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Destiny - Review Thread

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entremet

Member
I thought the lore sounded interesting, but the whole having to use a website to read stuff is so dumb.

Mass Effect already provided the template with the Codex.
 

nelchaar

Member
building up on borderlands comparisons, they need to find a way in destiny where certain types of weapons don't always work with certain elements

BL2 had stuff like fire weapons and slag, which would not only add a status change to the enemies but in alot of causes it would be a brick wall against enemies of that same element. There needs to be more status changers

It's not even funny how much better Borderlands is at accomplishing what Destiny is trying to do. Particularly the size of maps, the number and different types of weapons, and the sheer amount of loot. BL even has couch co-op! Although I like Destiny, it's just making me wish for a current gen Borderlands. Heck, I'll take the up-rezzed pre-sequel game.
 

Impala26

Member
I thought the lore sounded interesting, but the whole having to use a website to read stuff is so dumb.

Mass Effect already provided the template with the Codex.

This a thousand times. Christ, even the Metroid Prime series had a logbook that kept interesting logs and lore about the various things you scanned in the environment. This Grimoire cards stuff you have to read on B-Net is probably the best of example of "here's how Bungie dropped the ball with Destiny" in opinion. There's literally no end to how much Bungie seemingly skimped on the story in this game.

A Mass Effect or Metroid Prime styled codex/logbook might have helped redeem the story at least to a small extent in many gamers eyes, but alas...
 
The only lucky aspect for this game is that it released a few weeks before the rest of this years gaming releases hit HARD.

Alien Isolation (7 October 2014)
Dragon Age: Inquisition (7 October 2014)
Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor (7 October 2014)
Driveclub (10 October 2014)
The Evil Within (14 October 2014)
Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare (3 November 2014)
Assassin’s Creed: Unity (14 November 2014)
Grand Theft Auto 5 (18 November 2014)
Far Cry 4 (18 November 2014)
LittleBigPlanet 3 (18 November 2014)
Project Cars (21 November 2014)

They did a good job of hyping all the casual kids to buy it day one, because if they hadn't, October and November would have seen to it. None of the kids will be playing this anymore once CoD/Assassins Creed/GTA/FC4 are out. Good luck on Destiny 2.
 
Our review is up so I guess I'll link it: http://www.gamrreview.com/review/91949/destiny-ps4

If I sound like I’m coming down hard on the game, it’s only because I see the potential. The core mechanics of Destiny - the shooting, classes, loot, and abilities - are all excellent. The visuals are stunning, and the music is epic. The cooperative and competitive multiplayer are a blast, despite some netcode issues that need to be resolved. All of this would make for a great game, if the details of it weren’t so hollow. The worlds are sparse in a way that can easily bore uncommitted players, and the story is just awful. As it is, Destiny is still very fun to play, but despite its best attempts, it doesn’t feel like the future we were promised.

For those who just want a score and are to lazy to click.

Presentation - 7.0
Gameplay - 8.0
Value - 7.0
Overall - 7.5

(And no I'm not the reviewer, so if you have any complaints don't yell at me yell on the comments section.)
 

Steel

Banned
That Polygon article assumes even without the committee thing that Bungie could have given us a good story, I just that it's beyond developers at this point to make any good story.

Saying this is like saying Destiny has as much of a story as any video game, which is entirely false.

Mass effect has as decent a story as any Sci-fi movie. But, I suppose that's too much to ask for, even considering Destiny's considerable budget. I mean "it is bungie after all".

Then how about something on par with Halo: CE. Hardly a story to write home about, but it certainly served to give you a reason to go from point a to point b that made sense. It was coherent, had a beginning, middle, and end, and had characters you could name. Destiny has none of this.
 

ShinMaruku

Member
Saying this is like saying Destiny has as much of a story as any video game, which is entirely false.

Mass effect has as decent a story as any Sci-fi movie. But, I suppose that's too much to ask for, even considering Destiny's considerable budget. I mean "it is bungie after all".

Then how about something on par with Halo: CE. Hardly a story to write home about, but it certainly served to give you a reason to go from point a to point b that made sense. It was coherent, had a beginning, middle, and end, and had characters you could name. Destiny has none of this.

I find all game stories shit. They can build worlds and atmosphere, but when it comes to story they are all shit.

And these reviews are all people who fell for the hype and got extra burned. Which is good because hype is bad and Bungie needs a fire under their asses.
 

Dodecagon

works for a research lab making 6 figures
Huh, and people were somehow arguing earlier that this wasn't just a giant circlejerk hate thread.

