Bungie's Refined Shooter Finds New Light

The first three years of Destiny were good. Not great, not bad. Just good. The Taken King is undoubtedly the strongest expansion it received. Rise of Iron was fine, but not nearly as moving narratively or mechanically (I did appreciate swinging a giant battle axe into a SIVA corrupted Fallen's face though).

The lore, though rich, was weirdly hidden away online or in an app. Character motives weren't fully explored, and after ripping through the brief campaigns of the Dark Below, the House of Wolves, and Rise of Iron - much was left to be desired. I consider Taken King to be the exception. As an expansion, it completely reworked Destiny. It's campaign was exciting, Light Levels were adjusted, new sub-classes were introduced, and new multiplayer game modes were added. Rise of Iron, in my opinion, was a lackluster way to end Destiny's three year run. It's new lore, though amazing, wasn't enough to sustain my interest.

Destiny 2 expands and enhances what made Destiny good, and mended what made it a grinding bore. Destiny 2’s graphical changes are no doubt a result of abandoning last generation consoles. The lore is now embedded in the world and not in an app. The shooting feels just as great, if not amazing. The sound design is top notch and the music rivals some of the best work in game/cinematic scoring. All of the game elements were refined, but more importantly so was the narrative.

After I finished the campaign with my brother, we started discussing the philosophy of the game. Dominus Ghaul, though clearly evil, was not much different than me as a character. His interests were very much like my own, and my brother and I dissected why this was the case. The writers at Bungie really considered the meaningful archetypes that make a story great!

This effort paid off. The game left me with much to think about. I saw myself and my role in this universe in a new light. I began to ask, “Was I good guy? Are we right to pursue the Traveler’s gift this way? Was the Traveler just using me? What was the Speakers role in my relationship to the Traveler? What the heck did I see in the post-credits cinematic?!” I had so many questions about the story’s new direction. Where was I to go now? Will we be prepared against forthcoming threats?

Bungie listened to the fans. The story was highly engaging and I’m stoked to play what comes next.

There is a mission towards the end that felt like Halo’s “… And the Horse You Road in On” but on Michael Bays dose of morning cocaine. It was chillingly good, and the scale often left me speechless. I think this is the result of a campaign that never loses momentum. I was worried after playing the opening chapter that I had seen the best Destiny 2 had to offer and I was completely off base. The game continued to raise the stakes. The game pushed me to fight. It’s no mystery your light is taken away and to add to that stress, Destiny 2 instills the idea that it could be taken away forever. I felt like I was running against the clock, but at a pace Bungie expertly polished so that I could absorb my surroundings while I decimated my enemies in Cayde-6 approved, flashy style.

… and there’s so much more to do. Destiny 2, at least right now, has no shortage of “adventures.” These narratively driven patrols are very fun and I look forward finishing them all. I’ve seen little Legendary gear, and I’ve found an Exotic item or two. That tells me I’ve got loads to do. As for you: I recommend Destiny 2 to both newcomers and veterans. If you’re new, there’s obviously some plot points you’ll miss out on because Destiny 2 is like the Empire Strikes Back, but that’s okay! Now is the time to get involved because if the post credit scene is to be considered, there’s some big bads that need killing!

I wouldn’t have said it the first time, but I’ll say it now: you’re really missing out if you don’t play this game. I’d say it’s Bungie's best since Halo, and easily a contender for Game of the Year. I may have had my light stolen in game, but Destiny 2 is beacon for high quality shooters. Join the Guardians as we defend our planet, get loads of loot, and look stylish doing it.

#Destiny2 #Oppinion #Bungie