STACK Template

24 / 64

Originally considered an ambitious project
from the creators of the original Halo
trilogy (and Reach), Destiny proved a
success, taking $325 million in its first five
days of release in 2014, and setting the
pre-order record for a new IP.
The first-person-but-with-friends-shooter is
known mostly for its lack of story, grinding for
gear, and Game of Thrones actor Peter Dinklage’s
underwhelming voice acting, but that hasn’t
stopped people from playing. One year on, The
Taken King is the third drop of DLC for Destiny,
and this time Guardians are up against Oryx –
father of Crota, and King of the Taken. Oryx is
hell-bent on enacting revenge for the death of his
son, and it’s up to players to end his rampage and
quell the rise of his army.
Having killed Crota and fought with the Queen
against the Fallen, what can we expect in The
Taken King? “With every update to Destiny, our
goal is to expand the world of the game and
give players new things to do”, offers Bungie
community manager David ‘Deej’ Dague.
“The Taken King is the largest infusion of
action and adventure yet. We’re delivering
a new destination to explore, new
enemies to fight, new abilities
for every Guardian to master,
and the largest arsenal that the
Tower has ever seen”.
The prospect of a new Raid in
The Taken King is something a
lot of Guardians will relish,
as House of Wolves
notably missed out.
“Raids are always
meant to be the most
challenging experience
in Destiny”, says Dague.
“They’re the pinnacle,
cooperative activity.
Survival is dependent upon
communication. Teamwork is
crucial to success. The essential
experience is venturing into the
unknown to confront immense danger in the
interest of sweet rewards.”
And sweet rewards there will be.
Bungie have promised loads upon
loadouts of new gear for all three classes –
Warlocks, Titans and Hunters – and introduced
new Ghost shells. These shaders won’t just
make you distinguishable from the millions of
other Guardians, however. Both fashionable
and functional, the upgrades will offer perks
everywhere from boosting light level to
detecting nearby spinmetal. Our Little Lights
just became a lot more helpful.
Guardians themselves have also received an
upgrade. With the release of TTK come three
new subclasses – one each for Hunters, Titans
and Warlocks. Dague elaborates: “Infusing
each Guardian with new energies is a thing
we’re doing to give them new ways to fight.
Mastering a new subclass will be an evolution
that provides a player with new abilities,
new grenades, and new perks. These new
subclasses will mix and mingle with the existing
Guardians in the sandbox for some surprising
combinations and engagements."
If multiplayer is more your thing, Dague
reveals that TTK will add seven new multiplayer
maps and three new modes for the Crucible.
“Rift is an objective game type in which two
teams fight over a common element they can
use to destroy each other’s base. Mayhem is a
variant of Clash, with an enormous emphasis
placed on Guardian abilities. Zone Control is just
what it sounds like – controlling the zones is the
only way to earn points."
With Trials of Osiris and the Prison of Elders
also hanging around, there’ll be no shortage of
co-op for Guardians in Year Two.
The Taken King pits Guardians against a
new enemy, in a new frontier, in a new year.
Bungie’s latest drop of DLC endeavours to
both encourage newcomers and reinvigorate
veterans’ love for the series. There’ll be a
whole new indent in our couch cushions
come September 15.
•
i
Destiny has come to be known as the game that redefined the term “online shooter”,
and Activision and Bungie are at it again with the addition of their latest DLC: The Taken King.
STACK caught up with David Dague to chat about the newest expansion.
Taken With Destiny
FEATURE GAMES visit
24 SEPTEMBER 2015