POSTED 26/9/14


DESTINY

Bungie/Activision

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If following the mass slavering adulation afforded Halo with anything not Halo was an option, most devs would likely say, “Fuck it, let’s Halo!” But Bungie are made of sterner stuff – or just fucking nuts.

On experiencing Destiny, which would be an anagram of “Star Wars” if possible, those Bungie people aren’t dummies. They’ve crafted an FPSRPGMMO so vast in scope and execution that we’ll scarcely scratch the surface within our 300-or-so-word boundary.

Set hundreds of years futurewards in a post-apocalyptic world (don’t tune out just yet) you choose one of three player types – Leia, Yoda or C-3PO, essentially. You then choose their class – basically Han Solo, Jedi or Stormtrooper. Aliens have shattered a longstanding peaceful and prosperous Earthican era, so you’re tasked with saving humanity. No pressure...

Sure, the story’s hackneyed and George Lucas may be lawyering-up vibe-wise, but if taken in delightfully cheesy movie matinee fashion you’ll forgive trespasses into clichéd missions and dialogue that’d make Tara Reid blush. Especially upon perseverance.

You see, Destiny’s big, with a capital ‘B’ and ‘IG’. You’ll start tiring of schlepping around trying to level up, when something striking will happen that just tractor beams you back in, zapping away hours – be they solo, competitive or co-operative. The latter can be marvellous, befriending strangers online who are actually helpful. Unless going PvP, natch.

Then there’s the dancing...

Being so grandly scaled, things aren’t all beer and Pazaak. The reward system is frustrating, as is plundering the same old ground gear-grinding. Meanwhile, AI can be so predictably dumb it’s stupefying. As for the cutscenes...

Destiny has issues, sure, but don’t we all? It is truly an experience – and it can be upgraded via patches. Of course George Lucas would never legacy-mess like that...

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