270°

Destiny's Dark Below expansion punishes the game's most important players

Polygon: Destiny could be defended in the past.

When others deemed its loot systems broken, I came up with justifications for them. When others declared the game mediocre, I explained why it was one of my favorite games of the year. I committed to this game, and mastered its arcane and counterintuitive systems.

Bungie has punished everyone who trusted them or invested time into progressing a Guardian with Destiny: The Dark Below, and vindicated everyone who agreed with the original 6-out-of-10 review scores.

UnHoly_One3412d ago

This pretty much sums up why Destiny is the only game I've ever deleted from either of my new consoles.

And why I'll never consider buying Destiny 2.

RenegadeRocks3412d ago

Me too ! Don't get the low reviews. Its GOTY no doubt !

averagejoe263412d ago

Weird because the article makes no sense.

kneon3412d ago

It makes perfect sense, did you even bother to read it?

I stopped playing last week after more than 300hrs. It's just gotten progressively worse with each update. It seems that they didn't really think things through to start with and now they keep applying bandaid solutions to try to fix things, but instead they make it worse.

Conzul3412d ago (Edited 3412d ago )

The article is perfectly spot on.

I sort of knew/felt all of this after months of playing Destiny. But then my clanmate showed me this article this morning and it all hit home.

My 3 lvl 30 characters, my Mythoclast, my Raid Gear, my 45 Raids, my Flawless Raid....they are all made meaningless with just one expansion. I promptly finished the Nightfalls and then quit.

I will not play Destiny again unless all of these grievances are fixed, and soon. Or Destiny 2 for that matter. It's disorienting, really. I put so much time in, and now anyone can get to 31 in a few hours without doing a single Raid. The new Raid gear is atrociously slow to upgrade, and the very worst bit?

Everything gets antiquated AGAIN at the next expansion.
WHAT IS THE POINT OF PLAYING?

juggulator3412d ago (Edited 3412d ago )

It partially makes sense. Im thinking he's basing the article on if u dont have the dark below. However he states that radiant mats only drop from the new crota raid, not true though, eris rank 4 and u can buy them from her.

The expansion pass was a forboding sign that if u were still gonna be playing destiny in december that u should already have the expansion pass. The description says "new story missions" and for what its worth if u were interested in getting more from destiny's bare-bones story then u were considering getting it or at least i did. The
description also advised that there would be new strikes which
should be a no brainer that they'll be in the weekly heroic and
nightfall rotation, at least they got it out of the way though. It does suck that they're basically forcing u to buy the dlc but of all the games ive played destiny is the one game that all but screamed "buy the dlc or you'll miss out".

I will say this though, the general concensus is that destiny is an MMOFPS however its also free-to-play and it's a pretty unique game, not saying its one of a kind but its the only game that trying to keep its players shooting things via methods other than multiplayer. I know calling it free-to-play contradicts my previous statement but if u log into destiny right now u can do weekly and nightfall without having to have the dlc and you can buy the new vendor gear even if u dont have the dlc. The armor can be fully upgraded with regular ascendant mats as well and that'll get u to LL31.

I don't love destiny to death but i respect it's efforts and have seen the scope of its potential when Bugie can do things like queens wrath with the drop of a patch. And now that they've shown what they're doing with paid dlc, its all but essential that they bring some more free content similar to queens wrath. I'm sure they will but I'll be the first to admit that destiny is extremely low on content, for me its the back-to-back dust palace in strike playlist that gets me dumbfounded, so the slow rollout of new content is arcane. So when i look at a change like the reset on upgrading exotics all i can say is, at least it's something to do.

IGiveHugs2NakedWomen3412d ago (Edited 3412d ago )

The Destiny hate by COD loving Xbox One fanboys continues...

I enjoyed Destiny for what it was not for what I wished it would be.

kstap333412d ago

Destiny simply isn't very good. I know 6 people that got the game, and only 1 continues to play it. I made it to level 8 before I realized just how poorly designed it was. I was looking forward to it since the initial announcement.

3412d ago
JeffGUNZ3412d ago

@ Kstap33. Level 8? That's like 30 minutes of playing it haha. Give me a break. Tell me a better FPS out there mechanics wise? The endgame is the bread and butter. You played about 1/10 of the game and make a blanket statement like that.

