Destiny 2 Beta: First Impressions

Where does this leave Leviathan then? Answer: Not in a good place. Out of all Destiny raids this might be the least fun yet. With plans of still completing it, now having joined a Clan I feel confident in, especially when it comes to gaming positivity I know it can be done. What sucks is the time, emotional energy and all feelings that get rolled into trying to complete this raid. Once I do finish it, that’s it, it will never be attempted again, because it’s just not worth it. Bungie stated they wanted to create a raid that would draw more people in to the ultimate end game content, Leviathan is anything but inviting, even if Calaus is literally inviting you on to his opulent ship. It's hands down the most deterring raid every created for bolt charge Destiny 2. Which is why Bungie's messaging on what this raid was going to be could have been a bit clearer. Why say it’s going to be inviting when also saying it’s going to be the most challenging raid ever? That’s just an oxymoron. Who is this raid made for? The ultimate Guardians (streamers) that Bungie knows will complete it or the players they say they want to join in the end game content? The messaging is mixed and muddled with leaving little hope for the future of end game content.

(Mild spoilers for the first mission of the game ahead) The Beta begins by throwing you into the first mission of the game, called Homecoming. A short cinematic shows your character and his or her ghost flying towards a massive cloud. They look at one another confused, mutually deciding to fly through the smoke to see what's going on on the other side. When they emerge, the City is being bombarded by the Red Legion of the Cabal, led by Ghaul, the main baddie of Destiny 2's campaign. When you drop into gameplay for the first time, it's on the edge of the Tower and you fight your way to the top. You're equipped with a good amount of weapons, including assault rifles, sub machine guns, hand cannons and a few Power weapons, as well as your new class abilities, which we'll talk about later.

Taking place on Nessus, one of the two new planets coming to Destiny 2, the strike in the Beta is called The Inverted Spire and focuses on a Vex mind that has been awoken by the Cabal. Nessus is a neat world that kind of combines the aesthetics of the Vex and the Cabal since it was originally a machine world of the Vex's that has been invaded by the Cabal. The planet itself also has a new look to it, with a muted gray landscape, but one with lush red trees everywhere. It's a really cool look that brings a new feel to the game.

Having gotten fed up with trying to find an appropriate group to run with from Destinylfg.net, it was time to turn to the new feature that seemed like it would deliver better results: the new Guided Games. Guided Games makes players jump through some hoops with good reason trying to create the most toxic free environment for play that it can, it sort-of works. First, Guardians will spend a token to get into GG, then players agree to the Guardian Oath stating they will be friendly, helpful and dedicate the time. Then if you’re a seeker, which I was, it gives an extra-long waiting time to make sure that the player is in it to win it. My first group I ended up waiting over an hour for. After some general party chat confusion and actually doing the banner part without talking in the fireteam I had grouped with, we finally figured it out and we could talk. This did not help either.

We liked the way the Hunter, Titan and Warlock complement each other. In terms of the lore, these are all disciplines that took centuries to discover and master. At this moment in time, the theme is about losing those abilities and rediscovering them. It’s about mastering them in some new and exciting ways.

Once upon a time, Bungie justified microtransactions by saying that all future, non-major expansions would be free. They held that promise throughout the lifespan of The Taken King and Rise of Iron, but have since broken it. Not only do we have to pay for expansions again, but most of the loot that could previously be earned during Destiny’s lifecycle is also all locked behind microtransactions. Every ship, sparrow, cool shader, ornament, and emote can’t be obtained by completing challenges in-game, but only by opening Loot Boxes. Considering that Bungie was just caught handicapping XP gains to encourage real-money purchases, this move feels entirely wrong.

With the Destiny 2 Beta in full swing now, there's a lot to unpack. Many changes have been made from the first game, but much will be recognizable. While the Beta shouldn't be taken as a done deal -- they could still change things -- it's good to talk about the balance the team at Bungie has struck between the new and the old. And with many people unable to play the Beta, as access is limited to those with a pre-order, hopefully this preview will give you a good feel for where the game is at right now. The Beta comes with the first story mission, a strike, and two multiplayer game modes, and all have changes that we'll get into right now.