Review: Destiny - Destructoid

"It's been a small journey reviewing Destiny, but now I've experienced every facet of the game and I'm ready to make my decision. As mentioned previously, the story and setting leave a lot to be desired, but the gunplay is very sound, and the PVP element reminds me of some of my favorite shooters, filled with tons of exciting moments.

But even after digging into the nitty-gritty, the endgame structure is rigid and has too many problems at the current moment to warrant a full recommendation."

[metalmatters]

I still feel a 6 for a game like this is a little bit too harsh, the fun it provides when you play with your buddies on a fire team is enough to warrant an 8. It has solid shooting mechanics, great art direction and an ever expanding story. People are judging this game too quick

[venom06]

between 6.5-7 as most of the critics are giving it, it's pretty spot on from what i've played so far.

[Paytaa]

I feel like this game is just hit or miss with some people. It's very split between those who love it or hate it. Personally I like the game but it's best played with friends. I hope the promise of expanding the world becomes a reality rather than sounding good on paper. I'd give Destiny an 8/10 for what it offers at the moment.

[Eldyraen]

I think most reviews from 6-8 are pretty fair depending on how you look at the game.

The story thus far (expansions should build on it but as is the core game is what I'm talking about ATM) isn't the best by any means or even on par with any Halo game. The potential is there but we still know almost nothing about the universe at large. As it stands I feel more like I bought the first episodes of several different games and am now left wondering when I get the rest.

I still enjoyed it and I see me playing it (strikes especially--I want full world levels open as higher level too though) for quite some time but not as much as I would had liked.

I am happy with the purchase and personally I would give it 7.5-8.5 (tough game to score IMO as some of it is great, like actual shooting mechanics, but other parts of it don't seem as polished--especially the story and way the universe unfolds). I can see me coming back now and again for new content once I get "tired" of Destiny but it isn't something I see me playing as often as Halo or Borderlands.

I would still pick up Destiny 2 if it came out tomorrow but it needs some changes IMO. The story especially (and how it is presented) needs the most work. There is a huge difference between leaving someone wanting more and whatever they went with in Destiny.

But as I said, somehow I still enjoyed it and do but it didn't feel "complete" to me and is instead a "great" above average/good game so I can see why some people are bashing it a bit much even if I enjoy it.

[Neixus]

No, they're actually judging this game pretty late, considering it's been a while since the game came out.

[Zeniix]

When I see this game getting something like a six I wonder how much they have played.

[HebrewHammer]

Am I missing something? I LOVE this game - quite possibly my GotY, aside from The Last of Us Remastered and Diablo III UED - if those count lol

[BinaryMind]

Funny that the other two are just re-releases of existing games. Kind of proves how little competition there is for your GoTY.

[OOMagnum]

So true Binary, Roflmao.

[Shadowolf]

With games like Assasin's Creed Unity, Far Cry 4, COD Advance Warfare, Alien Isolation, Dragon Age Inquisition, Lords of the Fallen, The Evil Within and Middle-earth Shadow of Mordor all of which are releasing within in the next 2 months, Destiny, based on its lackluster reviews doesn't stand a chance of becoming even mentioned as a GOTY contender. The hype can only go so far.

[fluxmulder]

Great reviews so far, really restores my faith in the critics. I wish they had been this honest with TLOU.

[Gazondaily]

Once upon a time he had 3 bubbles...

ANY way...I do think reviewers are being a tad harsh here. It definitely didn't live up to the hype but its still an enjoyable game, especially with mates. 6.5/10 seems a bit harsh to me but then again, its each to their own so fair enough.

[VitaOwner]

My advice if you are on the fence is to play it yourself. I was skeptical at first but I've been playing everyday and having a blast with friends. You may still not like it, but I say give it a go and then judge.

[venom06]

or you can save you money and trust the Metacritic score and user scores of this game. Although people hate to admit it, usually it's pretty spot on, when folks take the fanboy goggles off.

[Blastoise]

Never ever trust metacritic scores, from users OR critics. That's a terrible suggestion. Play whatever the heck you want and whatever you think looks fun

VitaOwner is right

[VitaOwner]

I believe everyone is capable of forming their own opinions and don't always have to follow the opinions of others. Even if the majority feel one way, those in the minority can feel completely different. And I don't mean buy it and try it, I meant play a friend's copy or something along those lines. There are no fanboy goggles, I played it and I like it. I'm sorry if my opinion offends you.

[Aceman18]

I never trust trust anyone else's reviews to tell me want and want not to buy. I trust myself to make the right decision, and for me purchasing Destiny was the right decision as I'm loving the game.

For me its easily a solid 8-9 game not the broken game these reviewers suggest it is, I feel that's an insult to Bungie for all their hard work.

[averagejoe26]

The hate for this game is unreal.

Random games like samurai warriors... A dynasty warriors clone... Is getting 8/10 on most websites

if you were being that critical on every game, this wouldn't be the case

Something is wrong here

[BigShotSmoov007]

You call it hate and I call it a honest opinion. They hype for this game was through the roof and it's no where near the level it was hyped to be. I get that this game is more about whats coming down the line rather than what's out right now but you can only review whats out right now and the game is repetitive, short story and very few online PvP modes. I think 6-7 is just about right for this game right now.

[gangsta_red]

Why is it so hard to believe that this game just may not be all that great.

Should every site be giving it golden reviews and sing it's greatness from high atop mountains? Would you then be satisfied?

For what this game set out to do and what the devs said it would, it is indeed disappointing.

Dynasty Warriors is a game that does what it does and nothing else. The devs for that game never come out and put unrealistic expectations or hype on the game. Big publishers don't back those games with a 500 mill budget and console makers don't money hat exclusive content and buy up advertising for that game.

