Storytelling in Destiny 2 - Effects of Guardian Progression (Destiny)

by Kermit , Raleigh, NC, Wednesday, July 27, 2016, 15:06 (2832 days ago) @ Ragashingo

It's certainly a trade off.

In Halo, nothing you do in the future affects the way you replay past missions. You're always the Master Chief and there is a solidity and stability and ease of role play that comes from that. I'm leading these marines along this river beneath the African rain forest because I'm a noble, brainwashed supersoldier for whom completing the mission and bringing everyone home are my first and second most important priorities.

On the other hand, Destiny lets me play any mission as one of three characters that have the backstories and weapons preferences and superpowers and motivations of my choosing. I can be my tough experienced soldier far from home fighting to defend those who can't defend themselves. Or I can be my naturally talented but young and inexperienced street rat venturing beyond the walls who protected her all her life in order to provide for her sister. Or I can be my jaded robotic scholar who endured centuries of forced labor after our Golden Age collapsed and who fights to make sure no one claims him as a possession again. And you can choose to play as most any other kind of character you want!

I just want to say I like the way you engage your imagination while playing Destiny. I think you're doing it right, but I can understand other people not enjoying Destiny as much as they might enjoy a game like Halo because they're not accustomed to letting their own imagination fill in the blanks.

Bungie can improve Destiny's storytelling and I hope they do, but I have to admit that I kind of like that they require something of you to get the most out of the world they've created.