Destiny Reviews
Flawed, yes. Fun? Certainly. A total failure? Not really.
Activision and Bungie want Destiny to be the next mega-franchise in gaming. But a great universe needs interesting characters and compelling narratives. More important, the heroes need a true calling. I didn't find one while playing this game.
Destiny is an ambitious and content-rich shooter that pushes the genre forward, but it lacks the quality storytelling that maker Bungie is known for.
Never has a $500-million product felt as if it was unabashedly, stupidly and distinctly forging its own weird path as Destiny. We think that's a good thing. You, however, might not
Destiny may not be a masterpiece, but it beats quite a few masterpieces where it really matters.
Destiny is a good game, but not a great one. You'll want to spend tens of hours with it, but you'll wish certain things could be better all the while.
Destiny is a great prologue, but it is still just a prologue. It's like telling somebody all about Middle Earth; the races, the lands, the set up for the story, but not telling them of Bilbo's adventures in The Hobbit or the fellowship's journey in The Lord of the Rings. While it is not the story, there is a certain pull to Destiny that keeps me coming back for more. Bungie have created something special that I think we will see continue to bloom in their persistent support of the game. Destiny is organic in presentation and execution, and like going on a hike on your favorite trail, is never quite the same each time you play. I am still having a ton of fun in this world and can see myself getting many more hours of fun in the weeks and months to come.
Destiny is the sort of game that will need to breathe before it's appreciated. The team has launched the first free raid upgrade yesterday, and they promise far more universe-expanding content in the immediate future. As it stands now, it feels like a strong foundation coupled with a thin story and some baffling missteps on the MMO aspects of the formula. When Destiny is a shooter, it's amazing, but when it aims to make that a social activity it falls on its face. Like Bungie's previous efforts, history will prove it to be the classic it aims to be.
Destiny, isn't just set in space, it is an allegory of space. It is beautiful and fascinating, but oh so cold and immense, and the past engulfs everything.
This game will be an absolute slam dunk for certain players, though others will find themselves severely disappointed if they're expecting it to light the gaming world on fire.
With its banal universe and flavorless style, Destiny is packed with content, but just ... well ... content. There's a great PvP mode, and the leveling system can be rewarding, but nonetheless this is a pretty, rock-solid, ultimately pedestrian product.
Destiny's faux-MMO approach to shooters is a shallow, dull experience that even hardcore fans may find difficult to stick with except to gaze at its worlds or engage in the entertaining competitive multiplayer.
Those craving a solid shooter to enjoy with friends and have no interest in taking on the Fallen alone should definitely give Destiny a shot.
Destiny is an engaging and immersive experience, albeit one that requires some serious legwork on the players half to get the most out of it. While I love it personally, I can't ignore the lack of direction given to players which robs them of all the game has to offer. At the same time, I fully recognize that this is something that is going to grow and evolve exponentially over its lifetime.
Based on my time with the game so far, I would certainly recommend making a date with Destiny.
If Destiny is judged on the game itself without falling victim to the unreachable expectations placed on it then it stands out as an amazing new IP. Never before has a game managed to merge separate genres quite so successfully and despite some of its flaws it does a lot of things right. Counting on the post launch support from Bungie to expand the game world and fine tune the experience I'd venture that most players will keep coming back with smiles on their faces for a long time to come.
Destiny's budget was out of this world, and it's there for all to see in the finished product. Bungie's smash hit isn't the gameplay revolution that some wanted, but its accessible RPG systems, sublime gunplay, and incredible presentation over all aspects of the release elevate it beyond some of the very best shooters on the market. And although its flaws keep it from becoming legend, group together with friends, and you'll partake in an intergalactic experience that's a beacon of light in an increasingly darkening genre.
Destiny . . . can hopefully do what other successful MMOs have done before and build on its foundation by adding new content. It doesn't have the drilled-down focus of a shooter nor the grand sense of exploration or community of a good MMO so it might be a hard sell for purists of both genres. If it manages to bring together the best elements of those two game types together, however, then it still has a chance of realizing its destiny as a game changer in the gaming space.