Rating: 7.5/10
Editor’s note: “Destiny” is a complex game that warrants an in-depth look. This is the final review of a three part series. This article will focus on the game’s multi player aspect. Part 1 covered the game’s presentation and part 2 explored the single player aspect. The score for this review reflects only the aspects covered in this article.
The third major aspect of “Destiny,” the competitive multiplayer aspect, called “The Crucible,” will likely determine how long the average player will keep Bungie’s shooter in their disk drives. Luckily, The Crucible offers players a worthy distraction from the game’s thrilling, but limited co-op.
Currently, there are four permanent game types available to players: Clash, a six vs. six team deathmatch; Control, a domination-style six vs. six game type; Skirmish, a three vs. three team deathmatch; and Rumble, a six-player free-for-all. At face value, these game types aren’t anything different from countless other multiplayer hosts, but once players delve into the Crucible, they’ll find these offerings satisfy their multiplayer needs.
By playing Crucible matches, players can gain Crucible Marks and Reputation; once players acquire enough of each, high-tier equipment becomes available. While there is a grind to securing these items, the maps of “Destiny” are varied enough to maintain players’ attention. The Crucible hosts 10 (11 for PlayStation owners) maps across Earth, the Moon, Mars, Venus and Mercury. Like the campaign, these maps utilize beautiful vistas as backdrops, don’t be surprised if you get killed while admiring The Crucible’s settings.
The Crucible does many other things right. Each match, players’ unique jumpships are joined in-route to the next map’s planet. After arriving, every allied player is beamed down and displayed heroically next to their teammates. This presentation is a welcome change from other games, where players are corralled into faceless lobbies as a timer counts down to the next match. Once in-game, players have the opportunity to earn medals based on their performance, such as going on a killing spree or supporting their team. Using the many unique powers and abilities in “Destiny” in a competitive multiplayer manner provides an extra thrill for its players.
There are only a few critiques worth mentioning. The in-game announcer is not as memorable as in other games. Also, upon finishing a Crucible match, players don’t have the option to vote on the next map, leaving the next location a mystery until the game starts. Finally, while there are a handful of medals one could earn in The Crucible, there seems to be a missed opportunity to expand the number of attainable medals. The Crucible only features medals of objective captures, killing sprees and a few other accomplishments. The fact that players can’t create private games is also a noteworthy criticism.
When combined with the rest of “Destiny,” The Crucible compliments the game’s campaign nicely, offering a distraction that will keep players returning long after they tire of the game’s limited cooperative content. With the promise of additional content, such as the temporary multiplayer playlist, Salvage players will keep themselves plenty busy leveling up their character and unlocking ever more powerful gear. Indeed, that is where the main draw of “Destiny” lies: the grind to see how fast one can unlock legendary or exotic equipment, while repetitive, can be extremely fun. This reaffirms this writer’s overall review of “Destiny”: like any MMO, “Destiny” is always evolving. Players have plenty to look forward to in the future, which negates some of the monotony of “Destiny.” As it stands, The Crucible is a worthy addition to “Destiny,” ensuring players have plenty to do until the next batch of content is released.