What do Destiny, Call of Duty, and The Division have in common? At first, they are all shooters, sure. But what other similarities can be observed? What are the special features of each game? We dare to make a comparison.
First of all: This comparison of the three games is in no way intended to make one shooter appear “better” or “worse” than the other. On the one hand, the CoD series is already among the largest and most successful game franchises overall, while on the other hand, The Division still has to prove itself. As for the future of Bungie’s Destiny, it is still up in the air.
The aim of this comparison is rather to provide a comprehensive overview of the three games. Are they really very different? Where do the special features lie? We want to focus on the online aspect here.
We will start with the MMO shooter Destiny. Next, we want to highlight an established game series in the shooter genre: Call of Duty. The current installment in the series is Black Ops III. Finally, we will look at how Ubisoft’s upcoming MMO shooter The Division can score points.
What “Destiny” Offers
Destiny is an online shooter developed by Bungie and published by Activision. The release was on 09.09.2014. It can clearly be classified as an FPS, even though it occasionally switches to the third-person perspective when using melee weapons (swords) or special super attacks.
In what setting does Destiny take place?
In Destiny, you become guardians of the last city on Earth. You must protect it against the dangers of darkness.
After the arrival of the “Traveler,” new life was breathed into our solar system: rain soaked Mars, fresh air refreshed the sky of Venus, and humanity began to populate the new worlds. This golden age was 700 years ago, and humanity is now on the brink of extinction. You must face nasty enemies lurking in the depths of the universe. Become a legend.
A realistic setting cannot necessarily be spoken of here. It is a sci-fi shooter.
What role does the online aspect play?
Destiny is an MMO shooter that you can only play if you are connected to the servers. There is an online requirement. You will constantly encounter other players in the form of guardians on your journey.
What MMO features are included?
MMOs are designed for online gaming and the ability to play with others. Social features take center stage.
In Destiny, many people can act simultaneously within a game world. An example is the “Tower” which is a meeting point where players can pick up new missions, plan their further journey in the game world, and team up with other players.
Furthermore, it is a persistent world, meaning events occur even when you are not present. It is theoretically accessible to players at any time.
An important feature of an MMO is that players can interact with each other in some way and mutually influence the game events. This is ensured in Destiny, for example, in raids, which are group activities designed for six players. Strikes and missions can be completed in a three-player fireteam as well. Additionally, the Crucible features a large PvP area in Destiny.
What does progression look like in Destiny?
Destiny combines classic shooter gameplay with progression mechanics and design ideas from MMORPGs. Since the big expansion “The Taken King,” the initial goal is to level your character to the maximum level of 40. Afterwards, the light level takes precedence. By completing certain activities, you receive rewards (loot) in the form of weapons, armor pieces, and other items that can increase your light level.
Currently, the maximum light level is 320. The level of the drops depends on the respective activity, your own light level, and of course also on luck. You will therefore need to repeat the most difficult challenges in Destiny several times to gradually bring your character to the maximum light level.
What does the PvE content in Destiny look like?
For many, the special feature of Destiny is standing together against hordes of computer-controlled enemies, usually culminating in a big boss waiting to be defeated. The PvE content includes story missions, strikes (three-player activities), and raids (group activities designed for six guardians). Raids, in particular, are very popular because they involve mechanics that can only be accomplished through team play and coordination.
The campaign, meaning the story missions, can also be completed alone. However, there is still an online requirement. Strikes and raids can also be started solo, but in most cases, you won’t get very far alone.
What does the PvP content look like?
Like in classic online shooters, there is a PvP area in Destiny, meaning a place where players compete against each other. Here, various modes are available to provide variety. Additionally, there is the PvP event “Trials of Osiris” each week, where players can earn cool loot. Every few weeks, the Iron Banner event also finds its way into the Destiny universe.
What can be said about the eSports area?
In Destiny, the eSports area is very sparse. Since there are no custom or private matches, no tournaments or “clan-versus-clan battles” can be held. Matchmaking always leads to random opponents.
Thus, private matches are high on the wishlist of Destiny players. So far, Bungie has kept quiet on this matter and avoids making specific statements. It will likely take a while until eSports will establish itself in Destiny.
Who is Destiny suitable for?
Destiny is a game aimed at shooter fans who also want to enjoy social features. There is extensive PvE and PvP content, and character development provides long-term enjoyment. If you also enjoy shooting not just other humans (as in The Division or CoD), but various alien races, you will likely be happy with Destiny.
Destiny is rated 16 and over by the USK.
On the next pages, we will take a look at Call of Duty: Black Ops III and The Division. In the end, we will draw a conclusion. Here is page 2 of our comparison.
