click left stick: Afterburner
Click right stick: Lights
Back Button: Energy -> shield

I find that this keeps weapons and maneuverability all available at once if i use middle fingers for the triggers and index fingers for the weps.

I personally use the DXX or D2X Rebirth source ports and control the game with two joystick controllers on my PC. I find that to be the best way to control it since it gives you control of all the directions and gives the feel of actually flying the ship.