Destiny 2, Bungie’s much anticipated follow up to the original game from 2014, is finally here. Well, it has actually been here for a few weeks now. I, of course, am one of the many gamers hooked by the sequel, so here are some brief thoughts on my first 15 or so hours with the game.
The biggest aspect of the original title that kept me coming back for more over the last 3 years was just how mechanically sound Bungie’s shooter really is. Since the early days of Halo, it has been clear that they know exactly what they are doing with shooter mechanics. Destiny 2 is no exception. The Gunplay is fluid and easy to handle. For the seasoned shooter veterans, Destiny 2 is a dream from a gameplay standpoint. This will keep me going back to Destiny 2 just as any other Bungie game had before.
One of the biggest issues with the original game was the narrative. The story of Destiny was a forgettable, often convoluted and confusing one. Much of the lore was tucked away in Grimoire cards that could only be read outside of the game, making it so that an understanding of events was difficult to come by if you didn’t put in the effort to read on your computer. It’s refreshing to know that Bungie learned and threw together and competent narrative that is actually quite compelling and well written. The Vanguards take center stage, finally playing off of each other as they should in the first place. Cayde-6 is the standout, but when Nathan Fillion is the one recording the lines it’s kind of hard not to be. Dominus Ghaul is a competent villain. One strange thing is that is seems you are unable to replay the story after its end on the same character. This is one of several interesting and mildly offensive design choices.
After completing the story, I am left with loads of stuff still to play. Having played 4 of the 6 Strikes, a few Crucible (the PVP section) matches, and still having to grind to get Raid ready, I am still going to be spending plenty of time in the world of Destiny 2. A bulk of the game is still left to explore and it all looks exciting. With Destiny 2 being so much fun to play thanks to how mechanically sound it is, it will be no issue putting in the hours and having a blast while doing it.
Image taken in-game during the Inverted Spire strike
The Fan Men 