Destiny. One of the most ambitious video games of the year. Some might even say longer than that. A few might even say...the most ambitious games ever. I have seen discussions swing from both ends of the spectrum - some praising it for being creative and innovative...and others criticizing it for being a repetitive bore. I understand we're all different. We have different likes and dislikes...different interests. What I find is the stark contrast between those who truly love the game and its harshest critics who don't.
Admittedly, I was a little late to join the Destiny universe. Hundreds of thousands of gamers had gone on raids and even reached the level cap before I joined the fray. It couldn't have been what...two weeks after the game released when I finally logged in and started discovering all about the Traveler, the Guardians, and the Fallen. I was surprised many of my friends and other gamers I talked to were already abandoning ship. They played the game and enjoyed the game...but whatever that magical element is that mesmerizes us into sinking hours upon hours into a game, it must've been missing (for them).
Leaving what was to be the biggest game of the year after only two or three weeks?
Inconceivable!
But then I read Bungie's weekly update today with the following numbers:
Those are some impressive numbers. Clearly there are a lot of gamers enjoying the game. Not since the great conflict of 2012 over the Mass Effect 3 ending have I seen gamers so split on their views of a particular game. Oh sure, we've kind of grown used to the community being divided over Call of Duty - but Destiny was supposed to be different. Like...the chosen one. A brand new IP from a proven studio that brought us the legendary Halo - maybe I was being naïve thinking everyone would be in love with the game (even if they got tired of it and moved on).
Personally I like Destiny. I haven't invested a lot of time in it but I have played it enough to recognize its potential. It's a beautiful game with plenty to offer. Sure, it might not be the best game to try if you're looking for a short game to play and minimal commitment. It definitely seems like a game you get more out of the more you invest in it. I can understand why people might get tired of it and move on...but to completely disregard the game altogether by not acknowledging anything it does achieve...I dunno, it has to have some redeeming qualities that are worthwhile. Most games do...
I decided to look at what Bungie says about the game on their website and how I think the game lives up to these data points.
A BOLD NEW WORLD
Embark on an epic action adventure with rich cinematic storytelling where you unravel the mysteries of our universe and reclaim what we lost at the fall of our Golden Age.
My thoughts: From what I've heard and gamers I've talked to, this is one of the elements most seem critical of - the story falls kind of flat and is sort of lackluster. Honestly, I haven't played enough of it to say one way or the other. As a huge fan of the science fiction genre and a diehard Halo fanboy, I'm always up for a good science fiction story...and I've definitely been interested enough in Destiny's campaign to want to keep playing it. Truth be told, the story is one of the easiest elements for me to overlook and be less critical of. Maybe it's the writer in me or maybe it's just because I remember a time when games didn't really have stories so everything seems better than nothing.
MORE WAYS TO PLAY
The next evolution of the first-person action genre that provides an unprecedented combination of storytelling, cooperative, competitive, and public gameplay, and personal activities that are all seamlessly woven into an expansive, persistent online world. Venture out alone or join up with friends. The choice is yours.
My thoughts: This definitely seems like one of the brightest elements of Destiny. It seems to offer players a variety of different modes all "seamlessly woven into an expansive, persistent online world". I am fascinated every time I am planetside...off exploring or doing my own thing...and I see other real players off doing their own thing. Wow. That is so cool. On one of my patrols I was fighting this bad guy and getting my butt kicked when a higher level good guy stopped what he was doing, fired a few shots off to weaken the guy I was shooting...and then he was gone. Just seeing and watching and following other players around but not really having anything to do with what they're doing...is awesome. Yes, there are other games that do this...especially on the PC...but Destiny does it too. And does it very well. I love having the different modes and using my one character to play them all.
CREATE YOUR LEGEND
Personalize and upgrade every aspect of how you look and fight with a nearly limitless combination of armor, weapons, and visual customizations. Take your upgraded character into every mode, including campaign, cooperative, social, public, and competitive multiplayer.
My thoughts: This feature is a double-edged sword. I like the options and the ability to customize and configure my character however I want...with the option of picking unique weapons and equipment. Destiny doesn't reinvent the wheel here...it seemed an awful lot like Borderlands to me. But that's not to say they didn't do a great job with it and add their own flair to it. I think this is one reason I like games like Titanfall and the first Modern Warfare. You only have a handful of weapons and a few customizations. That's plenty for me. Again, I do like the options but it's not the best feature Destiny has to offer.
In the end, I think Destiny is an amazing game. The fact I haven't played it a lot is no fault of the game. It's like I'm almost afraid to devote as much time as I want to it because I know I won't play anything else. It concerns me so many people already seem to be leaving it because when I do start playing it again more my fear is the only people playing it will be the ones on the far side of the spectrum who are completely devoted to it and have invested hundreds of hours into it. Hopefully there will still be plenty of people like me who haven't played it a lot but recognize what it has to offer.
I know many of you are or have played it. I would love to hear what you think about it, whether you're still playing and what you think Destiny's future holds.
Cheers.
