A Stellar Shooter with a Bright Future - Destiny 2

Destiny 2 is one of the most anticipated games of the year, and for good reason. The sequel to Bungie's ambitious online shooter promises to deliver a rich story, refined gameplay, stunning graphics, and endless content for players to enjoy. But how does it fare on PC, a platform that was left out of the original Destiny? Is it worth jumping into this sci-fi adventure, or should you wait for more updates and expansions? Here's my review of Destiny 2 on PC.

The Story

Destiny 2 starts with a bang, literally. A mysterious enemy faction called the Red Legion invades Earth and attacks the Last City, the home of humanity and the Guardians who protect it. The leader of the Red Legion, Dominus Ghaul, captures the Traveler, a giant orb that grants the Guardians their powers and immortality. Without their Light, the Guardians are vulnerable and scattered across the solar system.

The story campaign follows your Guardian as they try to reunite with their allies and fight back against Ghaul's forces. Along the way, you'll meet new characters and old friends, explore exotic planets and moons, discover secrets and lore, and face epic bosses. The story is well-written and well-acted, with memorable cutscenes that showcase the emotions and personalities of the characters. It's also much more coherent and engaging than the original Destiny's story, which was criticized for being vague and confusing.

The campaign lasts about 10 hours on average, depending on your pace and difficulty level. It's a satisfying journey that sets up the world and stakes of Destiny 2, but it's not the end of it. There are plenty of side missions called Adventures that expand on the lore and history of each location. There are also hidden quests that reward you with powerful Exotic weapons or armor. And there's always something new happening in the world every week, such as Flashpoints (special public events), Nightfalls (challenging strikes), or Raids (massive cooperative dungeons).

The Gameplay

Destiny 2 is first and foremost a shooter game, and it excels at that aspect. The gunplay is smooth, responsive, and satisfying. Each weapon type feels distinct and has its own strengths and weaknesses. You can carry three weapons at a time: one kinetic, one energy, and one power weapon. Kinetic and energy weapons are your primary and secondary guns, such as auto rifles, hand cannons, scout rifles, pulse rifles, submachine guns, sidearms, or shotguns. Power weapons are your heavy hitters, such as sniper rifles, rocket launchers, grenade launchers, fusion rifles, or swords. You can switch between them depending on the situation and your preference.

You can also customize your weapons with mods that enhance their stats or abilities. For example, you can add a mod that increases the reload speed or stability of your weapon, or one that changes its elemental damage type. Mods can be obtained from various sources, such as vendors, loot chests, or dismantling other items.