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Destiny 2: Beyond Light, the second major expansion since Bungie’s split from Activision, arrived promising a revitalized experience. Following a somewhat turbulent year with Shadowkeep and its mixed-reception seasonal model, Beyond Light aimed to address long-standing player concerns while introducing exciting new content. Does it live up to the hype? And how does this new model impact new players? Let’s delve into the icy depths of Europa and beyond.

Europa's icy landscape

A Frozen Frontier: Exploring Europa

Beyond Light kicks off with a brief cutscene summarizing the events of Season of Arrival, setting the stage for the expansion’s narrative. Players are quickly thrust onto the frozen moon of Europa, a brand-new destination brimming with Destiny’s signature visual flair. Unlike the somewhat monotonous Moon of Shadowkeep, Europa truly captivates with its stark, pristine beauty.

From serene, snow-covered mountains and plains punctuated by the unmistakable, angular architecture of the Vex to dimly lit caves glowing with an eerie red light within massive ice formations, Europa offers a visually stunning and diverse landscape. The desolate, yet imposing structures of the abandoned Braytech facility add another layer of intrigue to the environment.

Exploring Europa in Destiny 2: Beyond Light

Exploration feels genuinely rewarding in this new environment. The return of the Cosmodrome from Destiny 1, now enhanced with updated lighting technology, adds a nostalgic touch for veteran players. Europa and the revamped Cosmodrome combine to create a compelling world to explore.

New Light, New Beginnings

Beyond Light also overhauls the new player experience with the removal of the first three campaigns: Red War, Curse of Osiris, and Warmind. This streamlined approach immediately introduces players to core PvE mechanics through a short questline guided by the amiable Shaw Han. Unlike the previous New Light experience, which felt somewhat forced, this updated introduction provides a more organic and engaging onboarding process, culminating in the acquisition of the exotic Riskrunner submachine gun.

Shaw Han guides new players

This new player experience is a significant improvement, offering a smoother transition into the world of Destiny 2.

Wielding the Darkness: Stasis Powers

Arguably the most significant addition in Beyond Light is Stasis, a new elemental powerset for all three character classes. Granted by the Darkness, the franchise’s overarching antagonist, Stasis introduces a fresh dynamic to gameplay. Focused on crowd control and slowing enemies, while also offering substantial damage potential, Stasis provides a unique and engaging playstyle.

Stasis powers in action

Each class utilizes Stasis in distinct ways, adding depth and variety to combat. The “Born in Darkness” questline, led by the Exo Stranger, further enhances Stasis abilities through unlockable Aspects, allowing for greater customization and experimentation.

Unlocking Stasis Aspects

Deep Stone Crypt: A Descent into Darkness

Raids are a cornerstone of the Destiny experience, and Beyond Light introduces the Deep Stone Crypt. This challenging six-player activity requires intricate coordination and strategic execution. Deep Stone Crypt’s mechanics revolve around assigned roles, environmental interaction, and constant communication. The raid’s encounters are dynamic and engaging, demanding adaptability and quick thinking.

Inside the Deep Stone Crypt

Beyond its gameplay, Deep Stone Crypt offers a visually stunning and narratively rich experience, expanding on the lore surrounding Clovis Bray and the Golden Age. The raid’s completion unlocks further activities on Europa, including Empire Hunts and the Eclipse Zone. The rewards, including the exotic rocket launcher Eyes of Tomorrow and new armor sets, provide ample incentive for conquering its challenges.

Rewards from the Deep Stone Crypt

A Narrative Letdown and Content Vault Concerns

Despite its strengths, Beyond Light suffers from narrative shortcomings. The campaign, while touted as a significant step forward, feels more like a stepping stone to a larger story. Eramis, the main antagonist, falls flat due to inconsistent writing and underdeveloped motivations. The promised involvement of The Drifter and Eris Morn amounts to little more than brief cameos.

Eramis, the Fallen Kell

A scene from Beyond Light

The introduction of the Darkness, while thematically intriguing, lacks the promised moral complexities and philosophical depth. The content vault, while intended to streamline the game, removes a substantial amount of content without adequate replacement. The limited number of new strikes, coupled with the absence of new Crucible or Gambit maps, feels disappointing.

The Darkness in Destiny 2

Content removed in Beyond Light

Conclusion

Destiny 2: Beyond Light offers a compelling mix of exciting new features and disappointing shortcomings. Europa is a beautiful and engaging destination, Stasis adds a fresh dimension to combat, and Deep Stone Crypt provides a challenging and rewarding raid experience. However, the lackluster narrative, underdeveloped antagonist, and content vault concerns hold the expansion back from reaching its full potential. While Beyond Light takes some steps forward, it also stumbles along the way, leaving players with a sense of both excitement and frustration.