The Edge of Fate is the latest Destiny 2 expansion. This expansion tries to cut through the familiar. But it often stumbles on well-trodden ground. This game has had a legendary campaign straight out of the box. But getting fresh has seen it dragged down by long tedious missions and an even more painful grind.
Rekindling the Spark of an Old Saga
The journey with The Edge of Fate is bittersweet. While it does its best to pick up the pieces at the end of The Final Shape, fresh players or those who haven’t closely followed seasonal updates would likely feel lost. The story starts with a lot of heavy lore that is a little confusing, including ‘dark matter’, which is likely something someone without much DnD experience would not have even heard of. The addition of Lodi, a new character with unexplained time travel ties, saves the story from being entirely predictable.
Challenges and Opportunities in New Territories
Going out to Kepler, Destiny’s first trip beyond our solar system, starts out with a beautiful setting. However, the environment seems dull and constricted with reused assets we’ve experienced many times. The depiction of a vast expanse of commonplace rock has caused a violation of the wow factor. A new ability that allows players to morph into a little ball and roll through small spaces is cool, but it doesn’t exactly elevate the gameplay game as much as we would like it to. Though these mechanics may create some interesting puzzles, they easily resolved and repetitive nature will feel more like busywork than a true challenge.
A Struggle to Maintain Engagement in Gameplay Mechanics
Even though new skills are added to combat, they still break the flow of gameplay. Doing things like collect things under heavy fire detract from the experience rather than enhance it. Players have been playing enemies from the campaign over the years and now with the corsairs and robotic bees, there hasn’t been much difference. The side missions are also less engaging, focusing on just going back to an old location to do something trivial.
The Enduring Desert: Yet Another Raid We all Know
Echoing the tradition of Destiny, The Edge of Fate features yet another raid, namely, The Desert Perpetual. While raids have always been strong, this one adds almost nothing new. The things like node shooting, synchronized platforming, and circular jumping come back as motifs. Raid events are unremarkable to the point of being unremarkable. While the raid allows you non-linear access to some of the earlier encounters, it is also home to a visually distinctive final boss. The game still remains the same at its core and does not use the new powers that were introduced in the campaign.
The Grit Too Far: The Incentive Dilemma
The game’s loot and setup systems have been the most changed since The Final Shape, in addition to the game. The new updates will make it possible to play the game better. But since the new gear types are very low, it is bringing down the motivation of players in the game. The endgame is one huge grind where you have to go back into previous content for slightly better gear. This was mentioned in the last review and is something which will frustrate all but the most dedicated.
In conclusion, Destiny 2: The Edge of Fate is not the worst expansion the franchise has seen but is average at best. The overall presentation fails in many ways, despite having some good narrative direction and interesting mechanics. Those who dependably play the series and enjoy seeing them mix things up may like it. However, the grind-heavy progression system might put off even the most dependable of loyalists. If you’re looking for nostalgia, better options are available. They take you on an exciting journey to the past.