When it was first unveiled, Bungie were quick to promise that their new title, Destiny, would have a ten year lifespan, constantly evolving and shifting to keep players engaged. Only a few months on, many find that hard to believe. Destiny's launch woes are well documented by now (basically, single player sucked) but there are flashes of genius which bode well for the game's future - Destiny's beautiful level design and exciting, engaging gunplay are proof that Bungie can still mix it with the best. The problem with Destiny lies in the almost anti-social approach to MMO gameplay. Criminally, players who don't have enough friends are forced to miss out on some of the game's content (raids, high-end strikes) due to a lack of matchmaking - whether this will be resolved remains to be seen. That's a real shame as the game's first raid (Vault Of Glass) holds a variety of gameplay mechanics and ideas which really needed to be implemented for all to see; the fact that these exciting ideas weren't used in a broader way is quite frustrating. Ultimately though, Destiny is a game that continues to pull people back in. The multiplayer component of the game is phenomenal, providing great arena-style gameplay which is more than reminiscent of Bungie's other well-known sci-fi shooter. Grinding for gear and light levels is a constant process which many are still undergoing and that's because Bungie got the basics right here. With a wider variety of single player content (and improved matchmaking, please), Destiny can really grow into an exciting, lengthy experience. Sadly, the first expansion, The Dark Below, seems to do little to ease these problems - many are indicating that it is simply more of the same. Still, Bungie are clearly listening to their critics and the future of Destiny may already be changing to suit. 2015 will be a big year for the game, although it will be interesting to see how many people care beyond it. Agree? Disagree? Are there any other games out there that you expect to keep you busy well into 2015? Let us know in the comments below.
I have an addiction to achievements, a craving for new bands and a dream to become Captain America. I once finished second in a Mario Kart 7 tournament so I'm kind of a big deal.
