Bungie’sDestiny 2might be best described as the most expensive patch in history. Depending on how you feel about the core elements of the franchise itself, this is either criticism or hopeful praise. It’s inevitable that aDestinysequel will be polarizing as far as overall reception. It made improvements, yet somehow managed to remainstagnantat the same time. Where exactly do you hold the bar when measuringDestiny 2, based purely on its own merits? Should it be compared to other games in this nascent trend toward “shared world” environments which is currently establishing a foothold on consoles? Tough questions, to be sure.
Setting aside all other considerations, ask yourself this: “What keeps me playing a game?” Are you addicted to the little shot of dopamine that explodes in your brain each time rare loot drops? Do you strive to create build after build in hopes of creating something truly devastating to make you king/queen of the online world? Or do you simply revel in the immersion of a world so massive and filled with secrets that you never want to see the same area twice?
Title:Destiny 2
Genre: Online-only First-Person Shooter - Action Role-Playing Game
Developed By: Bungie
Published By: Activision
Release Date: June 05, 2025
Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows
Price at time of review: $59.99 USD
Destiny 2Features
Destiny 2Review: Gameplay
When any sequel launches, most players expect a raft of changes, or at least additions to the overall gameplay structure.Destiny 2certainly didn’t need many changes to thegun combat, and if theCall of Dutyfranchise proved anything, it’s that sticking with a formula can be a virtue. Yet, what struck me aboutDestiny 2is just how little had been added to thegame worldin general. Tweaks which improve the inventory system, and a more forgivinglootgrind don’t really count as content. This is an expensive game to play, potentially costing upwards of$175 - $200for a year, depending on the pricing for the thirdDLC. Yet no newcharacterclasswas introduced, giving players only a third “subclass”, and no newenemiesplay a role in the game.
And while new gameenvironmentsare introduced, populating them with so much “been there, done that” has a way of eroding the fresh paint in a hurry. Much praise has been heaped onDestiny 2for it’s larger game world, but if you spend enough time repeatingactivities(yes, this is still a thing), it slowly becomes apparent that in terms of pixel-space, the size is an illusion created by an in-world map.Earth (EDZ)is indeed bigger than Old Russia, but the other areas are very comparable in size.
While many people are grumbling about changes to theCrucible PvP, notablyBungie’sdecision to move to a “4 v 4” format, my initial reaction has been positive overall. I’m not the greatest player, usually running at the bottom of the pack in terms of pure shooter score. But I’ve always thrived in games which give me a support role, and the new PvP makes it clear: “You coordinate with teammates, or you die.” Every time I spawn, I find a couple of teammates and stick to them like a lost dog. I’m able to strengthen the team just be staying with them when things get rough. And the fact that Bungie at least now gives you credit for assists in combat, allowing you to take shared credit for a kill if you do damage, is a great way of making players feel like they’re contributing even if they end up face down in the dirt much of the time. As with all things Bungie, we’ll see if they’re commitment to this new format sticks in the long run.
One thing I must also give Bungie credit for this time around isclansupport. Belonging to a clan and contributing to groupXPnot only makes you feel like you’re part of a group even though you may not enjoyraids(or be good enough to complete them). Rewards for group milestones, such as going flawless inTrialsor finishing a raid, are shared among members, so everyone benefits from a sampling of swag from high end content. Not to mention, if your clan is synced with a third party LFG site, you certainly have more access to people who might sherpa you through an activity. The new “guided games” form of matchmaking is still in flux, and may or may not work out in the future, but does provide options for people wishing to meet other clans. And this notion of clan sharing is probably a good thing, since endgame content likeNightfallsand raids has been made exponentially harder with the implementation of timers for completion. Being carried is less of an option now.
Destiny 2Review: Content
Destiny’s biggest flaw has always been a lack of content and a tendency to rely on repetitive activities instead.Destiny 2makes marginal improvements, yet still falls into a familiar rhythm. Within a span of 20 hours of gameplay, I had explored everything even remotely “quest” related, and had only raiding and Trials as endgame content. The speed at which I reached a respectable power level is testament to just how much Bungie streamlined the looting process, as well as proving that they want to ensure everyone has a way to grind outgearwhich will allow them access to raid-level content even if they still can’t find people to play it with
This at least means that if they find a group later down the road, they’ll have a high enough power to get them through. But the downside is, this also puts the focus squarely on low little content there is compared to other online “shared world” games. I can’t help thinking aboutElder Scrolls Onlinewhen I try to make sense ofDestinyas a franchise. It takes players approximately200+hours to play through all themain and side questsif they experience the story from the perspective of allthree factions. During that time, you needn’t see the sameenvironmentstwice. WhileZenimaxmay not have designed the greatestcombatin the world, there’s no second guessing their ability to design aworldand shovel dump trucks full of content into the laps of players. If Bungie could offer even a quarter of that amount of content,Destiny 2would be closer to the masterpiece everyone expected three years ago.
Bungiesimply needs to create more environments and fill them with moreNPCsif they have any desire hook players who seek immersion. The problem is, a large segment of their player base only cares about being in a clan and repeating comfortable activities. And I suspect the developers realize this. I tempered my expectations withDestiny 2, and now that I’ve reached a pinnacle of sorts, I set it aside and keep it as a game to fire up when I want to join a few friends forsocial gaming. It doesn’t have the sense of immersion you might find in aBethesdaorBiowaretitle, which is fine. Just be aware of this if you’re still curious about theDestiny 2changes.
