Destiny 2 officially confirmed, new content revealed
Bungie’s massively multiplayer space adventure continues this September
Oh yes. It’s happening. You already knew what was coming if you read our Destiny: Rise Of Iron cover feature in OPM #127. But Bungie has now let the whole world know, in no uncertain terms: Destiny 2 is coming on 8 September.
For anyone with a penchant for unreasonably gorgeous guns and slick space combat with friends, the MMO shooter quickly became an obsession after its 2014 release. Three years and four expansion packs later, the original Destiny is making way for a full sequel. And we do mean ‘making way’. Steel yourselves, Guardians. Take one long, last, lingering look at your Ice Breaker, your Gjallarhorn and your Thunderlord (maybe kiss them a bit. We won’t judge). They’re about to disappear forever.
In the interest of a totally fresh start for newcomers – both on PS4 and now on PC, too – and incurable hoarders alike, Destiny 2 is popping all of your stuff in the fire. Well, technically, the Cabal is. Led by brand-new big bad commander Ghaul (and probably a bit annoyed about all that fuss you kicked up on its big nasty spaceship back in the original Destiny), the Red Legion is out for blood, and has laid waste to the Tower. The Vaults. Where you keep all your loot.
WHY, GOD, WHY
Okay, so we’re finding it hard to let go of that bit. Fortunately, Bungie has explained that although we’ll be waving goodbye to “power, possessions, and Eververse-related items and currency”, we’ll be able to carry any characters above level 20 (and who’ve completed the Black Garden story mission) over to the sequel. There’ll even be “honors that reflect your Destiny 1 accomplishments” for the veteran Guardians among us.
You won’t be going to war stripped of everything, then. Just most things. And hey, at least you won’t be alone! Everybody’s fave
Exo Hunter Vanguard, Cayde-6, returns to guide you through this brave new era in the Destiny-verse. Okay, so the recently released story trailer also features Titan leader Commander Zavala and Warlock head Ikora Rey, but it’s Nathan Fillion’s wise-cracking charmster who’s the star of the show, setting Destiny 2’s fresh new tone.
Destiny always had a sense of humour hidden away in its drier whole, but there’s more than a whiff of Borderlands or Deadpool about Bungie’s promotional trailers so far, with the focus firmly on Cayde. His playful disregard for the fourth wall during his motivational speech is brilliant: “Everything is gone. Your stuff. My stuff. Most importantly, mystuff,” he laments, before finally rousing a cheer with the promise that “There will be a ton of loot!” WIll be seeing a serious injection of humour in the sequel? Here’s hoping.
One thing’s for sure: a new game and a blank slate means loads of new locations, new weapons and enemies to fight. Let’s start with taking down the Red Legion Cabal – although it’s difficult to figure out exactly how, as the fighters are tricked out in some nasty new gear. The hulking metal rhino dudes seen in the reveal trailer are carrying shields, much like the Phalanx from the first game, but these seem extra fancy, unfurling into barriers of yellow energy. The same kind of citrine light crackles off the dual blades of another Cabal enemy – this time, he’s a colossal red guy. But it’s the dogs we should probably be worried about.
DOG OF WAR
If you’ve ever played a Souls title, chances are that brief flash of a leaping, four-legged beast sent you gibbering to the safety of the nearest blanket. Every gamer worth their salt knows these kinds of enemies are a real pain, and often run in dangerous, speedy, skill-testing packs. Looks like we’ll be going hand-to-snout with the spiky crimson alien hounds – fingers crossed our characters are equipped with tasty new closequarters abilities to fight ’em off.
And while Bungie is keeping quiet on whether there’ll be any alterations or additions to the nine combative subclasses, there are clues that we may still be able to play as the original lot: Stormcaller Warlock abilities, for example, look
A GLIMPSE SUGGESTS SHIPS MIGHT BE PROMOTED FROM LOADING SCREENS TO FULL BATTLE VEHICLES.
set to stay as we see one shot where Ikora Rey gives a Cabal grunt a faceful of lightning fist.
Perhaps we’ll have a touch more than magical punches on our side this time. One scene in the trailer shows gigantic Cabal warships under attack… by a very Guardianesque craft firing blue lasers. Ship combat confirmed? It’s far too early to say for sure, but this tantalising glimpse suggests that Destiny 2 might well promote our spacewhips from mere loading screens to potential battle vehicles.
LIGHT KNIGHTS
How’s this for an intriguing idea, though: what if there’s a bit of philanthropy involved in Destiny 2? The story trailer shows quite a few shots of Guardians pulling your regular, average, non-guntoting civilians from the rubble of the ruined city. Could this mean more interactions, maybe sidequests, involving the non-military folk in Destiny’s solar system? It’d certainly be a big change for the series – and would surely require far more varied and detailed areas.
Many of the particulars are up in the air for now, but we can already confidently say we’re rallying the old Fireteam for this one. Eyes up, Guardian: we’re bringing you hands-on Destiny 2 thoughts next issue.