Yesterday, the first major expansion “The Taken King” for Destiny went live. What are the reactions?
Destiny has become a familiar place for many players on Xbox and Playstation after a year. Most long-time Destiny players have spent hundreds of hours in the game.
Almost everyone is struggling with the game. They feel comfortable, but see weaknesses at every corner, thinking about how it could have been done better by Bungie. The story, in particular, has been identified as a major weak point from the very beginning.
This cutscene is seen as a symbol of Destiny’s problems.
The scene hangs in the air, suggests a lot, finishes nothing, and somehow just stands in the game. The sentence “I don’t even have time to explain why I don’t have time for explanations” is considered by many as proof that there wasn’t even close to a story in the first year. As a flimsy excuse so that the developers don’t have to explain anything.
Destiny has established itself in the minds of many as a game with a notoriously weak story.
Why not do it this way from the start?
When several million are then unleashed on a new “version”, in the truest sense Destiny 2.0, it is exciting to observe the reactions.
And they are currently mostly positive. Whether in streams or in the Destiny subreddit, cheerful, happy tones dominate. The reaction of many is: “Why not do it this way from the start? That’s how Destiny should have been a year ago.”
More story in the first half hour than in the last year
It is noticeable how much players are enjoying the “new” story and its successful presentation. The ground had been parched. It feels like players would have applauded each story, but this one seems to be well-received on its own.
Especially the cutscenes have impressed many players. The otherwise stiff characters from the Tower suddenly come to life. They discuss, whisper, argue, have cool moments, and even seem to be enjoying the events.
On reddit, “Cayde-6” is particularly praised, voiced in the original by Nathan Fillion, who mostly just stood around in the first year of Destiny.
He suddenly gets a personality, becoming the focal point of events. He has a relaxed appearance in the early cutscenes and counterbalances the otherwise serious Destiny atmosphere with some highlights that make you smile. A genuine “bad-ass.” His conversations with the dark Cassandra of the Destiny universe, with Eris Morn, are especially well received.
Warning Spoiler Video: This is the second cutscene in the game
The “more personal, also more humorous” approach that Bungie has chosen for The Taken King seems to be working. The forums are full of praise for the first hours.
But wait until the everyday life sets in…
However, in MMOs, the “everyday life” becomes crucial later on. The story is eventually played out and done; then the reward mechanics, the economy of the game, and the progression paths become more important. How long the shooter Destiny can keep players engaged this time and if The Taken King can also shine in everyday life – all of that can only be clarified in a few days and weeks.
The story phase of a game resembles filler weeks. Only when it’s over does normal, virtual life begin.
Already in the first hours, annoyances like the underwhelming Suros weapons. With the new game systems, such as the level system, not everyone can get used to it. Because while it was the highest achievement in the base game to even reach the max level, some can do it thanks to meticulous preparation and prior work in just a few hours. Others wished for even more story, even more hours with cinematics and NPCs hissing at each other in Destiny.
The next highlight will surely come to us on Friday at 7:00 PM. Then the new raid “King’s Fall” will open its doors. When the story and excitement make way for the “everyday life” again, that will depend on the game pace of each individual.
How do you like the first hours of “The Taken King” so far?