IGiveHugs2NakedWomen3412d ago (Edited 3412d ago )

@kstap33

Why are you and others so intent on trying to convince other people that Destiny is a terrible game? Dudebro, run/gun multiplayer shooter players are so upset, because Bungie jumped ship and didn't make another amazing Halo game. Destiny is not Halo or COD. Destiny is a shooter with RPG/MMO mechanics. Go find something else to play and get over it.

cell9893412d ago

@kstap33 lol Im sorry but if you played all the way to level 8 and you found it to be lame. Well then you only played 5% of the total game haha. You have no idea what you missed out on. Even reaching level 20 is nothing, that can be done in about 6 hrs play time. No the fun begins when you unlock the vanguard playlists, the daily, weekly heroic and nightfall missions. When you unlock legendary and exotic armor and weapons. WHEN YOU PLAY THE RAIDS. Either give it a full try or dont judge it please, forget about the story, the story sucks Ill admit that

gangsta_red3412d ago

It's not just the Xbox fans who hate this game it's a lot of Sony fans and fanboys too.

Stop trying to claim this game as a Sony exclusive.

People have real gripes and issues with this game.

"Why are you and others so intent on trying to convince other people that Destiny is a terrible game?"

Why are you so intent on trying to convince people who don't like it that they should?

People have different opinions and may not like what you enjoy. How about you just list what you love about the game and move on. Instead of attacking people and calling them Xbox fanboys.

IGiveHugs2NakedWomen3412d ago (Edited 3412d ago )

@gangsta_red

"Stop trying to claim this game as a Sony exclusive."

I'm not the person writing articles and making endless posts discussing why I dislike or like something nor have I ever tried to say that Destiny is an exclusive.?
http://reactiongifs.me/wp-c...

When I voice my "opinion" I just explain why I like or don't like something and leave it at that. I don't try to lump in an entire community of players in with my comments. You claim that some people have real issues with Destiny, even though I have yet to see one logical and well thought out explanation as to why someone doesn't like Destiny other than "Just Because." Now if you'd like to discuss that matter by posting something with some substance, i'm more than willing to read it.

As for calling you and others Xbox fanboys, all I have to do is browse through your comment history to have all the justification I need for calling you a Xbox fanboy. Am I a PS4 fanboy? Perhaps, but I don't defend Sony no matter what, unlike you.

InTheLab3412d ago

I don't own an X1 but do have a ps4 and Destiny is trash. The only reason I play it is because CoD is even worse.

gangsta_red3411d ago

The reason you don't see any legit issues with the game or anyone's opinion is because you are to busy attacking anyone that does to even see their points.

Hilarious, as you post questions as to why are people so negative towards a game that you personally like.

Again, not everyone is going to like what you like, so stop trying to convince them that it's a good game.
Your failed argument works both ways, and it's strange that you can't even fathom that.

"Perhaps, but I don't defend Sony no matter what, unlike you."

Really?

http://n4g.com/news/1640151...

http://n4g.com/news/1640402...

http://n4g.com/news/1640497...

http://n4g.com/news/1639948...

http://n4g.com/news/1639972...

One very quick stroll through YOUR COMMENT HISTORY reveals all you DO is defend Sony and troll Xbox. Again, you point fingers at others for doing the exact same thing you do, even more so too.

+ Show (6) more repliesLast reply 3411d ago
MysticStrummer3412d ago

Whiners are the game's most important players apparently.

Conzul3412d ago

I'm surprised to see such and intensely myopic statement come from *you*.
You really ought to read the full article.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 3411d ago
madmonkey013412d ago

if i were to sumerise destiny, i would say it has great gameplay, a ridiculous progression system past level 20 and hardly any content, the £20 DLC ( which is more than i paid for the game,) adds very little. i have put about 50 hours in so far, and still haven't found one piece of legendary Armour,

CorndogBurglar3412d ago (Edited 3412d ago )

If you don't have any legendary armor in 50 hours of gameplay then you are doing something wrong.

Granted, legendary drops are very rare in missions, but upgrading the Cryptarch by giving him all of your blue engrams should have leveled him up multiple times, and every time he gives you more engrams as a reward. More often than not for me, he usually gives at least one legendary engram. But it is luck based, so lets assume you have the worst luck in the world and he's never given you a legendary armor piece in 50 hours. You should have more than enough Vanguard or Crucible marks to go buy some legendary armor.

So if you don't have any legendary armor this far in, its your own fault.

Conzul3412d ago

"more often than not....legendary....from ranking up cryptarch"

NO.

madmonkey013411d ago

i was excited to get my first legendary engram last night! took it to the cryptarch and got a class item for a hunter, i only have a titan at the moment so back to the grind!

cell9893412d ago

at 50 hrs you should have enough reputation and vanguard marks to purchase legendary armor. Provided youve been doing bounties (which are easy) and vanguard playlists. What exactly have you been doing lol, im confused. You probably approached this game entirely wrong, look for tips on how to get legendary armor. Its not that difficult even if you have the worst luck ever in the game.

madmonkey013412d ago

i am very close to buying some from the vanguard chap, but i just know i f i go and buy some, the next bad guy i kill will grant me a piece for the same spot! i have a legendary sniper rifle.

cryptarch is level 3 almost level 4, so hopefully he will give me some good stuff when i get there.

kneon3412d ago

@madmonkey01

My highest cryptarch level is 44 and still more often than not I get crap. I don't think the level influences what you get from him.