This is the circlejerk of hate thread,
The OT is the circlejerk of love thread...

one sounds more fun than the other, but at least everyone is getting a tug
 
So Edge, Eurogamer, Kotaku, IGN, and Game Informer are the major TBD reviews?

First two will likely be around 6-7, Kotaku a [Buy] but with a major side note to it, IGN an 8, and Game Informer an 8?

Just to keep things on track and away from the bullshit provided by folks like schennmu and Dr_LucienSanchez.
 
It's easy to pick a post and call the whole thread "a hate circlejerk". It's also wrong and only helps if you want to dismiss actual criticism.

I'm not dismissing actual criticism at all. There are a ton of complaints that can be lobbed against Destiny, and it's great that some of them actually get discussed here. But for every good post that outlines those items, you get something like:

It's like they are trying to attract the dumbest demographic and then drain their wallets with DLC.

Or generally how smug they are that the stupid people wasted $60, etc etc. It's all just so rote at this point, and I don't understand the drive.
 
I'm not dismissing actual criticism at all. There are a ton of complaints that can be lobbed against Destiny, and it's great that some of them actually get discussed here. But for every good post that outlines those items, you get something like:



Or generally how smug they are that the stupid people wasted $60, etc etc. It's all just so rote at this point, and I don't understand the drive.

To be fair, there are plenty of people coming in here trying to pick fights too over that there is criticism of a game that they enjoy. Blind posting all around I guess.

But yes, I really dislike that this thread is seen by many to be a shit post dump instead of actually discussing the criticisms presented in the reviews that the |OT| isn't as geared towards.
 
I'm not dismissing actual criticism at all. There are a ton of complaints that can be lobbed against Destiny, and it's great that some of them actually get discussed here. But for every good post that outlines those items, you get something like:



Or generally how smug they are that the stupid people wasted $60, etc etc. It's all just so rote at this point, and I don't understand the drive.
That's not the same as a full thread of that, which is what I don't like about your comment. If several people quote those comments with "Yeah, fuck Destiny, this game is shit", etc then you'd have a point. But to call the entire thread "a hate circlejerk". It's like you don't know what a circlejerk is (not that I'm an expert...) or you've never encountered a hyperbolic/troll post. Just ignore those guys or report them. Don't lump the rest of the thread with them.
 

Northeastmonk

Gold Member
Can someone succinctly explain why this game failed to live up to expectations to someone who doesn't know much about this game? I haven't really been following the news on this game, but a couple of friends were really excited for it.

It doesn't play from your typical start to finish. Once you do the majority of the game, you have to do it again in another way. I think the biggest part is that it doesn't take everyone on the same journey. You actually need to play more to do more. Like others have said it's a cross between a FPS and an MMO. The more you play will mean the more you get out of it.

I think a lot of people were looking for that new Halo. That new world, plot, and etc. It has great gameplay, but you really have to work hard and stay with the game. It's not like other games where you finish the bulk of the game and now you should sell it for the next big game to come out. I think Destiny will grow with DLC. It's not like CoD where you invite your friends over to check out that large graphic hull in the atmospheric action sequence. It looks great, but you almost have to find it beyond the amazing back drop. A lot of people may go into it expecting the game to give them more choices. There also isn't a lot of character or choices. The NPCs don't talk back. You're there for your service and that's it.
 

Seanspeed

Banned
I find all game stories shit. They can build worlds and atmosphere, but when it comes to story they are all shit.
I agree for the most part. But I do think there are some exceptions that maybe aren't *great* stories, but are quite passable and interesting. And I count Halo among those exceptions.

There's no reason that games have to have bad stories and I was kinda hoping that Bungie's previous 'expertise', as you will, would mean taking a game like Destiny, which is ripe for an epic sci-fi drama, and maybe push things forward for stories in games. At the very least, I would hope for something halfway compelling. To hear that its downright bad is hugely disappointing.
 
To be fair, there are plenty of people coming in here trying to pick fights too over that there is criticism of a game that they enjoy. Blind posting all around I guess.

Yeah, that's definitely no good either.

That's not the same as a full thread of that, which is what I don't like about your comment. If several people quote those comments with "Yeah, fuck Destiny, this game is shit", etc then you'd have a point. But to call the entire thread "a hate circlejerk". It's like you don't know what a circlejerk is (not that I'm an expert...) or you've never encountered a hyperbolic/troll post. Just ignore those guys or report them. Don't lump the rest of the thread with them.

