Destiny 2: Why It's Time for the Sequel
By Dalton Cooper 26 January 2016
Find out why one writer thinks that Bungie should quit releasing expansions and updates for the original Destiny, and instead focus their attention on Destiny 2.
As a big fan of Halo, and Bungie in general, I was extremely hyped for Destiny. I played the beta, loved it, and immediately went out to pre-order the game. I convinced my friends to pre-order it as well, and when the game finally launched, for us, it largely lived up to the hype.
My early days of playing Destiny with friends were some of the best experiences I’ve had in gaming. Leveling up one’s guardian was an engrossing journey, and earning that second sub class ability was extremely satisfying. I became a (self-described) master of using the Titan class, and enjoyed countless hours of fun playing co-op and battling other guardians in The Crucible. For awhile, Destiny was the only game disc that even sat in my console.
A few weeks following the game’s launch, however, Destiny began to wear thin. The end game for the original version of Destiny was a nightmare, requiring absurd amounts of grinding in order to gain better equipment, which was required to level up further. This wasn’t a big deal for some gamers, and Destiny‘s player base seemed to keep growing regardless of its mind-numbing end game, but for my group of friends, it killed our enthusiasm. Couple the heavy grinding with the lack of raid matchmaking, and we eventually gave up on Destiny altogether.
And so my guardian remained dormant for a number of months while I became busy with other, more satisfying gaming adventures. Then the first expansion, The Dark Below came out, and I thought it would rekindle my appreciation for Destiny. It didn’t. A few months later, The House of Wolves launched. Again, I was not impressed, and felt as though Bungie failed to address my biggest concerns with the game with its first two expansions.
Finally, The Taken King expansion for Destiny dropped, and for awhile, it felt like a brand new game. Destiny: The Taken King felt like what Destiny should have been from the get-go. The needlessly confusing, Light-based leveling system was ditched in favor of a traditional one, while at the same time not compromising the importance of gaining better gear. The story was given serious consideration, with a few epic cut-scenes and far more interesting moments than was on display in the core game. And while I’m still left wanting for raid matchmaking, The Taken King combined with the previous two expansions added enough content to the game to make it feel like a true rejuvenation of Destiny.
That being said, The Taken King failed to hold my attention as long as Destiny did with its original release. I think that was because, even though The Taken King added substantial content such as three new subclasses, it still was just an expansion for Destiny, as opposed to the next evolution of the experience. Furthermore, I found it difficult to convince my old Destiny gaming buddies to return to the game for The Taken King, as they expected it to be as disappointing as the prior two expansions, despite its critical acclaim.
I’ve had my fill of the original Destiny experience, and I’m ready for something completely new. I’m ready for something that another expansion can’t bring to the table. What I’m ready for is a full-fledged Destiny 2.
Considering the massive sales success of the original Destiny, Destiny 2 could be an unprecedented hit for Activision and Bungie. The game has the potential to be absolutely epic, fixing the issues that plagued the original Destiny while also drawing in lapsed players in a way that the expansions failed to do. Destiny 2 could deliver the compelling science-fiction story that fans of Bungie expected from the original, and it could take the core gameplay of the franchise to the next level.
Remember that the original Destiny is also a seventh-generation game. This means that it is also available for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, which I firmly believe held it back in many ways. Destiny 2 could be a true new-gen experience, and take full advantage of the power of the Xbox One and PS4 with improved visuals and new gameplay features not possible on last-generation hardware.
Destiny 2 could also provide a perfect opportunity for Bungie to bring PC gamers into the fold as well. Bungie has completely ignored the PC gaming market since the launch of the original Destiny, and giving them the first game would feel inadequate at this point. Bungie has hired a PC compatibility tester, which hints at the possibility of Destiny coming to the platform in some form, but here’s hoping it’s Destiny 2 instead.
Having Destiny 2 on PC would be nice, and it would also be interesting to see what other hardware Bungie could bring the experience to with the sequel. There’s plenty of exciting new technology on the horizon in the gaming industry that could enhance the Destiny 2 experience. This emerging tech includes virtual reality headsets such as the Oculus Rift and PlayStation VR, as well as Nintendo’s new console, the Nintendo NX.
Considering Bungie’s exclusivity deals with PlayStation, a PlayStation VR Destiny 2 seems the most realistic out of the aforementioned possibilities, but at the same time, Bungie may want to stop alienating gamers on other platforms with the sequel. By making DLC and content for the game available to users across all platforms, it could go a long way in improving not only the franchise’s image, but the image of its publishing company Activision as well.
Whatever form Destiny 2 takes, there is no denying that the game already has a massive built-in fan base. The original Destiny is still going strong, but, even so, I believe that many Destiny players are as ready for a new experience as I am. Meager updates throughout 2016 simply aren’t going to cut it anymore, and I think that if Bungie doesn’t move forward with Destiny 2, it runs the risk of people losing interest in the franchise.
Hopefully Destiny 2 is shown off at this year’s E3 event, or perhaps even sooner than that. The franchise has plenty of momentum behind it still, and it would be a shame to see it go to waste. Activision and Bungie should cash in now, and move forward with an innovative Destiny 2 that delivers the ultimate Destiny experience for veterans and newcomers alike. After all, Bungie reportedly has a 10 year plan for Destiny, and there is no way it can spend an entire decade on the original release.
Are you ready for Destiny 2? If so, what would you like to see from the game? Do you still find yourself playing the original Destiny on a regular basis, or have you moved on to other experiences? Leave us a comment below and give us your thoughts on the potential of Destiny 2.
Destiny is currently available for PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One.