N311V3411d ago

Most of mine was bought from the vanguard, the rest from the raid.

XabiDaChosenOne3412d ago

When I to the warlock vendor to find out that there were legendary helmets stronger than my fully upgraded apotheosis veil I was PISSED!!

averagejoe263412d ago (Edited 3412d ago )

This is the problem right here.

Why are you so pissed?

Have you never played an RPG before?

In many video games, since the 80's, you progress and come across new and better gear. Guess what? You put in the new and improved gear instead of using the old gear.

It baffles me how much hate destiny receives for having simple RPG mechanics.

I think what happened here is people who have only ever played halo, call of duty, and candy crush tried to get into an RPG. Their simple minds couldn't understand it and now all the sudden destiny is broken?

Yea, right. Finding new and stronger gear makes a game broken. I guess every single RPG that's ever been released is broken.

UnHoly_One3412d ago

I'm a huge RPG fan and this game is getting hate because it does everything wrong, not because people didn't want an RPG.

XboxOneX3412d ago

Normal RPG's do not make u play the same mission over and over and over and over again to get loot. Its the reason the loot cave existed because people was sick and tired of doing the same strikes over and over and getting screwed over at the end with ascendant energy or a legendary engram to decrypt it and get blue armour or a gun.

RPG's or at least the ones I have played have hours and hours of content, I played 120 hours on Oblivion and 150 on Skyrim and never replayed the same mission. After 15 hours on Destiny completing the campaign and the very few strikes available you, a few daily bounties and the raid.

The fact is there is NO content on the game and people have put long hours in getting armour and now have to play the same thing over and over again to get the new armour. If the game had content grinding would not be an issue.

3412d ago
XabiDaChosenOne3412d ago (Edited 3412d ago )

Context, if I am to go by what Bungie have lead me to believe, exotic gear is always supposed to be better than legendary gear and the fact that bungie has an upgrade program for exotic gear that was acquired pre patch confirms that. I still like the game but Bungie F'ed up big time.
@xprestigex
"He complained his helmet became useless after he got a new one. Dafuq?"
That was the most pathetic and shameless strawman I have seen in recent memory. My argument is not that the new helmet is better than my old one its the fact that the game has an "established" system where exotic gear is ALWAYS supposed to better than legendary gear at least in light. The fact that the upgrade program through Xur for exotic weapons even exist is proof of this. And the fact that I have to wait every week so that maybe my exotic helmet might be eligible for an upgrade is just stupid on Bungies part and shows no respect for my time that I have put into their game.

MysticStrummer3412d ago

@XboxOneX - So the loot cave existed because people preferred to go to one location over and over instead of several? Brilliant.

If you played Oblivion and Skyrim for that long, you certainly did do the same mission over and over, just with very slight variation. Go there and get this. Go there and kill that.

Now the Exaggeration Brigade is going from "Destiny has too little content" to "Destiny has no content"? lol

You played for 15 hours on a game with "no content". That's twice as long as the average Call of Duty campaign.

N311V3411d ago

I disagree.

I've come from primarily an RPG background into Destiny but also felt disheartend to find that my beloved Legendary and Exotic gear was now obsolete. I think the difference is that high level gear in Destiny is hard to come by and importantly, after you get some high level gear, you then have to level it up to unlock all its abilities and power which takes a long time. It causes you to get attached to gear like no other RPG has before. Releasing gear that you can easily buy from a vendor brings a sense of loss and regret. My prized gear is now second rate and I regret spending time levelling it up.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 3411d ago
ipach3412d ago

annoyed perhaps more than pissed. but at the same time, it was kind of nice to not have to be at the mercy of RNGs to get to level 31. i actually find that having access to more light 33 gear gives me more flexibility to mix and match powerup bonuses. it's definitely strange/silly from a design perspective, but at least makes the grind a bit more predictable... the new radiant material issue is more annoying than the store update in my opinion. but at least bungie seems to react fairly quickly to criticism.

Drithe3412d ago

Destiny, as I have said over and over, is the greatest FPS of all time!

