The Destiny Beta has come and gone. According to Bungie, over 4.6 million players tried out the beta version of the game across PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Xbox One and Xbox 360. Overall, I enjoyed my play experience with Destiny Beta, and I definitely want to give the final version a look in September. However, Bungie needs to smooth over some issues with the Destiny Beta. This article covers some things I want to see polished up or carried over for the final game.
For one thing, I want the ability to carry over the character data I created for the Beta version. I discussed this matter with Activision reps at Comic-Con, and they seemed to understand this issue and are thinking it over. People have told me it will not happen and this is impossible. My simple question is, why? Why can’t the character I created and saved for the Beta be used for the final version of the game? The data and stats I achieved for the Uncharted 3 multiplayer beta actually carried over to the final game for that particular installment. I get the sense from Activision that this idea is not impossible.
After the early work I did for the Beta, I am proud of the character I created and all the tinkering I did with my weapons, armor and abilities. I really do not want it to all be erased once I get the final version of the game. In speaking about the issue with Eurogamer, the comments made by Bungie community manager David Dague prove that this is not an impossible feat to accomplish. What is more, Bungie is mulling over this issue. If the concern is giving certain players too much of a head start in Crucible, what does that really matter? I do not think you ever truly solve the problem of some gamers being absolute hardcore savants at multiplayer, while some are not. Plain and simple, I want my characters back from Destiny Beta.
Another major issue Bungie will have to watch out for is the servers. Repeated server crashes were among the biggest problems I experienced during the Destiny Beta. Now granted, this was a Beta version, and Activision wanted players to “break the game.” Well, mission accomplished. Hopefully, the reception of the Beta version gets Bungie to make sure that server crashes will not constantly disrupt the gameplay experience.
In terms of writing, story and scenario, the game could use some improvements in those areas. The story story in Destiny Beta failed to really draw me in. The game had a great opening, but there are many vague concepts and ideas. The main character wakes up and has virtually no questions about what has been going on. Also, the main character is way too passive. The playable Guardian character has been dead for centuries. So, why are Ghosts going out into the ruined Earth to find dead Guardians? The questions the Guardian does ask seem to be the least pressing ones that I would be asking if I were in his place. I have no idea in what direction Bungie is taking the story, but it was one of the weaker aspects of the game. That aside, the atmosphere and play style generally made up for it.
Lastly, I find multiplayer to be unbalanced. Some players are incredibly cheap with overpowered weapons, while mine, which looked to be pretty maxed out, seem to have virtually no effect at all. I am not sure if this is an issue Bungie deems worth fixing, but multiplayer does not seem to provide evenly matched opponents.
Bungie’s Destiny is due out September 9 for the PS4, PS3, Xbox One and Xbox 360.