The Problem with Mainstream Appeal

Not yet, but I promise that I will talk to you all about when it will happen as soon as we nail that down. It will happen this summer, obviously, and then on September 8 Destiny 2 will be available on PS4 and Xbox One. We’ll solidify and announce the PC ship date when we have it ready.

It’s still too early to say Destiny 2 is going to be the dream game we all wanted when it was first announced in 2013, but based on what we played, Bungie is on the right track. We’re finally getting that cinematic, set piece filled campaign that was mysteriously missing. Strikes are going to put players in big environments and have them do more than just shoot bullet sponge enemies. There are new modes to play, worlds to see and characters to interact with. Destiny 2 may just be the game Destiny was always meant to be.

We’re not bringing back any of the old weapons and armor because all that stuff is turned to ash and dust by the Cabal. That’s one of the great things about Destiny 2. It enables us to create a brand-new tale with a fresh start for every single player. Whether you’re someone who looked at Destiny from afar, feeling like you couldn’t jump into the world or feeling like you’ve been left behind, or whether you’re a veteran player with 100% completion in your record book, you are all joining this new adventure on equal footing. You will be attacked in the same moment. You will all lose the things that your Guardian holds dear. You will all need to go out into the wild and rebuild from the ground up.

Hardcore Gamer went hands-on with the PS4 and PC versions of the upcoming game and if what we played is anything to go by, Bungie may have a real winner. While Destiny 2 may not change the minds of those opposed to loot shooter or MMO-lite mechanics, it will make those who were disappointed by the original game very happy. Destiny 2 armor overhaul 2 is bigger, better structured and packs a more powerful punch.
The campaign mission was the "Homecoming" mission from the gameplay reveal. It's the first mission of Destiny 2 and kicks things into action with a giant explosion. The Cabal’s Red Legion has launched a strike on the Last City in an attempt to steal the Traveler. Homecoming is the perfect opening mission for Destiny 2, illustrating just how much is changing between the new game and the old. There are epic moments, like helping Zavalla hold back waves of Cabal infantry, interactions with NPCs and actual set piece moments taking place.

At the moment, there’s probably no finer example of this than Destiny 2 . Among the many problems afflicting it, the most basic is probably the fact that, at its core, the game is a compromise. It’s a watered-down version of what made the original Destiny enjoyable, done for the sake of attracting a more casual audience. Annoying grind or not, Destiny 1 was more about the hunt than it was the acquisition. Rather, it might be better to say that the hunt was what made the acquisition fun. The hunt took commitment though. Gathering exotic, raid and perfectly-rolled gear took time. It took patience. It meant throwing oneself into the grind until they finally earned the prize they sought. The lack of content variety was certainly annoying, but the way Destiny was set up made the effort feel rewarding all the same. Not everyone enjoys this sort of game though. It’s not as easy to drop in and play as, say, Call of Duty or Halo 5. This is what Bungie "fixed" in Destiny 2. Now, the hunt is basically gone. Every piece of gear one can get is exactly the same as everyone else’s. "Rare" loot can be earned by literally doing nothing, exotics no longer feel special and character builds are practically nonexistent. It’s much easier to jump in as a new or casual player, but why should they bother? In its pursuit of the casual audience, Destiny 2 wound up sacrificing the very thing that made the original fun engage in: the actual hunt and effort required to obtain rare loot. Destiny 2 isn’t the only game to suffer in this way though. Just look at Fallout 4 or even Dead Space 3.

Destiny nailed its gameplay mechanics perfectly out of the gate and those carry beautifully into Destiny 2. Aiming and shooting feel fantastic, while platforming has been tightened up with Guardians now able to clamber over ledges. Jumping is still a little floaty, but the clambering should help players avoid some unnecessary deaths.

The RNG system is still here but has been streamlined to be more rewarding. Faction Leaders regularly dole out Legendary items after you turn in enough Faction currency to them, which can be found by participating in activities in the world, playing Crucible, breaking down old items and participating in Strikes. All-in-all, it’s not much of a chore to get to a high Power Level to take part in the late game activities. What has been negatively impacted in Destiny 2 is a player’s ability to customize their Guardian and earn certain rewards

Much of the gameplay changes lie under the hood. Primary, Special and Heavy weapon classifications have been replaced with Kinetic, Energy and Power weapon classifications. While many may lament the fact that Sniper Rifles, Fusion Rifles and Shotguns have been moved to the Power Weapon slot, the changes made to the classifications are ultimately smart. Players now have more viable weapons to choose from, making it easier to melt enemy shields with Energy Weapons, pound unshielded enemies with Kinectic Weaponry and better control crowds with Power Weapons. New gun types like the submachine gun and grenade launcher are thrown in to add more variety and are quite fun to use.