Let’s start again
After parting ways with Activision, Bungie changed a bit of strategy regarding the development of Destiny 2 . We said goodbye to smaller DLCs in favor of larger add-ons, coming more or less in the annual cycle and significantly messing up the basics of the game. Beyond the Light, it is an even more decisive step in this matter than last year’s Shadowkeep. In many ways, we are dealing with a certain reboot of the title, made in such a way that it becomes more accessible to new players who may get lost in the sheer volume of content and the complexities of the world. This solution is understandable as the edition adapted to the new generation consoles will debut in the days, which may additionally enrich the user base (remember that the basic version of the game is available in the free to play model ), and the studio does not intend to release a full-fledged version anytime soon. third part. However, as you might expect, such a compromise also has its drawbacks, which can be especially hard on veterans of the series.
The light in the back
The main attraction of the expansion is the new PvE campaign. Already in this aspect we can see a nod to less committed or new players. Contrary to the story from Shadowkeep , deeply embedded in the universe , Beyond Lightfrom the very beginning it tempts with an accessible story. Although it is also quite closely related to the events so far, it does not accuse the players of a huge amount of information and also works well as an independent narrative. The more that it is difficult to deny the atmosphere of the new storyline. The player-created Sentinel this time goes to Jupiter’s moon Europa, summoned by Varix. For here is the mysterious Eramis gathering more and more powerful forces, eagerly sharing Stasis, a new force that comes straight from the Darkness. While the main plot is not the most original, it is very pleasant to read. This is mainly due to the interestingly presented characters, but most of all the background. After a few years of presenting quite enigmatic threads about the world of Destinyit was decided to devote more attention to the issues that might seem fundamental to the universe, i.e. what exactly is Light and Darkness, where did they come from, what are they going to. Nevertheless, there are still some dilemmas that may be resolved in the future.
Solid shooting
We are still mainly dealing with a standard looter shooter , so ultimately the story is mainly a pretext to conduct spectacular skirmishes and collect new equipment. This segment has definitely been achieved at a satisfactory level. The locations are the main ones that attract attention. Open Europe captivates with a raw, frosty landscape, perfectly matching the theme of Darkness. We will also visit the beautifully renovated Kosmodrome, known from the first installment of Destiny. The very construction of the campaign should also be praised. This time, the difficulty level was higher than in the base and previous expansions, and therefore a solo adventure can provide emotions and challenges, especially in the case of boss battles, where knowledge of their techniques becomes important. It takes about 9-10 hours to complete the thread, which is quite a good result, although you should include a bit of grind in this time.
New or old?
One of the main novelties promoted by the expansion was the new Stasis power subclasses. They bring a breath of fresh air to the game, because unlike the previous skills, we are not dealing with a powerful offensive action, but rather with making it easier to control the battle arena, along with the ability to block opponents. Once you’ve mastered its specifics, using your new ability becomes very rewarding. It should be noted, however, that in fact, we will gain access to them only after completing the story content. As a kind of foretaste during the PvE campaign, we will use the new abilities only sporadically – in a few predefined situations. This is not a particular problem as it is at the heart of Destiny from the outsetthere was a post-campaign content, including a multiplayer game. It’s that item Beyond the Lightwill divide the current community the most. As I mentioned at the beginning, the add-on performs a soft reset of the game to simplify the whole thing. This is due to the removal by developers of a large part of the existing content, including several planets (based on the popularity of the content). The model of sharing new activities with players, related to the mechanics of the seasons, may also cause controversy. Instead of many new features available since launch, Bungie has opted for regular updates. From the point of view of maintaining interest in the title in the long term, the decision seems to make sense, but I can understand the part of the community that did not like it. However, what would you say about the chosen model, it seems that the creators know how to use it. The Season of the Hunt has already begunadding more missions and unlockable gear, guaranteeing another satisfying entertainment, and another raid met with great interest in the community. However, please note that only over time will we be able to say with certainty whether the content related to the add-on is really successful.
Successful premiere
Destiny 2: Beyond Light is an add-on that successfully expands the game universe with interesting events, but at the same time is a good proposition for players who have completed only the story from the free stand. The campaign attracts with an exceptionally attractive setting, but also provides a pleasant gameplay, largely due to the increased difficulty level and more thoughtful bosses. While this is just the beginning of multiplayer content, there are many indications that Bungie will continue to drive the game smoothly, although the decision to reset the content will certainly have many critics for a long time to come. Nevertheless, I would definitely recommend Beyond Lightexisting players and those who like the free version. The title should be of particular interest to subscribers of the Xbox Game Pass service, where it is made available together with add-ons. Bungie has already announced two more expansions, continuing the new chapter that has just started (to be released in 2021 and 2022), and I will be closely following reports related to them, hoping for more successful content.
We would like to thank Cenega for providing the review add-on .
