ESRB T, $40, $80, $100,
Release Date: February 22nd, 2022
Runs on: PC, Xbox Series X, PS5, PS4, Xbox One
Published By: Bungie
Background
Returning to Destiny 2 after almost two years was something I did not count on. Being a solo player for most of my Destiny and Destiny 2 career, I was not exactly eager to grind out another season by myself. I was never able to fully experience end-game activities, reach the max level of any given season, or even understand what weapons were rotating in the meta. I loved Destiny for the power fantasies it provided me, the world it built, and the spectacular gameplay loop. The scathing reviews at launch, the subpar expansions that followed said launch, and the seasonal pay model kept me away from the game until I was convinced to try the current expansion by a friend. I loved every second of Season of Dawn, and had so much fun even as a solo player.
Upon realizing that I “had not purchased” Season of the Worthy, and understanding that the spark had fizzled out from my heart, I put the game down for what I thought would be the very last time.
I was mistaken.
Time Flies…..
I had always kept up with the lore of Destiny 2 because it was something I could still enjoy despite not playing the game anymore, and after finding a group of people to play with through a friend, I decided to give it another shot. I didn’t know it yet, but I was about to fall in love with the game all over again. The latter half of the Beyond Light expansion seasons were quite good, and I consider Season of the Splicer to be one of my favorites so far. After the extended Season of the Lost, and following the trailers/hype shown off nearly daily for The Witch Queen, I was very eager to sink my teeth into the new content. When launch day rolled around on February 22nd, 2022, I was ready.
“Truth is a funny thing.”
Destiny 2: The Witch Queen is one of the best expansions to date. Full stop. From the aesthetic, the difficulty, the weapons, the abilities and the activities, nearly everything hit its intended mark. It wasn’t perfect though, there were some glaring bugs and grindy-bits that were too extreme, but they were ultimately items that could be addressed in a patch [most of them have been]. The story — on first go around — was told incredibly well, and practically flipped the current narrative on its head! The lore surrounding all the events that took place is captivating, with ties stretching back all the way from Destiny. The legendary campaign accompanying this expansion was nothing short of refreshing. There were no gimmicky enemies, there was no restriction to build-crafting, and there were plenty of changes sprinkled through the newly released Void 3.0 to provide players with a fulfilling and memorable experience. I liked it so much, I went and played the legendary campaign on all three classes!
Verdict
There is so much more I want to tell, but I would much rather you go and experience this expansion for yourself. There is so much to see and explore within the Throne World, and there is even more that lies beyond it. Overall, Destiny 2: The Witch Queen was a major leap in the right direction for Destiny 2 and — if handled correctly — could lead to a Golden Age of content for the game. This expansion makes me hopeful for what’s to come, which is something I’ve needed from this game for a long time. Do not sleep on this: 9/10.
