Review: Destiny 2: The Final Shape a mostly satisfying conclusion to a 10-year story
2024-06-21
Destiny 2: The Final Shape - A Triumphant Conclusion to a Decade-Long Saga
Bungie's Destiny franchise has been a rollercoaster ride for players, with its highs and lows over the past decade. The highly anticipated expansion, The Final Shape, promised to be the capstone of the Light and Darkness Saga, and Bungie has delivered a satisfying conclusion that exceeds expectations.
Destiny 2: The Final Shape - A Fitting Finale to an Epic Journey
Unveiling the Witness and the Traveler's Corruption
The Final Shape picks up where the previous expansion, The Witness, left off. Guardians have been battling the forces of The Witness, a powerful entity wielding the power of Darkness, as it seeks to corrupt the Traveler, a godlike entity that bestowed Guardians with their powers. The expansion takes players to the Traveler's Pale Heart, a corrupted yet idyllic new location, where they uncover the dark history of The Witness and its plans to impose its vision of a perfect, never-changing universe on all living creatures.Through a seven-hour story campaign, players delve deeper into the motivations and thought processes of The Witness, gaining a better understanding of the entity's goals and the stakes at hand. The narrative is further enriched by meaningful conversations with familiar characters, which serve to connect The Final Shape to the broader Destiny lore and provide a sense of nostalgia for longtime players.
Gameplay Enhancements and the Prismatic Subclass
Alongside the engaging story, The Final Shape introduces several gameplay improvements and new features. The expansion adds exciting new weapons, such as The Call, a sidearm that fires mini-rockets, which provide a fresh and dynamic combat experience. Additionally, the introduction of the Prismatic subclass is a highlight, allowing Guardians to mix and match abilities from different subclasses, opening up a vast array of build possibilities for players to explore.The depth of the Prismatic subclass is further enhanced by the addition of new super abilities and aspects for each Guardian class, including Solar for Warlocks, Void for Titans, and Arc for Hunters. This level of customization and flexibility empowers players to tailor their Guardian's playstyle to their preferences, adding a new layer of depth to the Destiny 2 experience.
The Climactic Final Mission: A Destiny Masterpiece
The true gem of The Final Shape, however, is its culminating mission, which stands as one of the best in the entire Destiny franchise. This 12-person activity, which was initially locked behind the expansion's new raid, Salvation's Edge, is a jaw-dropping ode to longtime fans, delivering a climactic finale that rivals the epic conclusion of "Avengers: Endgame."The mission is a testament to Bungie's storytelling prowess and their ability to craft a truly memorable and emotionally resonant experience for players. The sense of scale, the epic confrontation, and the emotional weight of the events unfolding all come together to create a mission that will leave a lasting impression on Destiny 2 players, both new and seasoned.
The Aftermath and the Future of Destiny 2
While The Final Shape marks the conclusion of the Light and Darkness Saga, Bungie has already laid the groundwork for the future of Destiny 2. The expansion's release was followed by the introduction of a new content drop, the first of what the developer is calling "Episodes," which will explore the aftermath of the events in The Final Shape.This suggests that Destiny 2's journey is far from over, and players can look forward to continued support and new narrative arcs in the years to come. The Final Shape may be the end of one chapter, but it also serves as a springboard for the next phase of the Destiny 2 experience, ensuring that the game's rich and expansive universe will continue to captivate and engage players for years to come.