So nothing is wrong here, just reviewers giving their opinion on a game. And read most of the gamers who have played the game too. They also feel the same way.

[traumadisaster]

I agree with your first part, there is no reason this can't be a bad game. I don't agree with your second thought about DW, the game should not get a better score cause it had lil marketing and promises like Destiney. In the end watch 5 min and see if it jives with u, cause that is most important.

[GodGinrai]

I see it like this.

On one hand, maybe destiny is, destined (no pun intended) to expanded via DLC and updates right up until the sequel at which point, it will probably be a much bigger (better?) game than it is now. If that is the case. Fair enough...but reviewers are not supposed to review a game based on what it will become. They base their reviews on what it is now. They should not be expected to make exceptions, for this game. or any game for that matter.

And for people to be calling it hate...that is a strong word. All of these websites were hyping this game up. The same websites that are giving it mid level scores. It honestly is what it is. I think we have seen enough destiny reviews and blogs about reactions to it. Its getting old now. We all know whether we like the game or not by now.

[gangsta_red]

@ traumadisaster

What I'm trying to say is you can't compare a game like Dynasty Warriors to Destiny. You can't compare the two scores and wonder why DW got the better score over Destiny. DW does what it does and does it well, they pretty much perfected their formula over the years. Destiny is a sudo-MMO, arcade type shooter on way more grand scale. And so far it looks like they haven't nailed down the gameplay or anything that was promised to make this game fun.

From what Destiny was hyped up and told to us what it would be it definitely failed. That is the reason for the bad scores, it didn't deliver what it was supposed to.

And I agree GodGinrai, reviewers can only review on what is offered now. And so far it's just not enough meat on the bone to call it a full meal.

[DafunkyRebel]

That's because DW and SW are legitimately great and fun games with a already amazing story and lore.

[cheetah]

Agreed. I suspect it may have something to do with Bungie aligning with Sony.This is an amazing game and deserves much better scores than it is receiving. This game is the last nail in the coffin of gaming journalism, they are now totally irrelevant.

[DefenderOfDoom2]

Okay , every reviewer said the gameplay is fun and somewhat addicting , but they do not like the story . I think video games reviewers are suffering from playing and reviewing , too many video games! Not a big deal though , because most people do not care about written reviews of video games anymore . I just watch a "QUICK LOOK" from GIANT BOMB , and "WTF is" from TOTALBISCUIT on YOUTUBE ! Much more informative , than a written review!

to VENOM , so basically what your saying is , do not think for yourself , have other people do thinking for you ??

[BattleTorn]

It seems that his biggest gripe overall was lack of matchmaking.

[Meltic]

The game sucks, Bought it and bought a ps plus just for this game. Big dissapointment. 6 vs 6 players. Isnt this next gen ?. 32 players would be good. And what about the freaking loading time ?. I could make a cop off coffee and it still is loading , no seriously the loading time is too long.

[dendenmooshi]

TBH, the negative reviews are fair. The game has a pretty big flaw in matchmaking, and in this generation of MMO, the matchmaking for instances needs to at least be there.

Also, This review in particular grants the fun factor within the article. It just isn't in the score. I think that many reviewers see the game as fun but incomplete. I somewhat agree, but I'm still playing. This review also is also saying that there's huge potential. It just needs to get there, and it will.

It's definitely not a failure that some trolls are saying. Just like many hyped games, even if it stumbled, it can recover (e.g. d3, ff14, and i think there's more). I'm still enjoying it.

[Mexxan]

Destructoid talking out their arse again. ..

[moomoo319]

I feel like ive sunk more time into this game playing for fun than the reviewers giving it these low scores

[CrowbaitBob]

Destiny could have been a perfect 10 and it wouldn't have lived up to the unrealistic hype/expectations. I really don't know what everyone was expecting from an online FPS with a few RPG elements added in.

I don't see it as a 9+, but I know plenty of people that have been having unending fun with the game since launch with no end in sight. I see validity in many of the complaints in various reviews, but overall this game is well above average if taken on its own merits.

I feel like the hate for this game is starting to build a hype of its own.

[Trekster_Gamer]

Replaying a level over and over and over, story is very lack luster, the characters and voice acting is very forgettable.
Destiny became boring in this regard, to me the graphics are great the gameplay is great but the other things put a wet blanket on the whole experience for me.

[Scatpants]

The main thing I don't like is that EVERY SINGLE MISSION is run somewhere, activate ghost, fight waves of enemies. Whoever designs their missions needs to be fired because he obviously just mailed it in. Other than that and the inexplicable lack of voice chat where there obviously should be voice chat the game is fun. 7.5

[Saito]

I wish people quit defending Destiny like its perfect. It's a average game. Not bad, but not great either. A 6 only means it's an ok game.

[DafunkyRebel]

a 6 means its a bad game but the problem being that its better than a lot of other games that gets scores of 8s and 9s

[DafunkyRebel]

Another lazy idiot who judges a game before even getting pass level 20. Its sad that they allow a bunch of morons without integrity to become journalist and let them free reign on games that have such great potential and untapped gameplay. These reviewers are easily influenced by what they hear from other reviewers and journalist and let it get to their heads instead of weighting the good and bad separately through their own experiences of the game. A game like Destiny has so much fun factor to it that it should easily be an 8 where as games that have receive 7s 8s and even 9s from most of these reviewers could not even garner 5 hours or more of fun and should really be in the trash pile.

[Ethereal]

The downfall of the "gaming community" is at hand people....This is a classic example of minimal product offering and high expectations. Not to mention promises of "next-gen" gaming experiences. All of this is completely devoid of any real merit and is so opinion based on perspective it's sickening. I am ashamed to be lumped into the collective known as "gamers".