Summary
- Release Year: 2014
- Genres: Role-playing game (RPG), Shooter
- Platforms: PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One
- Developers: Bungie
- Publishers: Activision, Bungie
Destiny: The Dark Below – A Deeper Dive into the Darkness
Released in 2014, Destiny: The Dark Below was the first expansion for the popular first-person shooter game Destiny. It introduced a wealth of new content, including story quests, missions, competitive multiplayer arenas, and a new Strike and Raid. The expansion also raised the level cap from 20 to 30, and introduced new weapons, armor, and gear.
Story
The Dark Below picks up where the original Destiny left off, with the Guardians continuing their fight against the Darkness. This time, they must venture beneath the surface of the Moon to confront a new enemy: Crota, the Hive’s Prince of Wolves. Crota and his army are preparing to invade Earth, and it’s up to the Guardians to stop them.
The expansion’s story is told through a series of new story quests and missions. These missions take the Guardians to new locations, including the Hellmouth, the summoning pits of Crota. Along the way, they will face new enemies, including the Hive’s Shriekers, Boomers, and Acolytes.
Gameplay
The Dark Below introduces a number of new gameplay features, including:
- New story quests and missions: The expansion adds a new storyline with new characters, locations, and enemies.
- Three new competitive multiplayer arenas: The expansion adds three new arenas to the Crucible, Destiny’s competitive multiplayer mode. These arenas are:
- The Cauldron: A close-quarters arena set in a Hive temple.
- The Black Garden: A medium-sized arena set in the Black Garden, a mysterious and dangerous place.
- The Pantheon: A large-scale arena set in the ruins of a Cabal temple.
- New Strike: The expansion adds a new Strike called “The Will of Crota.” This Strike takes the Guardians deep into the Hellmouth to confront Crota’s lieutenants.
- New Raid: The expansion adds a new Raid called “Crota’s End.” This Raid is the most challenging activity in Destiny, and it requires a team of six Guardians to complete.
New Weapons, Armor, and Gear
The Dark Below introduces a wealth of new weapons, armor, and gear. These items can be earned by completing story quests, missions, Strikes, and Raids. Some of the new items include:
- New weapons: The expansion adds a variety of new weapons, including new assault rifles, shotguns, sniper rifles, and rocket launchers.
- New armor: The expansion adds new armor sets for each of the three Guardian classes: Titan, Hunter, and Warlock.
- New gear: The expansion adds new gear items, such as new artifacts, ghosts, and sparrows.
Reception
Destiny: The Dark Below received positive reviews from critics. IGN gave the expansion a score of 8.5, saying that it “expands on Destiny’s core gameplay in meaningful ways.” GameSpot gave the expansion a score of 8, saying that it “adds a lot of new content to Destiny, and it’s all worth playing.”
The expansion was also a commercial success, selling over 1 million copies in its first week.
Legacy
Destiny: The Dark Below was a significant expansion for Destiny, and it helped to lay the foundation for the game’s future success. The expansion introduced a number of new features and content that kept players engaged for months to come. It also set the stage for the game’s next expansion, House of Wolves, which was released in 2015.
Conclusion
Destiny: The Dark Below is a must-play expansion for fans of Destiny. It adds a wealth of new content, including story quests, missions, competitive multiplayer arenas, and a new Strike and Raid. It also raises the level cap and introduces new weapons, armor, and gear. If you’re looking for more Destiny, then The Dark Below is definitely worth checking out.
Review Score
8.5/10
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