Lets talk about Destiny. Destiny for those that dont know is the blockbuster platform for both new and old console alike. Bungie, the creators of Halo, spent 6 years developing it, teasing it and finally, on September 9th of this passed year, released it. It is a first person shooter, taking place within the Solar System, where you play as a Guardian of the Light against the extragalactic terror that is the Darkness. This terror is helmed and both exercised from various races of aliens, all in combat of each other and on a crusade to cull out the last of Humanity as they find themselves forced from what remains of the void at our footstep, fleeing from the force they seem to embody. There is a Golden Age in which Humanity is bestowed power from an alien god found sometime in the 21st century known as the Traveler. With this god at their side, they cultivate and terraform what is available of our small system for the better part of 500 years. The Darkness then follows the Traveler to our homes and within an instant, reduces our once great empire to rubble and ash. Some hundred years later, you are brought back from the dead of some battle long ago and then given the tools to slowly and hopefully take back what was once Humanitys. Thus is what is given of the story thus far. The game however, is a product of the merger between Activision (Call of Duty) and the aforementioned Bungie. Bungie has a track record of putting out a game only once it is finished. Taking years to develop, often three, before then proofing and testing for release. (see Halo franchise) Activision is known for a tight release schedule of a game a year with multiple and varying studios and developers supporting a single franchise in an effort to gross more profit with as little development as is deemed acceptable by the buying masses and core audience, most of which are loud enough when things go wrong. (see Call of Duty) How is it then, that when two of the worlds biggest studios in history, with two of the largest entertainment properties In History meld, 500 million dollars in hand, produce what is being heralded as the biggest disappointment IN HISTORY. Then let me ask you how it is that 10 million people have logged into this melding since its release, 1/800 people on the planet? Then let me ask you why it is that the average player of this game spends a MINIMUM of 5 hours a day playing this game? Let me tell you why I, myself, have spent a total of 7d 19h 37m 16s playing said video game. The game is fun. In no way, shape or form did the title accomplish what it set out to do, what it said it would do. Not nearly as big as it claimed it would be. No real story presentation. No auxiliary mechanics or features, standards of both Halo and Call of Duty like Theater or Forge. The ability to play with another person on the couch, completely missing. A game with so much barrier to entry, so many learning curves and economies, yet so little reason to continue. No true reward for completion yet no completion in site. The game, in many respects seems to actually push away its core audience, its main player base; such as myself. The rewards there are are random. No amount of skill or ability will actually guarantee you anything. Then the rewards are made arbitrary and in some cases bunk by the next expansion, adding precious content and continuation to a game so incredibly devoid of any real meat or purpose. Nevertheless, the GAME is FUN. Claimed the greatest example of the misgivings of consumerism. The GAME is FUN. Regardless of how much time I have spent hawing and heaving over this young franchise, there is 15 years I have spent playing games, particularly First Person Shooters. Those who know me know I delve into antiquity of any medium, so apply that knowledge or understanding to any game you can recall from this past decade and a half and know I know of it. If I didnt touch it, get my hands on it, play it or fall for it; I may very well have a great grasp of its mechanics, architecture and misgivings. Which games are the best, which games were revolutionary in the industry and what games evolve or continue on the foundations of those before them, to great or mediocre affect. And yes, I mean affect. Then think of the countless Call of Dutys, the Halos, Gears of Wars, Medal of Honors, BULLETSTORMS or even Angry Birds that released in that time. Destiny is by far the best one. Destiny is a foundation by which they will build and I can see it. What is there is damn near, if not perfect. A controller in hand has never before felt so natural to me, the mechanics, the movement, all complete and real. As though, and this may seem scary to the bozos out there, but as though you are truly holding, aiming and firing a gun. No matter how outlandish or Exotic that gun may be. The game as a whole may be lacking, and do not misunderstand me. She sure has her moments. Just, these moments seem to always be followed by a what-if. A desire for more. Destiny is not the game we were all promised, not even half. Hell, I dont even find it to be half of any games worth of content or creation or general value. But in the end, a bookend to a long generation of video games. And the beginning to another, already longer and innovating era suit; Destiny is the game we all deserved. The Good, the Bad and the Ugly of what has been, to me at least, a life time of playing, living and in this case; loving games. Halo and Call of Duty are great games, but Destiny is better. Destiny will only continue to broaden that gap and this is no foolish optimism I lay before you, it is a genuine faith and acceptance. The core, heart and blood, of this yet another space-shooter is honestly the greatest Shooter I N H I S T O R Y. You can guarantee I will find myself doubling what I have spent with this franchise thus far over the next decade. If you havent yet played and have any desire to do so, any real interest or even casual interest in the growing medium of Video Games, I encourage you to give it a shot. It will be the best shot you ever fired. Level 32 Striker Titan, calling it a day.
Posted on: Wed, 07 Jan 2015 06:59:23 +0000