Fair enough. Calling the whole thread that is just hyperbole on my behalf, because a lot of people have really gone to lengths to show actual problems with the game, and that stuff should definitely be seen. I just feel like it gets overshadowed a bit by all the garbage, particularly by how fast this thread moves and how large it's gotten.

Either way, sorry to derail. Hopefully the rest of the bigger reviews start popping up this week.
 
D

Deleted member 17706

Unconfirmed Member
I found that Halo took 2-3 games to get interesting, this however may never get that chance, but that's life.

Are you implying that Activision is just going to dump the franchise? Or that it won't get interesting (to you) even after 2-3 games?
 

koryuken

Member
I'm not dismissing actual criticism at all. There are a ton of complaints that can be lobbed against Destiny, and it's great that some of them actually get discussed here. But for every good post that outlines those items, you get something like:



Or generally how smug they are that the stupid people wasted $60, etc etc. It's all just so rote at this point, and I don't understand the drive.

I will say that this game reinforced the lesson that I've learned with Battlefield 4 -- never buy the season pass. I am thankful that I did not do so with Destiny.
 

AndyD

aka andydumi
Are you implying that Activision is just going to dump the franchise? Or that it won't get interesting (to you) even after 2-3 games?

Or maybe a lot of people won't come back for a sequel after being burned on the first.

Bungie/Activision need to start unleashing some significant content in free patches to earn a lot of people's goodwill, otherwise, people will move on in a few months, and it's unlikely they will come back.
 
D

Deleted member 17706

Unconfirmed Member
Or maybe a lot of people won't come back for a sequel after being burned on the first.

Bungie/Activision need to start unleashing some significant content in free patches to earn a lot of people's goodwill, otherwise, people will move on in a few months, and it's unlikely they will come back.

Ehh... advertising and media hype will get people to play at least the second game.

I think people who truly dislike Destiny are in the minority. Most people are disappointed that it seems to be nothing more than a solid foundation and didn't live up to a lot of its potential. Those people will definitely be keeping an eye on any follow up.
 
Or maybe a lot of people won't come back for a sequel after being burned on the first.

Bungie/Activision need to start unleashing some significant content in free patches to earn a lot of people's goodwill, otherwise, people will move on in a few months, and it's unlikely they will come back.
Bungie has an excellent track record when it comes to apologizing for past mistakes, gretting the media/marketing machine on their side to hype people up for a sequel and then not delivering.

Gah! Double post. Sorry thread.
 

Fjordson

Member
My man. Halo CE's campaign is still GOAT for me. I go through with my best friend at least once a year and we still love it.
All this recent talk about Destiny and Bungie made me go pick up Halo Anniversary Edition for 360 last week. Been playing through the campaign and it's still amazing.
 

Impala26

Member
Halo: CE was da best though.

I'm pretty much with ya. Even 13 years on, that campaign is still fun to play (save The Library and some of the later levels). One thing we shouldn't kid ourselves though is saying that Halo: CE had some fantastically original story. I didn't realize then, at 14 years old, just how cliched the "Space Marines" trope was/is in science fiction. To say Bungie in those days wasn't heavily influenced by the "Alien" series and Larry Niven's "Ringworld" would be giving Bungie far too much credit.

What Bungie DID do was tell that story in a frenetic, emotional and compelling way--mind-blowing level design (at least in appearance/presentation), relateable characters, and fantastic gunplay and vehicles to boot. Those first few levels on the actual Halo ring were nothing short of MAGICAL at the time.
 

Scirrocco

Member
I found that Halo took 2-3 games to get interesting, this however may never get that chance, but that's life.

While Halo 1 wasn't the best in the series, its true, but at least it was servicable. The story wasn't complex, but it was there, you didn't have to guess at it. Imagine if they never told you what the halo does? Or why exactly the flood was dangerous. You just running around doing things because the plot demands it.

And there were interesting characters who intereacted with you and each other, like Cortana, Spark, Johnson and keyes. And at least some mission variety, besides stand there shooting things while cortana does something.

Thats not to say Destiny isn't better then Halo 1 in some ways to, it does at least by having online multiplayer, but in the balance i don't think it even reaches that level.
 
I find all game stories shit. They can build worlds and atmosphere, but when it comes to story they are all shit.

And these reviews are all people who fell for the hype and got extra burned. Which is good because hype is bad and Bungie needs a fire under their asses.

I used to think this, but the Last Of Us absolutely changed this completely.
 

oneils

Member
I'll say one more thing. Reading all of these lukewarm reviews actually makes me want to play the game for myself. Goes to show that any publicity is good publicity. I'm so close to just downloading this on PS 3 right now. There really isn't a lot of risk involved as I'd be happy with just spending 10-15 hours on this game.

