Why ‘Destiny’ will change the game
Game developer Bungie’s newest release Destiny has already swept up crowds at gaming conventions, like E3 and PAX Prime, with an eyeball-smashing mix of glorious HD gameplay trailers and cut scene material worthy of an Academy Award.
But the anticipation and hype surrounding the launch of this post-apocalyptic tale of human survival against alien invaders is nothing compared to the game itself.
While the original Halo almost single-handedly assured the success of Microsoft’s first Xbox console (being an Xbox-only release), Destiny may prove to be the hottest IP the gaming world has seen in a long time.
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The story
Following several hundred years of technological advancement and space exploration of our solar system, humankind is now on the brink of extinction, with one remaining colony on earth, dwelling within the confines of a single city.
Players assume the role of a Guardian; beings empowered with the task of wiping out threats to humanity, and aiding the repopulation of the colonies lost to alien threats.
The story then takes us from the desolate no-man’s land of a post-apocalyptic earth, to our moon, Venus, Mars and beyond.
“Each location in the world of Destiny will also have a unique mystery to it, one that players will slowly unravel as they dig beneath the surface, sometimes literally.”
As a Guardian, players choose one of three races, along with a class. Boba Fett fans will likely opt to play a Human (bounty) ‘Hunter.’ High fantasy fans may prefer an Awoken ‘Warlock.’ Those keen on Warhammer 40,000 or Gears of War can suit up as an Exo ‘Titan.’
It may be a limited set, but each class has a distinct set of skills and abilities, that allow players to tackle the universe of Destiny in a unique manner. As a character progresses, a skills ‘tree’ is unlocked to customise abilities.
This is where it gets exciting from a multiplayer point of view. Choose a combination of race and class to augment your fellow teammates to assemble the ultimate fireteam and forge into the crucible of war that is online gaming, aptly named, Crucible.
This ‘pack’ approach to playing is essentially the heart of the game. As one of a pack of Guardians, you experience the game in a very different way to normal solo FPSs.
When you add three different playing modes – Story, Crucible and Explore – you get an idea how grand your gaming experience is going to be.
The style
Officially, Bungie are referring to Destiny as a “shared-world shooter,” avoiding the potential deep vein thrombosis stigmas attached to the words, ‘Massively Multiplayer Online,’ or MMO.
Essentially, though, the universe of Destiny is a sprawling always-on, open-world system, offering co-operative and competitive game modes, with players only able to interact with whomever the game has matched them.
But here’s where it gets interesting; Bungie have mysteriously hinted at the game’s open-world nature, commenting that the universe will be “alive” and changing on a 24-hour basis, with unpredicted events unfolding that even they had not planned.
Each location in the world of Destiny will also have a unique mystery to it, one that players will slowly unravel as they dig beneath the surface, sometimes literally.
With these locations all stitched together by the over-arching story, the amount of playing time is supposedly limitless.
The multiplayer
No FPS these days is complete without a beefy online multiplayer offering, and Destiny truly delivers on this front.
Competitive gaming includes a number of multiplayer types, like Skirmish, Clash, Combined Arms, Salvage, Control, Iron Banner, and Rumble, with more likely upon the launch of further DLC (download content).
Some game modes are strictly three-on-three, while others are full team-based assaults. Character choice and abilities come into play largely in the former, when the aforementioned ‘pack’ style of combat truly shines.
Needless to say, each mode is furious and frenetic, with large-scale battles turning on a dime, so choose your team carefully.
The look
With echoes of Halo, Mass Effect and even Knights of the Old Republic, the look and feel of Destiny will undoubtedly be a memorable gaming experience. Quite simply, it’s gorgeous.
Next-gen consoles (Xbox One and PS4) will run Destiny in 1080p resolution, so you can bet every starship launch, every skirmish on Mars and every alien platoon drop is breathtaking.
From the rich orchestral scoring – it just begs you to grab the nearest person by the shoulders and give them a rousing battle speech – to the sweeping landscapes and tortured battlegrounds of far-off planets, Destiny promises worlds of entertainment, glory and jaw-dropping multiplayer fun.
Destiny is available 9 September on Xbox 360, Xbox One, PS3 and PS4.