Destiny 2 takes a giant leap forward with The Final Shape, delivering a conclusion that both honors the game’s rich history and hints at an even brighter future.
Bungie weaves a masterful narrative tapestry in The Final Shape. Compelling characters and surprising emotional depth elevate Destiny 2 to a whole new level.
The Prismatic Subclass injects fresh energy into Guardian customization. It’s like a playground of abilities, letting you craft unique builds and conquer missions in unexpected ways.
For those who’ve been with Destiny since its 2014 debut, the road to The Final Shape has been a winding one. Destiny, despite its passionate fanbase and ambitious live service concept, has had its fair share of bumps. But with The Final Shape, Bungie throws down the gauntlet, crafting a finale that’s a love letter to everything fans adore about Destiny 2. It’s a culmination that proves the potential players have always believed in.
Destiny 2 raises the bar for the future with The Final Shape, and here’s hoping that future is a long one! Whether you’re a brand new player (a “New Light”) or a seasoned Guardian who’s been around since the beginning, The Final Shape welcomes everyone to witness the epic showdown between Light and Darkness, a saga that started way back in 2014.
The most important thing about The Final Shape is the story. Bungie had a tall order: create a finale that would leave fans happy with both the journey and the destination. Remember, the Destiny story hasn’t always been crystal clear over the past decade. While some past expansions haven’t quite reached the heights of legendary ones like The Taken King or Forsaken, The Final Shape goes above and beyond expectations, delivering an ending that’s both exciting and satisfying.
A Deeply Rewarding Story, Enhanced by its Characters
The Final Shape campaign throws you headfirst into the portal carved by the creepy Witness back in Lightfall. It feels like forever (well, a year of seasonal updates!) but the wait is finally over. You’ve been learning about this universe-ending baddie for ages, and now it’s time for a showdown. Here’s the thing: even in the face of ultimate darkness, hope is still your strongest weapon.
The Final Shape’s story is a total homerun for Bungie. Forget just walking around scanning stuff with your Ghost. This time, you’re deep inside the mysterious Pale Heart, feeling the pressure and the chills as you uncover more of the Witness’s twisted plans. Even if you’re a seasoned Guardian, the Pale Heart’s warped landscape will throw you for a loop. Exploring this ever-changing maze with new mechanics and daring escapes is a total blast, all leading you closer to the heart of the Traveler (literally!).
The Vanguard steps up in a big way for The Final Shape’s story. We’re talking Ikora, Zavala, a shockingly-back Cayde-6, and even Crow, the former enemy turned complex Guardian. These characters truly come alive in this gritty, high-stakes story. The end of everything is on the line, and it shows.
The Final Shape takes things way more seriously than past expansions. It’s awesome to see the campaign treated with such urgency, tension, and respect. As you progress through the missions, so do the characters. Big shoutouts to Cayde-6, Crow, and Zavala (especially Zavala, now voiced by the legendary Keith David after Lance Reddick’s passing). Zavala’s journey is particularly important. We’ve seen his unwavering loyalty to the Traveler tested time and time again. Now, faced with nothing but silence and grief, he’s ripe for the Witness’s manipulation. This villain is a direct threat this time around, offering some seriously creepy and fascinating moments – some of the best in Destiny history.
Bungie delivers a 10-year celebration that’s absolutely worth the wait.
Light and Dark Harmonize to Create Unique Guardians
New toy box: Prismatic Subclass
Every expansion brings new ways to fight, and The Final Shape doesn’t disappoint! This time, it’s the Prismatic Subclass. It mixes Light and Darkness powers, giving you a ton of options to customize your Guardian.
There’s no vendor telling you what to do. You get to experiment and find the Prismatic abilities that fit your playstyle. It’s like having a whole new box of toys to play with in Destiny 2! No matter how wacky or powerful you make your Guardian, Prismatic lets you forge your own legend.
Everyone plays Destiny 2 differently, right? Some love PvE (fighting enemies), others prefer PvP (fighting other players). Now, with Prismatic, you can truly customize your character – your clothes, weapons, class, and especially your subclass. You get to pick and choose abilities, and even unlock more! This is a blast for new and old Guardians alike.
New punching bags: The Dread
The best way to test out your awesome new powers? On new bad guys, of course! The Final Shape introduces the Dread, Destiny 2’s first new enemy faction in ages.
These creepy followers of the Witness use Darkness powers, making them tougher and more strategic than your average enemy. Some fly and control you with weird space spaghetti (Strand!), while others chase you down for a good slash.
You’ll face the Dread throughout the campaign and in the epic new raid, Salvation’s Edge. Each encounter is a wild ride – one minute you’re blasting away, the next you’re getting flung around like a rubber band! Just another day for a Guardian, right?
Salvation’s Edge keeps up Bungie’s tradition of challenging 6-person Fireteams with tough encounters. Get ready to put an end to…well, the end (of the world, that is!)
The Finale is for Everyone
Raiding from the sidelines
Even though I love Raids, I haven’t tried Contest mode yet. It’s too intense! But watching people tackle Salvation’s Edge has been amazing. The puzzles are super hard, and the story about saving the universe is gripping. Even if you’re not playing, you can feel the pressure! It’s like everyone’s waiting for a team of Guardians to win for all of us. Bungie makes these Raids incredible experiences for 6 players – teamwork is key, no matter if you’re friends or strangers.
A finale for everyone
Destiny 2 lets you play with friends, strangers, or even solo. So, the big finale isn’t just for Raid-loving Guardians! Everyone, new and old, gets a 12-player fight against the Witness. You’ll team up with all your favorite characters and factions from the past 10 years. It’s a crazy, emotional battle that you can play over and over. All the buildup leads to an epic conclusion that’s both satisfying and a little bittersweet. What’s next? We don’t know, but there’s hope for the future.
A new beginning for Guardians
The universe is saved, but what’s next? There are countless unexplored corners of space, and new threats are bound to show up eventually. We might not know where Guardians are headed, but one thing’s for sure: this isn’t the end. It’s a fresh start, and every Guardian gets to decide their own destiny.
About Destiny 2 : The Final Shape
Released June 4, 2024
Developer(s) Bungie
Base Game Destiny 2
Platform Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X, PS5, PS4, PC, Xbox One
Genre FPS
Pros
A narrative that satisfies in every way
Optimistic future for the Destiny series
Powerful performances from its main cast
Exciting content that goes beyond the campaign
Amazing powers with the Prismatic Subclass
Diverse mission variety that isn’t afraid to mix up the formula