The 12 Stages of playing Destiny
Bungie’s new release is still young at 3 weeks old, but many reviews and player complaints are pointing fingers at the developer for tricking them into a difference experience than what was showcased months before it hit the market. A 6+ years development cycle, an inflated budget (the biggest for a single game so far), the Lead Writer leaving Bungie and a perfume ad campaign fiasco later, players are left with a bitter taste in their mouths as they uncover the shortcomings of what was supposed to be the game of the year. Here’s a preview on what to expect from Destiny’s first 24 hours.
Stage 1 – Excitement
Whether you pre-ordered the title or waited a few days, there’s no denying bringing Destiny home is an experience akin to a lovely date accepting your invitation for coffee; you know your night will be filled with joy yet you can’t shake the anxiety lurking as you prepare for the worst. Relax; it’s normal to feel pressure when you create such expectations.
You pop the disc in and stare in awe at the amazing splash screens while the game is installing.
Stage 2 – Impatience
You did your laundry, cooked dinner and called your whole family and the game is still installing. Viva el next generation!
Stage 3 – Acceptance
It’s okay. You know the story line, graphics and gameplay will be worth it. You played the first 8 levels in the Beta after all.
Stage 4 – Shock N’ Awe
The game is launched! The character creation tool is simple but effective. You can’t make your mind on whether your Hunter (because really, who will roll a Titan or Warlock when you can dance with blades?) will be Exo, Human or Awoken. When the decision is made you are treated to an intro summarizing the events of the past 700 years, rekindling your enthusiasm. The music is beautiful, the interface is inventive and your eyes feast on the gorgeous vistas made by the talented artists at Bungie. You shot your first Fallen and the controls feel as responsive and fluid as ever. You’re easing in. Nothing can go wrong.
Stage 5 – Annoyances
It is the 14th time you are tasked to escort the aptly surnamed Dinklebot to the next checkpoint. He will proceed to scan the object for information while you mindlessly destroy The Fallen, The Hive or The Vex in a horde-type fashion. You think to yourself the grand finale will be worth the hassle of never playing a mission as interesting as The Sword of Crota again.
You notice it is impossible to skip cutscenes, not even when completing missions out of “story line” mode. You wish they were before you could witness puny dialog such as “I don’t have time to explain why I don’t have time to explain”. We get it Bungie; you will sell us the storyline in a separate DLC.
Stage 6 – Grief
You expected Destiny’s lore to blow you away. Where are the revolutionary missions and incredible depth? You feel like a fool for thinking this shooter would be any different, that it could be the masterpiece such development costs could buy. The hype machine worked. It worked on all of us. Maybe Activision is the Darkness.
The story is so bad; testers broke out their NDA to share the development complications that occurred since late 2013/early 2014. Reddit is colored Conspirary Red at the moment.
Stage 7 – Hope
Having no more story line missions to go through, you decide to grind your way up to the soft cap level, 20. You convince yourself the game can only get better with end-game content such as weekly Strikes, competitive Crucible and Raids.
Stage 8 – Anticipation
You reached 20 and your friends are online. Efforts are made to make a fireteam and you are all giddy at the thought of your first legendary drop.
Stage 9 – Crushed Dreams
You realize you have to obtain better gear to continue forward. It’s next to impossible to finish strikes without perfect coordination, you are getting pummelled in the Crucible due to unbalanced matchmaking and Raids are inaccessible at your Light level. Time to take out the hoe and plow; it’s time to farm!
Stage 10 – Exhaustion
Your little free time spent on Destiny just became a chore. The only activity in sight? Shooting the Hive endlessly at the Treasure Cave (when it was not patched). You consistently hope your next Legendary Engram will actually result in an upgrade. That is if the Cryptarch deems you worthy of it. Zxibit must have worked for Bungie because there sure is RNG in their RNG!
Stage 11 – Frustration
You realize the game limits the content you have access to unless you play it like it was a second job. You consider divorcing, disowning your kids and quitting work to make time to farm some more. If you get that exotic auto rifle you might do well in the Crucible after all.
Stage 12 – Satisfaction
A Legendary engram just dropped and decoded as an exotic weapon. You pinch yourself in disbelief. It’s been hours since you’ve felt alive. You thank all the gods you know. Life is good again.
Epilogue
Bungie sure has created a beast with Destiny. Players maintain a love-hate relationship with this one in the hope it the developers will improve the experience over time. I personally feel they owe it to their loyal and new fans to do everything possible to restore the game’s fun factor. They’ve already made changes by removing farming spots and are releasing an update to resolve the gear accessibility issue. Those are great first steps, but consistency and transparency will be key factors in the months to come. Let’s cross our fingers the player base’s feedback will get through.
