Destiny 1.5
Sequels to successful games come in two ways, they either revamp an existing formula or they do exactly what the previous entry did. Somehow Destiny 2 falls in between these two theories, as it's quite different but also the exact same as before. In Destiny's case, that's not a bad thing. The original Destiny started off as a barren wasteland of gameplay and quickly devolved into a boring slog with nothing pushing you forward. But Bungie took great care to make the game into something great, by enhancing the gameplay and diving into the lore. With The Taken King, Bungie created an addicting shooter that combined elements of World of Warcraft and Halo. Four years later, they've released the sequel, and...it's the same but different.
Whereas the story of the original game was incredibly bare-bones, Destiny 2 opens with a bang. An exciting sequence with beautiful cutscenes immerses you in the story almost immediately. The opening involves the Cabal, a race from the original, mounting an assault on the Traveler. Not only does it set up all the characters and villains in a fast and fun way, it also explains why you're character is not the all-powerful being they were in the first. What follows is a dumb, fun space opera that has fun characters and gorgeous visuals. Players don't come to Destiny for the story, but it's reassuring that this one is the dumb fun that it should be.
Being developed by Bungie, it's obvious that Destiny 2 is going to have incredibly tight shooting mechanics. Regardless of your opinions on Halo and its flaws, it is impossible to deny the precision that those games had. Destiny 2 continues that tradition, with incredibly fluid controls and airtight accuracy. Pulling off headshots and immediately transitioning into your abilities is as easy as it's every been. Destiny 2 sets the bar for console shooters and everyone else should take note.
Classes and abilities return although there are some tweaks to the formula. The skill points from the original have been changed into a more recognizable skill tree. There are three classes and each class has multiple subclasses with two skill trees in each one. While some players may feel that it is simplified from the original game, I found it to be more streamlined and allows for great playstyles for every player. Whereas the Titans favor guns and strength, Warlocks may favor magic and abilities. These three unique characters encourage three unique playthroughs.
From a visual standpoint, Destiny 2 raises the bar for shooters. The game is simply gorgeous with breathtaking environments and eye-catching armor. A large element of Destiny has always been about collecting, or purchasing, cosmetics and Destiny 2 continues this trend. All of the classes have wild gear and armor pieces and allow your character to stand out. A Warlock may sport a flaming goat head while a Titan may be adorned with comically massive shoulder pads. Different shaders are also available ensuring that your character will stand out from the rest. While the weapons are not as varied as something like Borderlands, they have enough different types with enough unique perks, that searching for every new weapon is seriously addicting.
The only real drawback from Destiny 2 is that it is fairly mindless. As you traverse the overworld and do the main story missions, enemies rarely give much challenge, save for the elite enemies. It's only once you start the more difficult mission types such as Strikes, the Nightfall, and the Raid. These much more coordination with your squad and are a blast to play through. They can be pretty difficult, and even frustrating at times, but the challenge is what sets them apart from the rest of the game.
Destiny 2 is a great game and is a lot of fun. It's a mindless loot-shooter set in a fun space opera universe. It can be fairly monotonous but just when you start to get bored, your level goes up and you find a new weapon. And then the game continues. If you didn't like the original, this will do nothing to change your mind. If you did, then you've already bought it.