Palitera3412d ago

Thank god you only have one bubble. It is not even the best FPS of the year.

corroios3412d ago

Dont go so far, but the game should have launch with the first two DLC, because it lacks content. Thats the major problem, it needs much more strikes and bigger.

ipach3412d ago

when CoD can charge $15 for a handful of multiplayer maps and get away with it, it's hard for Activision not to ask for $15-20 for not only some multiplayer maps, but whole new missions and gear and a raid. and frankly, this DLC easily added 20-50+ more hours of play for the core player. can't say I'm thrilled it cost money, but also can't complain about it being a rip off.

Show all comments (63)
90°

Destiny 2: The Final Shape Developer Gameplay Preview

Bungie - "Join our development team to see the new updates arriving with Destiny 2: The Final Shape. Releasing on June 4, 2024."

InUrFoxHole8d ago

What is this she/her, he/him bs?

140°

Bungie Replaces Marathon Director Amid Leadership Shakeup, Fears of Layoffs

Amid ongoing anxiety within Bungie following layoffs last year, the studio is now preparing for another shakeup, this time on Marathon.

Kaii30d ago

Layoffs should be hitting the incompetent management at this point.

Profchaos30d ago

Talk about mismanaged Bungie is a studio of tremendous potential and have made some of the greatest shooters to date. Sony pushed them to just make another Destiny style game and consult on other studios live service games and are now getting thrown under a bus as the pivot away from predominantly gaas games is unfolding.

I'd love to see a world where Bungie can focus on telling great sci fi stories again away from a live service dungeon but we all know that's a pipe dream

Rynxie30d ago (Edited 30d ago )

Are you serious? Do you just talk out of your arse naturally, or did it take years of being a POS?

Profchaos30d ago

You normally get so offended by internet comments or did it take years of being soft

purple10130d ago (Edited 30d ago )

Yes I see your point mate, someone clearly didn’t read the article.

Specifically the bit:

“Notably, multiple sources at the time and since have shared that Sony has largely left the studio to sort out its own troubles and was not responsible for the layoffs, with CEO Pete Parsons taking responsibility.“

He’s just spouting nonsense

Huey_My_D_Long30d ago

lol what so fucking hilarious is that you called him out so bad he projected him being offended onto you.

Its been well documented that Bungie's management has been more responsible for their shortfalls, even mentioned in said article that we are commenting on.

Its ok, just admit you didn't read the article.

MIDGETonSTILTS1730d ago

Arrowhead Studios will be Sony’s GaaS consult now.

Gameseeker_Frampt30d ago

I like how for some, it is never Bungie's fault. Microsoft, Activision, and now Sony - it is everyone else who is pushing Bungie to make all these bad decisions.

-Foxtrot30d ago

Thrown under the bus?

Are you joking? This is all Bungie, we all thought it was 100% Activision but it's clear the higher ups at Bungie don't have a clue how to run the studio and are more bothered about saving their own skin and the money that they rake in.

Sony gave them an extra $1.2 Billion to make sure that employees didn't leave and they didn't have to cut anyones jobs. Where did that money go because Bungie still cut peoples jobs and I bet you the higher management still kept a hold of their big fact paychecks and bonuses.

Sony invested poorly in this and the best thing they can do now is throw the old Bungie management out and take hold of the studio fully.

MIDGETonSTILTS1730d ago

Don’t throw the baby out with the bath water. Somebody at Bungie is the golden goose making great shooting mechanics, and the rest need to justify their paychecks.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 30d ago
Fearmonkey30d ago

This studio has had three owners and its never worked well with any of them....Management has issues

ChasterMies30d ago (Edited 30d ago )

Worked very well for Microsoft. Microsoft’s mistake was letting Bungie go.

Fearmonkey29d ago

it worked so well with MS that they so wanted to be away from them they bought the company back. Only to do it again with activision-blizzard, and then sold to Sony...Sony shouldn't have bought them...Bungie hasnt been the same for a long time..

90°

Destiny 2’s new game director worked on every single Bungie Halo game

Destiny 2’s game director Joe Blackburn is stepping down ahead of The Final Shape, leaving Tyson Green to take the reins of the PS5 and Xbox FPS.

Read Full Story >>
theloadout.com
DefenderOfDoom278d ago

As someone who bought every story DLC for DESTINY 2 but not every season. the first thing I would do as game director is , if anybody pre-orders The ?Final Shape , they will be able to play all older DLC and seasons with purchase of FINAL SHAPE. . I think that would bring back a lot of DESTINY 2 plsyers who have not experienced the seasons a chance to play season activities before Final Shape comes out.

DickyD122678d ago

I agree but I was just able to get all dlcs for 50 on steam. (Have it on PlayStation but don't always have access to the TV)