Every player who logged into the new expansion of Destiny 2 “Lightfall” last Tuesday expected a lot. A modern city, super cool abilities, and above all a story that was supposed to surpass everything that had come before. It turned out differently. So let’s talk today about whether the Lightfall DLC deserves the criticism it has received or not.
The Destiny 2 editorial team at MeinMMO has been involved in Destiny 1 and 2 for many years. We have seen everything there is to see in this shooter, and we have gone through all the highs and lows with it.
For about a week now, Lightfall is considered one of the biggest disappointments for Bungie in a long time. The Lightfall expansion of Destiny 2 has an average rating of “Mostly Negative” on Steam. The Destiny 2 community on MeinMMO is criticizing and pointing out many issues with Lightfall. And this is despite the fact that everything actually started well, because the Steam launch was grand.
After a week, our two authors for Destiny 1 and 2, Christos and Britta, have now played the new expansion, made a detailed assessment of everything in the current Destiny universe, and summarized their opinions here for you.
Expectations for the Lightfall Story Were Too High
Arbitrary story also disappoints MeinMMO: Destiny 2: Lightfall has, in our opinion, quickly killed the players’ too high expectations. The beginning of the campaign was still okay.
- The arrival of Calus and the space battle were classically staged as an introduction.
- The mission “No Time Left” and the fight with Calus were certainly challenging.
- The tormentors are good, though we’ve seen too little of them so far.
Beyond that, however, the story progressed rather uninspired. Many missions in the campaign were not really gripping. For Britta, Bungie seemed to have put all the special wow moments into “The Witch Queen,” the predecessor DLC to “Lightfall.” And even for Christos, the narrative left big question marks in the story.
Britta: The campaign of “The Witch Queen” was so memorable and good that Bungie could hardly rekindle that feeling in me with the new DLC. I wasn’t immediately enthusiastic about fighting Calus. It was a bit demotivating since the nastiest villain, the Witness, swiftly pulled himself out of the noose. So the story on Neptune felt arbitrary to me.
Savathûn, on the other hand, was an opponent that had never been seen until her DLC, but whose name was very well known. For years, she had her fingers in nearly everything in Destiny and was particularly challenging mentally due to her cunning. While one thought they had the upper hand by revealing her secrets, she coldly outsmarted you. The Witness kind of did that too – after all, one couldn’t win – but it was much too obvious, and thus hardly surprising.
A Vex Harpy puzzle with a light castle in Neomuna couldn’t really top that in 2023. Only after the campaign, when many were already disappointed, further secrets are revealed.
Aside from that, I enjoyed every minute in its partly pompous, partly dark throne world with Light-Darkness and the swamp.
Calus, however, felt like he hadn’t had wine for far too long in Lightfall. He wanted a piece of the universe’s great cake, even if he had to curry favor with the Witness. But how it ultimately played out for him, he was visibly dissatisfied in Lightfall.
At least, Calus held out quite long at the end of the Legendary campaign. But neither his mechanics nor he himself was a worthy final boss for the Lightfall campaign, and certainly not for an epic student. His end played out well, but also unremarkably and unspectacularly.
What do you think, Christos?
Christos: When it comes to the story, it’s up for debate. I knew when Bungie announced “The Final Shape” that “Lightfall” would have a cliffhanger and that it would only be the first part of a larger narrative.
However, I didn’t know that Bungie would leave so many gaps in the story. “The Witch Queen” ended back then with Savathûn being defeated, DLC done, finished. Everyone was satisfied.
In Lightfall, however, the story seems confused and not fully told. Calus is dead, yes, but to dismiss the end of this monarch so quickly, after we had followed him in the background for years, felt simply wrong. It feels as though Bungie was just looking for a villain to defeat in a final showdown just to wrap up the DLC.
You mainly fight against the same bulky Cabal as before, with whom the Guardians have essentially been at war for almost 10 years.
For me, that sometimes feels like a nasty trick from Bungie to sell seasons better, since in these the further course of action will probably be revealed in the coming months:
- What is the deal with the Veil?
- Where is the Witness now?
- How can the Guardians still prevent the second collapse.
That’s why I’m also disappointed with the story. Especially because many elements within the story seem poorly and carelessly executed.
Criticism of the New Location is Justified
The MeinMMO editorial team was able to explore Neomuna before the launch of Lightfall and assess the story mission “First Contact.” Even then, it became apparent what a quiet place Neomuna is.
Britta: When I got to see the city for the first time at Bungie, it was quite unusual. Neomuna is not a broken European Dead Zone where no one has lived for a long time. The futuristic metropolis has neon signs, gyms, and shopping streets. It was only logical that, sooner or later, one would ask as a Guardian: “Where is everyone?”
For me, Bungie’s explanation that all the residents of Neomuna are sleeping in their digital cloud-ark after the Cabal’s attack is fine. Although I can imagine that it might come across to players as a hasty solution in this context.
Christos: Yes, I’m not as fascinated by Neomuna either. But I definitely find it better than “The Witch Queen” personally.
It doesn’t overload my eyes with unnecessary details. I particularly like the futuristic design. Because of that, it didn’t bother me that the civilians sleep in their refrigerators. They would just be in the way, like the people in the Tower.
Characters Are a Matter of Taste
With the characters in Neomuna, especially the Cloudstriders, we don’t really have any major criticisms. Nimbus is the first non-binary character in Destiny’s history. However, the community criticized his self-satisfied attitude, and many did not appreciate his eccentric humor.
What do you say about Nimbus, Christos?
Christos: I was initially skeptical, but Nimbus has his own style. Cool, young, and above all with a touch of humor – I find that great. Bungie quickly convinced me with that. I wouldn’t want to miss that conversation in Final Shape.
Here, I also want to draw attention to the synchronization and animation of the speaking characters in cutscenes or in the game. When the Traveler was “cut open” and we had to travel to the Tower to meet Zavala and Ikora, I was simply horrified at how poorly they were animated. It was really creepy to see Ikora talk with a wide smile while humanity behind her was nearly extinguished.
Britta: Oh yes, synchronization – good that you mention it. Sometimes, I found Nimbus in the German version really sounded like Caiatl. But that’s just a side note.
Otherwise, I found both Cloudstriders good. Both Rohan and Nimbus. Of course, Nimbus is not that tried and true, typical Destiny character. However, Nimbus is still a fascinating personality, especially because he defies the expectations of the players.
I would like to learn more about Cloudstriders. In particular, the mural inside the Veil building fascinated me. A life that lasts only 10 years – that is very little.
On the next page, we will tackle the new subclass “Strand” and reveal our conclusion on Lightfall.
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