PGC NEWS

The MMO genre is experiencing a renaissance. Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker garnered critical acclaim, Warframe’s The New War attracted record players, and Guild Wars 2: End of Dragons ignited excitement. Amidst this resurgence, Destiny 2 seemed to be lagging. While Beyond Light laid a solid foundation, content delivery, event management, and game balance issues dampened enthusiasm and eroded player faith in Bungie. The Witch Queen expansion carries the weight of the franchise’s future. With promises of a compelling campaign, new weapons, activities, and significant reworks, can Bungie regain player trust? Let’s delve into the mysteries of Destiny 2: The Witch Queen.

Destiny 2: The Witch Queen Campaign

A Campaign Worth Playing

Historically, Destiny campaigns have been underwhelming – serving primarily as a gear-up phase for endgame content. Red War, while engaging, was too easy. Shadowkeep relied heavily on nostalgia, rendering its narrative hollow. Beyond Light attempted too much, resulting in a diluted experience. Surprisingly, The Witch Queen shines brightest in its campaign, arguably Bungie’s best to date.

Savathun’s Intrigue

The Witch Queen revolves around Savathun, the Hive God of Cunning and Deception. A formidable foe who has manipulated events throughout Destiny’s seven-year narrative, Savathun’s presence sets high expectations. Bungie delivers, crafting a menacing antagonist with surprisingly profound motivations, revealing a new facet of the Hive.

Destiny 2: The Witch Queen Throne World

The Hive, once mindless hordes driven by hunger and destruction, now display intelligence and strategic thinking. Savathun’s Lucent Brood becomes the most intriguing enemy yet, blurring the lines between good and evil. The narrative tackles long-standing mysteries, confirming prophecies and revealing the Hive’s role in the cosmic war brewing between powerful entities.

Engaging Gameplay

The Witch Queen’s campaign isn’t just about story; the gameplay is equally compelling. Bungie throws players into the fray with a challenging and captivating experience. While primarily set in Savathun’s Throne World, the campaign traverses diverse locations with varied enemy deployments and environmental designs. From battling through a grand Hive tower to wading through swamps against the Scorn, each mission is memorable. Escort missions, environmental puzzles, counter-attacks, and stronghold captures keep the gameplay fresh and exciting.

Destiny 2: The Witch Queen Combat

The reworked Void subclasses, centered around buffs and debuffs, add a new layer of tactical depth. The introduction of Hive Lightbearers, wielding Guardian-like abilities, presents a formidable challenge. Lightbearer Knights possess Titan Sentinel Shields, Wizards wield Warlock Stormtrance, and Acolytes utilize Hunter Bladedancer abilities, creating a dynamic and demanding combat experience. A replayable Legendary difficulty offers greater rewards for those seeking an even tougher challenge.

Destiny 2: The Witch Queen Hive Guardians

Exploring Savathun’s Throne World

Savathun’s Throne World is the most visually stunning location Bungie has created. Representing Savathun’s mind and desires, the Throne World is divided into two distinct parts: a grand palace and city with areas like the Florescence Canal and Court of Savathun, and a fetid swamp known as the Quagmire and Miasma. This duality offers a glimpse into Savathun’s psyche, with dark dungeons reflecting past traumas and opulent structures symbolizing her aspirations.

Destiny 2: The Witch Queen Environment

Players finally explore a Darkness Pyramid ship, a central antagonist in the Destiny universe. Its bizarre and unsettling interior lives up to long-held expectations.

Destiny 2: The Witch Queen Pyramid Ship

Void 3.0 and Weapon Crafting

The Witch Queen overhauls the Void subclasses, offering unprecedented customization. Players choose from six grenades, two of four Aspects (passive abilities), and four of fifteen Fragments (stat modifiers). This allows for diverse builds, from support-focused Titans to boss-killing Hunters.

Destiny 2: The Witch Queen Legendary Campaign

The Witch Queen introduces weapon crafting. Players gather materials and craft specific weapons with customizable perks. Enhanced Traits further refine these weapons, allowing for tailored loadouts. The “Deep Sight Resonance” mechanic encourages experimentation with new weapons by requiring their use to extract crafting materials.

Destiny 2: The Witch Queen Throne World Environment

New weapons and gear also feature Origin Traits, unique perks specific to their source. The Glaive, a hybrid sword and Fusion Rifle, is a welcome addition, excelling in PvE. Three new Strikes, PsiOps Battlegrounds, Wellspring activities, weekly Preservation missions, and investigations from Ikora and Fynch provide ample content.

Destiny 2: The Witch Queen Destiny Title Screen

Vow of the Disciple Raid

“Vow of the Disciple,” the new raid, takes place within a Darkness Pyramid ship. Players navigate complex mechanics involving symbol recognition and communication, reminiscent of the “Last Wish” raid. Familiar mechanics like Aegis, Laser, and Blight from previous raids also return. The combination of challenging encounters, satisfying audiovisual design, and a unique final boss encounter makes “Vow of the Disciple” a rewarding experience.

Destiny 2: The Witch Queen Weapon Crafting

The Gambit Conundrum

Gambit remains Destiny 2’s most problematic mode. Despite its intriguing premise, Bungie struggles to balance and refine the experience. The Witch Queen’s adjustments, including split health bars and increased heavy ammo, exacerbate existing issues. Bosses become bullet sponges, and invaders gain an advantage, making Gambit a frustrating experience.

Destiny 2: The Witch Queen Deepsight Resonance

Conclusion

Destiny 2: The Witch Queen revitalizes the franchise with a compelling campaign, innovative gameplay mechanics, and a wealth of content. While Gambit remains a concern, the overall experience represents a significant step forward for Destiny 2. The expansion successfully builds upon the foundation laid by Beyond Light, offering a compelling reason for Guardians to return to the fight.

Destiny 2: The Witch Queen Glaive

Destiny 2: The Witch Queen New Abilities

Destiny 2: The Witch Queen Raid

Destiny 2: The Witch Queen Gambit Issues