Destiny 2 has been pretty much my go-to game for the past few weeks. Be it Adventures, Strikes, Nightfalls, or the Raid, it has me addicted to this gameplay loop, and it does not look like it will stop anytime soon.
But something new has arrived and my obsession with Destiny 2 on my gaming console might just come to a screeching halt. Taken over by Destiny 2.
That’s right, Bungie’s space shooter extravaganza is now out on PC. I don’t know about you, but that’s where all my teammates are.
For the uninitiated, let us catch you up real quick on the story of Destiny 2.
REDEMPTION
Humanity, and the Traveler has fallen. Led by Dominus Ghaul, the Red Legion has swept all before them and stripped the Guardians of their power. Barely fleeing with their lives, your mission is now to venture out into the solar system to gear up, and master new abilities, and get strong enough to defeat the Red Legion and confront Ghaul.
Reunite humanity’s scattered heroes, stand together, and fight back to reclaim our home.
NEW GAME, NEW FEATURES
What’s Destiny without some space-hopping? There are now four new worlds for players to explore – Nessus, Titan, Io, and the European Dead Zone – all beautiful and vibrant, and filled with secrets to uncover. The improved Director, aka map interface, makes for a more seamless experience than in the first game, allowing players to transition from activities, to even different worlds, smoothly and quickly.
Aside from Story missions (which you can play solo or co-op), jump into shorter Adventures and learn more about the lore of Destiny and its universe. Dynamic Public Events happening around the world brings bigger foes and larger rewards, and Lost Sectors are dungeons that you can discover, while locating and defeating unique boss enemies who hold even more loot.
Strikes and Raids make a return, alongside the PVP Crucible, which has been revamped to 4v4 for Destiny 2. Clash in new maps and the new mode, Countdown – where you are either planting a bomb or defending a point in a race to six rounds. Clans are also back so you and your friends have even more reasons to hang out online and reap the rewards of everyone’s efforts.
Fear not if you are alone in the fight, Guided Games (more on that later) will help match you up with Clans who will guide and teach (hopefully!) you the nuances of endgame content.
Plus you get brand new abilities for the three classes!
- Dawnblade Warlock – Rises like a phoenix from the ashes and rains down flaming swords.
- Sentinel Titan – Conjure a shield to deflect enemy fire and take down opponents at range.
- Arcstrider Hunter – Summons an electric bow staff to devastate multiple enemies at close range.
Whew, that is a whole slew of new features for the sequel, are you excited yet? Let us add to that and tell you why we think Destiny 2 on PC might just be the definitive version you will want to play.
MOUSE AND KEYBOARD
Nothing beats using the good old mouse and keyboard combo when it comes to shooters, especially one as hectic as Destiny 2. Yes, the consoles do get some form of aim assist, but the ease and more importantly, the consistency at which you can get critical shots makes this the best way to play. A fully customizable control scheme just makes everything sweeter. The fantasy of jumping into the fray and raining bullets 360 degrees around you in a second is made possible with the mighty mouse.
THE GRAPHICS
It is true, the PC master race has it good with Destiny 2. Not only do you get uncapped framerates (consoles are locked at 30fps), 4K resolution is also supported right off the bat. Furthermore, there is ultra-wide screen support so you can see everything, and compatibility with HDR displays make the game pop like never before. The caveat is, of course, investing in a rig capable of running all the fancy options, and thankfully, I do.
The world in Destiny 2 needs to be shown off, and the PC is the perfect way to do that. Here’s what you can expect to tweak this coming October 24th:
- Resolution
- V-sync (30 FPS, 60 FPS, Off)
- Field of View (55 to 105)
- Anti-aliasing (FXAA, SMAA, MSAA)
- Ambient Occlusion (HDAO, 3D)
- Texture Anisotropy (Anisotropic Filtering, up to 16x)
- Texture Quality
- Shadow Quality
- Depth of Field
- Environmental Detail Distance
- Character Detail Distance
- Foliage Detail Distance
- Foliage Shadow Distance
- Light Shafts
- Motion Blur
- Wind Impulse
- Render Resolution
- High Dynamic Range (HDR)
- Chromatic Aberration
- Film Grain
PREPARATION
Getting into the game late means more than just lagging behind your friends on consoles, it also means that you now have more knowledge about the game than anyone who picked it up at the start. What the best weapons are, the enemies to look out for, and the tips and tricks you need to get a stable of 305 characters – all these will already be in your head when you start your PC journey.
There’s nothing like having others pave the way for your smooth transition to success. Avoid the pain, reap the rewards, PC gamers profit.
Now if you are all set to get into Destiny 2 on PC, here are the minimum and the recommended specs you will need to be part of the new wave of Guardians:
MINIMUM SPECS
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RECOMMENDED SPECS
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And while we’re at it, one of the most common grumblings I’ve been hearing from my circle of friends that the seasoned Destiny fans cannot wait to get into Destiny 2, but new players, even Call of Duty, Halo, Overwatch and Battlefront veterans, don’t seem to be quite as excited about the game.
It’s not due to some blind loyalty to another FPS though. Their biggest gripe? The steep learning curve, coming in from the cold to fight alongside established players, and basically starting from the bottom.
While I do believe that there is an ego trip here, of not wanting to be seen as a noob in front of seasoned players, it look like Destiny has become too much of a beast for some.
It’s like trying to get into the new Star Wars movies, or even Star Trek: Discovery – their legacies are so big, it can become daunting. Especially when Destiny players start talking about Light Levels or Bright Engrams, which are unique to the game.
But just as how the Call of Duty games have their own nuances and way of playing, or Halo or Overwatch for that matter, one thing that Destiny 2 does have that will help is its emphasis on teamwork over everything else. If there’s anything you are unsure about, simply join up with other players and ask. Destiny 2 has one of the more inclusive communities I have ever played with, and the developers are helping this along as well.
Guided Games are there to help you by matching you with members of a Clan to help teach you, and it even extends to the gruelling Leviathan Raid. Matchup, communicate, learn about each other, and perhaps you just found yourself new friends and a new Clan to join. Bring that into the Crucible and show off your awesome teamwork.
While Destiny 2 is not perfect in explaining all the finer details, the community is a big plus when it comes to learning, and there is no better endorsement than that for a game that really pushes playing with others.
Of course, if you are the lone wolf type and detest communicating, Destiny 2 has enough to keep you occupied for a while. Just don’t try to solo the Raid, it doesn’t end well.
I look forward to seeing my fellow PC Guardians real soon, and for console players, it is never too late to join the master race and experience the definitive Destiny 2 journey.
Passion and love mean little to the Baroness. No man can ever be her master. Where there’s terror to be sown and coin earned, that’s where she will be with guns akimbo.
Si Jia
Destro
Gerald