And what about the story elements of the game? Long derided for giving the originalDestinya “rich, cinematic story” which was anything but, Bungie has an opportunity change this perception of their flagship franchise withDestiny 2. In case there is any doubt they are throwing down the gauntlet for both critics and fans, consider this: the new game has been structured in such a way that players must engage thestoryright away, and complete large chunks of it before moving on to more exploratory fare. Unlike manyRPG games, which allow players to follow a main quest and complete side quests simultaneously, Bungie drops you right into the action and doesn’t let up on the gas. You don’t even get full access to both social hubs until completing it, at which time many more activities, challenges, and milestones become available.
The main campaign takes around12 hoursto complete, but also requires a few pauses along the way to level up by visiting the EDZ and doing public events (thus far, the best way to power level) or partaking in “Adventures” for rare gear rewards. Adventures fill in a bit of back story along the way, but amount to little more than excuses to explore less apparent environments and defend your ghost. I was around level 8 when I finished one particular main mission, and needed to be level 11 for the next one. So I went with a couple of friends to grind some XP , and when I hit level 11 I moved on. Same thing happened a short time later, forcing me to grind to level 15, at which point you can complete the game. For those who enjoy the Crucible, you also have the option to push your levels up by doing PvP, though I’m not sure this would be as time-efficient asPublic Events.
Destiny 2Review: Story & Setting
The story this time is a more straight-forward one, using many dependable, albeit cliched, tropes to hold the narrative together. Adramatic openinghas clearly been crafted as an attention grabber, but loses steam fast. A tangible villain (Ghaul) is always a good way to create a focused story, since it presents a a central enemy for your hero. But make no mistake, the writing here isn’t going to win any Pulitzer Prizes, and I still maintain that storytelling will always be an ancillary part ofDestiny. Much of Ghaul’s banter comes off sounding like he’s a retro villain from theScooby-Doocartoons, and most of what unfolds is so predictable that spoiler alerts are likely unnecessary for anyone with half a brain.
It’s also important to recognize that Bungie uses post-game content to flesh out story threads with more expansive side stories (although, from a narrative perspective, this is what they call “anti-climactic”). Players are forced to complete the main story right away, then come to find more of the game world open to exploration, and more importantly, discovery of numerous truncated side quests leading to discovery of deeper back stories about people you meet. Knowing the history ofDestiny’s overall structure, I can only assume this new structure is Bungie’s way of giving players a way of “grinding”, while at the same time masking the repetition. It’s certainly an improvement over the previous iteration, but over the long term I’m sure some degree of fatigue will set in for many players.
Keep in mind also that plot is not always the defining aspect of a good story – characters are. For a movie-based example, look at Tarantino’sReservoir Dogs. This brisk, sparse story can be summed up in a few words: “Heist goes bad; criminal bicker.” But from the opening frames, dialogue-driven banter defines many of these characters in ways no plot could ever accomplish. InDestiny 2, characters are finally elevated from cardboard cut-outs to three dimensional people. The first game brought in a dream team of voice talent, including ‘Nathan Fillion’ and ‘Gina Torres’ fromFirefly, as well as ‘Lance Reddick’ and ‘Bill Nighy’, just to name the major players. I couldn’t believe how they squandered all that skill with empty dialogue.Destiny 2attempts to right the ship by humanizing (I use the term loosely, since not all characters are actually human) many of them through their vulnerabilities and hubris.
One disappointing aspect of the campaign is how completely barren the game world is as you traverse it. Not barren in the sense of it being bland or lifeless, but rather in terms of discovery. I gave up exploring little nooks and crannies after a few chapters, when it became obvious there is nothing to find. No chests or hidden points of interest, and no loot. It really is a linear amusement park ride, not necessarily on rails, but one that constantly pushes you forward.
While some players will doubtless enjoy the simplicity of it, I was really hoping to find more reasons to explore. And the baffling part is, this is so counterproductive when you see how stunning the world is. I give full credit to the artistic team for creating a sublime palette of eye candy; there’s a reason you keep reading comments about excellent art design…it really isthat mind blowing. Yet the campaign plays like a strike, giving players no reason to stop at look around. As a long time RPG player I can attest to just how much more detail you notice in a game world when you are compelled to look in every corner for loot.
There are signs that Bungie has some sense of what motivates an RPG player, evidenced by the fact thatCaydesells treasure maps to special caches which, while marked on the game map, still require you to search without using waypoints as a guide. This ensures you will see hidden spots you might have otherwise missed. Closer examination of objects in each world also prompts you to investigate, and your ghost will offer snippets of background on things as insignificant as a Fallen staff. And while some may look at it as little more than a distraction between shooting stuff, personally I enjoy those quiet moments in a game, discovering hidden lore and back stories.
I have no doubt most Destiny 2 players are simply fans of the gameplay, raids, and social platform (not to mention loot grind). But anyone who is curious whether Bungie made a stronger effort to build a narrative, the answer is yes, with the understanding that it has been structured in a way which runs askew to most narrative traditions. I’m inclined to give them leeway on this, since game stories must sometimes follow their own path in order to synchronize with a particular gameplay framework. Promises of rich, cinematic storytelling still seem unfulfilled, but the developer has made strides in at least providing a narrative foundation for everything you are tasked with doing in-game (and there are many). Much of the Destiny 2 story brought me back to Halo, both in theme and tone. And while the plot devices are overworn, and more than a bit over-the-top, they do create a sense of consistency and encourage more exploration in the post-game. This, at least, provides the potential to tie disparate story threads together with details found as rewards for immersing yourself in the game world as a whole. While this may solidify the existing player base, many who felt disappointed with the first game will probably feel that way again, just to a lesser degree.
