TMCnet News

REVIEW: 'Destiny' offers stunning environments, fun gameplay and a fresh storyline [The Gazette (Colorado Springs, Colo.)]
[September 16, 2014]

REVIEW: 'Destiny' offers stunning environments, fun gameplay and a fresh storyline [The Gazette (Colorado Springs, Colo.)]


(Gazette (Colorado Springs, CO) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Sept. 16--What is it? Bungie, the creators of "Halo," and Activision, the publisher of "Call of Duty," have created a brand new intellectual property. With the release of "Destiny," gamers finally get their hands on one of the most anticipated new titles of the fall, playing as a Guardian of the last city on Earth, 700 years in the future. This sci-fi first-person shooter lets you explore the jungles of Venus, the ruins of Earth and the red dunes of Mars, all while battling the evil force known as the Darkness. Fight enemies, hunt for loot and equipment and duke it out against friends and strangers online.



"DESTINY" Format: PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One Price: $59.99 Publisher: Activision Developer: Bungie ESRB Rating: T (Teen) B+ The good Similar but different. For experienced gamers, "Destiny" will seem familiar, as it has characteristics of other well-known titles. Looting is reminiscent of "Borderlands" and traveling the solar system will remind many of "Mass Effect." The combat and AI companion in "Destiny" give off a strong "Halo" vibe, which isn't particularly surprising as it's developer Bungie's best known game.

While "Destiny" has elements of other great titles, it does stand on its own. There's looting but it's subtle and nuanced, giving what you pick up more value. There's space travel, but it's in our own solar system so there's a feeling of ownership when trying to defend planets.


And yes, "Destiny" has a "Halo" feel, but you never get the sense it's derivative. This version of Earth is a unique and much more open world, with plenty of environments to explore.

Fantastic co-op. If you're a fan of playing online, you'll love "Destiny's" co-op features. Whether you're gunning through the game's story mode, competitive multiplayer or playing cooperatively with others, your friends go with you seamlessly. Unlike other shooters, "Destiny" doesn't differentiate between gameplay modes, so your friends are always along for the ride no matter what you're doing.

Finally, new intellectual property. One of the biggest criticisms video game fans have about their favorite industry is that many of the most popular yearly titles are sequels of long running series. "Halo," "Call of Duty" and "Borderlands" are all blockbuster franchises, but gaming fans are aching for something fresh. But because proven titles are guaranteed moneymakers, new IPs can be a tough sell for publishers and developers. With the well-crafted "Destiny," gamers finally have another series to sink their teeth into.

The bad Barebones competitive multiplayer. Multiplayer combat in "Destiny" is enjoyable but lacks variety and customization. There are only a handful of game modes and no options to create custom games or private lobbies. Maps are well designed and stunning to look at, but the lack of options and uneven competition can lead to a frustrating online experience. Fortunately, these are correctable issues. Hopefully Bungie can make some improvements in this area soon.

Convoluted story. Shooting bad guys and planet hopping is certainly fun in "Destiny," but why you're doing it isn't clear. There's a giant object on Earth called the Traveler, which helped the planet but now attracts bushels of evil aliens. Your job is to wipe out the aliens and that's all you get to know. Your constant AI companion, voiced by "Game of Thrones" star Peter Dinklage, fills in plot holes as you progress but his monotone delivery fails to give all that enjoyable shooting any depth.

The verdict While its roots lie with the company that made one of gaming's all-time greatest shooters, "Destiny" does a great job of making a name for itself. Stunning environments, fun gameplay and one of the smoothest co-op modes I've ever experienced makes for a heck of a good time.

- Gazette Media Columnist Terry Terrones is a veteran video game journalist. You can follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/terryterrones.

___ (c)2014 The Gazette (Colorado Springs, Colo.) Visit The Gazette (Colorado Springs, Colo.) at www.gazette.com Distributed by MCT Information Services

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]