Memorable Destiny moments (Destiny)

by Cody Miller , Music of the Spheres - Never Forgot, Friday, June 30, 2017, 11:40 (2792 days ago) @ Oholiab

There was a true sense of wonder the first time I played Destiny…

With the basis of the lore explained, wandering around the cosmodrome in the Alpha filled me with a sense of wonder and curiosity. There were no missions or objectives, but exploring the space, and wondering what kind of things would happen when the game was released got my imagination turning.

Walking through the tower, listening to the music, and wondering what was to come really was something else. It felt like a 'Brave New World" indeed.

While the game may not have delivered on that hope, the Vault of Glass did. Not knowing what to expect and going in with no objectives or ideas about what a raid is was an amazing memory. Deeper and deeper into the unknown… a part of me thinks that waypoints, maps, and mission indicators have been the worst setbacks for modern game design.

Part of the reason I worry when folks say Des2ny is basically the same game as Destiny, is that there will be nothing to wonder at, or look at in mystery. I can't say for sure, but idea of a raid is well established now, and there's some sense of what to expect. Nothing's ever like your first time. While there are pleasures to be had from repeat visits to an activity, they are very different emotions. With all the talk about the lore being put aside… I don't want to jump to conclusions, but I can't help but feel it won't deliver and a deeper emotional level.

For all the supposed faults, I always felt like Halo 2 delivered upon the expansion of wonder and curiosity, as well as letting us take pleasure from the skills we already had from Halo. Hearing a snippet of a song, or a glance at a screenshot takes me back immediately to the feelings I had with the game. The sense of discovery was wonderful at the time, not just looking back.

As much as I complain about Destiny, there are bits and pieces that have quite the essence to them, and am curious to see if the sequel can build upon that.