I hope issues enhance because the season goes on

Future 2: Lightfall is out, and like many Future expansions over time (relationship all the way in which again to the unique sport), the phrase “enlargement” could be utilized very loosely to many aspects of the particular launch. Let’s check out the place it falls quick.

As an apart there will likely be no main story spoilers right here, apart from broad themes.

The Lightfall story is abrupt, and doesn’t actually clarify something

All roads appear to be resulting in The Ultimate Form enlargement, which will likely be dropping in 2024. Nicely, numerous roads have been heading there beforehand, however Lightfall is extra like a detour.

Very similar to many notorious thriller field reveals, Lightfall is content material with telling us about numerous cool stuff which may occur with out really exhibiting us. Many cutscenes are low affect, crammed with new characters to juggle (to the detriment of older beloved solid member improvement) and a whole lack of stakes that drive the overarching narrative ahead. Extra mysteries are offered and stay mysteries.

Additionally, the dealing with of Osiris, a really outstanding lore determine, is baffling right here. For years many people needed to fulfill him, now I hope I by no means should take care of him once more.

The facility fantasy of the power grappling hook simply isn’t there

One outstanding function of Future 2: Lightfall advertising and marketing to date was the power to grapple by means of the air like Spider-Man. A good friend of mine stated to me pre-launch that he couldn’t wait to partake on this function, and that it was the standout factor of the enlargement for him. Nicely, about that!

Future 2: Lightfall goes by means of nice lengths to make the neon-green Strand talents (the brand new subclass) enjoyable to make use of throughout the marketing campaign. Nevertheless it seems that system is principally a ruse, as your powers are considerably lessened whenever you really purchase Strand to be used within the core sport; together with a brilliant prolonged cooldown on grappling. It’s a rug pull.

Bungie has all the time had points juggling PVE and PVP play, however that is one thing that ought to be mounted soon-ish: scale back the cooldown on grappling as quickly as attainable, particularly if it’s getting used solely as a way of traversal.

Grinding out extra issues isn’t going to be interesting for lots of informal gamers

Piggybacking off of that, you’ll want to grind numerous the cool facets of the Strand subclass till you’ll be able to really use it. That’s on prime of the existence of the season go (which has an XP grind if you wish to purchase the brand new unique bow on the free monitor, amongst different rewards), and all the opposite grinding within the sport.

As quickly because the story is over (abruptly), you’re greeted with an enormous grind in a small pond. It’s a stark distinction to the richness of some prior expansions, which felt like they injected a brand new dwelling world into the combo.

Neomuna, the brand new principal space, is an enormous letdown

I used to be stoked for Neomuna earlier than launch. The neon aesthetic, the promise of a futuristic built-up metropolis that was a haven in opposition to the darkness: all of it sounded and regarded cool on paper. However in follow, it’s empty, appears to be like partially unfinished, and is filled with enemies we’ve already seen earlier than; simply barely modified. I do know, I do know, idiot me twice (or 10 occasions)!

Not solely that, however the inhabitants of Neomuna are additionally in all places tonally, together with one extraordinarily polarizing NPC that’s mainly a future model of Michelangelo from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. It’s like two completely different individuals directed two completely different variations of the enlargement and smashed them collectively.

You don’t get a second shot at a primary impression, and to this point Lightfall has numerous work to do to regain the belief of some long-timers. There’s nonetheless a full season for that (if you happen to’re sticking round), and now I’m extra curious than ever to see how the following enlargement shakes out. Following the final “each different enlargement is nice” format, I’m hoping to be pleasantly stunned.