Some attention-grabbing new bits trickled into Destiny 2 as the brand new season of paid Annual Pass content material actually begins rolling, together with a quest the place we get to choose sides – a tiny trace of a doable future with branching tales. While the results are minor proper now, Bungie do tease that it “may impact future content.” I’m up for that. ‘Invitations of the Nine’ quests have arrived with a neat-o cutscene and an enormous (and massively choreographed) twist too. Oh, additionally, spacemen can now discover one other cursed weapon, returning Destiny 1 revolver Thorn.
The Season of the Drifter began with issues (properly, much more issues) across the Drifter, our historical deadbeat spaceuncle with a darkish previous who sneaks us unlawful alien moonshine when herodad Zavala isn’t trying, provides our buddies tattoos with outdated needles in his storage, and principally runs a gameshow the place we heroes battle one another and summon darkish forces don’t fear it’s high quality we’re all having enjoyable right here look take this shiny revolver and cease worrying about it. These sentiments have bubbled within the background for months, and now the game has requested us to take a stance on the Drifter.
A brand new questline added on Tuesday asks us to decide on between formally turning into Drifter’s pal or standing with the Vanguard and investigating him for a Warlock of the Praxic Order, some wiznerds who actually don’t like folks meddling with darkness. This is generally a framing machine, presenting completely different views on the identical quests then providing barely completely different rewards (with presents every week) however it’s greater than Destiny 2 has achieved earlier than. It will be the begin of one thing new.
“The Drifter will remember your choice,” it warns earlier than we decide sides. And he does, calling us a snitch in some Gambit announcer strains if we snitch on him. That’s not massive, not but.
“This choice may impact future content for this character,” it additional says. Ooh! Now that’s a tease. Bungie say might, not will, so don’t dream too massive.
I’ve sided with the Drifter on my first character, a Warlock who finds the Praxic Order a bunch of tedious blowhards and can fortunately ditch them to run with spaceuncle. What’s the worst that might occur? Other than dying, everlasting struggling, or a betrayal of every thing and everybody we stand for. The level is, we’ll be COOL when it goes down. My lunk of a Titan will all the time keep on with the Vanguard, and subsequently again the Order, whereas my Hunter is all the time up for huffing Motes with Drifter in his basement.
The Drifter can also be the main focus of the brand new Invitations of the Nine. Formerly named Xûr Bounties, these are quests offered by that snake-faced shopkeep and servant of enigmatic spacepowers. Run just a few errands for the Nine (on this first one, it’s to do a Strike and kill a handful of baddies) and also you’ll be handled to a meet ‘n’ greet with their Emissary, who reveals extra in regards to the Drifter by chatter and–ooh!–a brand new cutscene with voice and every thing. Xûr visits each weekend (he’s on Titan today) and can supply 9 invites in all. Of course it’s 9.
I’m glad to see extra story unfolding outdoors of obscure lorelogs and merchandise descriptions, particularly with branching quests, and am eager to see extra of spaceuncle. Bungie gave away this week’s twist in trailers and large foreshadowing however it’s nonetheless ’un.
Destiny 2 is constant to stroll away from easy beliefs of fine and unhealthy, Light and Darkness. With horrible issues from the depths of area seeming to attract ever nearer, the blissful privilege of a “we’re good; they’re bad” binary is falling away advert we’re forming unusual alliances with magical queens and planet-drinking emperors, happening bloody vengeful rampages, and play with forbidden cursed weapons. I’m completely satisfied to have the game give us decisions as we transfer into murky ethical territory.
Speaking of forbidden cursed weapons, hey, Thorn arrived on Tuesday. Returning from Destiny 1, it’s a honking nice revolver utilized by baddies to homicide our fellow Guardians. Now we now have one and look don’t fear about it, it’s high quality. It’s an correct and hard-hitting mid-range gun, which does slightly lingering poison injury over time too – not lots, however sufficient that in PvP you’ll curse these two additional seconds you need to wait to heal. Killing somebody with Thorn generates an orb that enhances its bullet and DoT injury for six seconds too.
If you need one, head on by the Salt Mines of the EDZ in quest of a hidden camp. This’ll begin a quest chain the place, neatly, a lot of the steps give a selection of PvE or PvP actions for completion. The last steps do require PvP then PvE, thoughts.
Today has additionally introduced the third and last stage of Reckoning, the season’s new four-player cooperative mode. It has an influence stage requirement of 680 so many individuals gained’t be capable of entry it but, however that’ll be the place to seek out top-tier gear for the brand new Gambit Prime mode. Nice to see extra of the bizarre alien areas of The Nine’s realm or aircraft or no matter that is look I identical to the shapes. A brand new Gambit Prime map is due on Tuesday and all.
I’m liking this season to date. With the addition of Gambit Prime and Reckoning on prime of final season’s Forges, Destiny 2 has sufficient stuff that at the same time as an avid participant I can’t do every thing. Rather than starvation for extra, I’m choosing what I most need to do and skipping the remainder. That’s a pleasant play for an MMO to be.
