With the release of the latest DLC for Destiny 2 “Lightfall”, new players are primarily wondering whether they need to have played Destiny 1 to understand the story of the “successor”. In this article, MeinMMO will answer the question and help you decide.
The great Destiny saga is divided: Many players who started playing in 2023 with “Lightfall”, the latest DLC from Bungie, have asked whether one misses something in Destiny 2 without knowing Destiny 1.
After all, there are many sequels and prequels in the gaming world that build on each other and continue the story of the previous game. And yes, Destiny 2 is one such game that builds on a continuous story with a grand saga.
- Those who played Destiny 1 will know many background details and information that are not explained as extensively in Destiny 2.
- Destiny 1 players can better understand why certain events take place in Destiny 2 and how they impact the story.
- Additionally, Destiny 1 offers an expanded arsenal of weapons and armor that are not, or let’s say not yet, available in Destiny 2.
Nevertheless, it is not strictly necessary to know Destiny 1 in order to understand Destiny 2. MeinMMO explains why.
Those who know Destiny 1 understand faster – but it’s not a must
Destiny 2 does its own thing: Destiny 2 has taken much from Destiny 1 but has also improved. However, all events of Destiny 2 take place several years after the events of Destiny 1.
The story of Destiny 2 thus builds on the events of Destiny 1 but is not strictly necessary to ultimately understand the game.
- The story of Destiny 2 is self-contained and can easily be followed by new players without knowledge of Destiny 1.
- Those who start in Destiny 2 now receive many of the story details from Destiny 1 through small trailers or in-game dialogue from Bungie, so in principle, they miss nothing.
Destiny 1 is still a great game: However, one should not completely overlook Destiny 1, as it was a great game. Destiny 1 is also the reason why many veterans have such a deep understanding of the Destiny universe and remain loyal to the game.
Advantages or disadvantages of Destiny 1 compared to Destiny 2
This advantage comes from playing Destiny 1: Even though it is not a must, Destiny 1 is still a game that can provide additional information about Destiny characters and stories and answer many questions about names that occasionally arise in Destiny 2.
- For instance, one might learn more about Efrideet in Destiny 1, about whom Lord Saladin often speaks when hosting his Iron Banner.
- Those playing the legacy raid “Kingsfall” in Destiny 2 could experience the detailed story about this powerful Hive King in Destiny 1.
- And in Destiny 1, players also get to know Cayde-6, of whom all that remains in Destiny 2 is a poignant ending in the Forsaken DLC and a memorial.
Thus, Destiny 1 contains background information and details that are mentioned and explained in Destiny 2, such as the story of Savathun and her siblings. However, these are not explained as extensively and precisely in Destiny 2 as they were in Destiny 1.
Additionally, Destiny 2 is gradually integrating more of this old content from Destiny 1 into the current game.
For Destiny 1 players and veterans, this “content recycling” can be unsettling and often unpopular, as it does not offer new content. However, it also brings the two games closer together. Destiny 2 increasingly references narrative elements from Destiny 1, providing flashbacks to the stories and concluding them in Destiny 2.
This disadvantage comes from playing Destiny 1: However, if you play Destiny 1, you also take a step back.
- Some players feel that the gameplay in Destiny 1 is worse compared to Destiny 2 because it feels slow and inaccessible at the beginning.
- The story and level design of Destiny 1 have often been perceived as less engaging and thought-out compared to Destiny 2.
Destiny 1 certainly has fantastic content. But the overall upgrades in Destiny 2 with class abilities, customization, and quality of life improvements are simply better now.
You miss nothing relevant: Some Destiny 2 players have never missed Destiny 1 to this day. This is because Destiny 2 and external sources offer enough opportunities to obtain additional background information even without having played Destiny 1, if one desires.
The downside is that you won’t experience it while playing; instead, you find it only through videos or texts in the game.
In the end, it ultimately depends on personal preferences whether one wants to play Destiny 1 first to have a more complete gaming experience, or whether one wants to start directly with Destiny 2. One must also consider that Destiny 1 is currently not available on PC and can only be played on consoles.
What would you advise new Guardians who are considering playing Destiny 1 before their Destiny 2 experience? Do you think Destiny 2 has sufficiently brought both worlds together? Or do you say Destiny 1 is a must for every player? Feel free to share your opinion directly in the comments.
What makes playing Destiny 2 and farming the new exotics from Lightfall easier is this new and brilliant helper that you also know from Destiny 1:
Destiny 2: How to get the new Lightfall exotics in a hidden event