Haven't played a bungie game since combat evolved.

I ended up buying the game on PS 3, late saturday night. After all of the discussion, I was really curious to see what the game is like. I've put about 4 hours into it and have had fun so far. If I manage to get to level 20 I'll be more than satisfied.

One thing that surprised me is that I actually had fun with the pvp. I've always sucked at fps' while using a controller (waiting for a dualshock 4 I ordered off of amazon).

I like the bounty system as it adds a little incentive to pve and pvp. I've never really enjoyed fps' on console, but I can see playing this for a few more weeks.

Not sure what my impression will be as I level up, so I'll try to update this after a week or so.
 

antitrop

Member
http://www.gameinformer.com/games/d.../2014/09/15/destiny-game-informer-review.aspx
8.75

Like the MMOs from which Destiny draws inspiration, it’s challenging to draw a line in the sand about what the game is or will be. Already, Bungie has plans in the works to expand the game with additional story content, raids, and regular new variations on competitive play. However, a game can’t be judged for what it might be in the future. Even with its stumbles, the initial release of Destiny is a colossal achievement in interactive design, integrating a number of differing genre elements into a smart and unified whole. Bungie’s latest futuristic opus is one of the first true event games of this new generation, and while it still has room to grow, it’s worth your attention right out of the gate.
jennifer_lawrence_okay.gif

Game Informer continues to be the same score-inflating shills they've always been.
 

antitrop

Member
"We are scoring on what is promised and expected in the future, then what is actually presented in front of us" is how that quote reads to me.

Anyone else?
No, they say that's what they're not going to do, and then go ahead and do it, anyway.

It's offensive to me to suggest that Destiny as it stands out of the box right now today is worth an 8.75 to the average consumer.
 
My man. Halo CE's campaign is still GOAT for me. I go through with my best friend at least once a year and we still love it.

What's really fascinating to me about Destiny is that it, like Halo: Combat Evolved, is incredibly repetitive in level/encounter design.

I see a lot of parallels between the two games when viewed in this manner. Both are great games but very flawed in some ways.
 
"We are scoring on what is promised and expected in the future, then what is actually presented in front of us" is how that quote reads to me.

Anyone else?

Exactly how it sounds to me as well. It's expected from Gameinformer though tbh. Who actually takes their reviews seriously?
 
What's really fascinating to me about Destiny is that it, like Halo: Combat Evolved, is incredibly repetitive in level/encounter design.

I see a lot of parallels between the two games when viewed in this manner. Both are great games but very flawed in some ways.

Yeah, but for me CE's saving grace was the story. Cortana, Guilty Spark, Keyes, Johnson... they all made much more of an impression than anything has in Destiny.
 

antitrop

Member
Exactly how it sounds to me as well. It's expected from Gameinformer though tbh. Who actually takes their reviews seriously?

No, the author is saying he's scoring the game as it stands on launch day, not on potential and promises of future updates.

But that 8.75 doesn't exactly leave a lot of fucking room for improvement, does it?
 

Trey

Member
No, they say that's what they're not going to do, and then go ahead and do it, anyway.

It's offensive to me to suggest that Destiny as it stands out of the box right now today is worth an 8.75 to the average consumer.

That's their opinion. I think it's fair to express that opinion if they back it up with reasoning.
 
Gameinformer review:

Destiny is a colossal achievement

thoughtfully imagined universe

missions are a blast

Destiny excels at providing activities for different moods and moments

stage layouts and enemies help the battles feel distinct

a genuine sense of ownership over your guardian

Loot is...often meaningful

Destiny reveals its complexity only after many hours

it’s exciting to uncover higher level versions of old missions

a smart and unified whole

it’s worth your attention right out of the gate


I-Have-No-Idea-What-Im-Doing-300x272.jpg

Matt Miller of Game Informer, earlier today.
 

antitrop

Member
That's their opinion. I think it's fair to express that opinion if they back it up with reasoning.

I could nitpick the stupid review all day, but this line really pissed me off:

"Bungie’s solution to the MMO “mount” is a floating speeder bike that’s more fun than it has any right to be"

Fucking please. Holding down the analog stick forward while navigating through mostly empty corridors that exist only as an excuse for the player to use said speeder bike. SO MUCH FUN

It's like they came up with the speeder bike, and then realized there was no point to it, so they added all these empty ass fucking long pathways just so you can use it. I see right through the design.
 
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