To Lack A Heart - Destiny Franchise

"We will gather those you trust. We will not wait for this"—he gestured around him— "to force our hand. We will ride against those that would use the Light against our own. Humanity must have protectors. Like the knights of old."

"We will be what the people need us to be. We will be guardians. We will be protectors. We will hold the last of us together."

“Ghost?” The words barely audible. He heard her flash in but had a hard time pinning her down. She was buzzing about, surveying the Fallen Kell.

“He’s dead alright. So that’s it, we are done now?”

He removed his helm, tossed it aside, and dropped to his knees.

The Devils without a Kell. This war was over, at last. They could finally go home.

“We are. Get me the Speaker.”

“Opening his channel. Stand by.”

“Is that you, my son?” The Speaker’s voice was filled more with anticipation of news than concern.

“It is, father. The Devil Kell Solkis... is dead. This war is over.”

“Such courage and power—the greatest ever to brace these worlds. You bring all of us peace, we will light the final flare, Devil Red. They will all know what you've done.”

“Father, I don’t think I have the energy to return. I’ll rest here, and come back to be honoured when I return.”

“Of course, son, but—”

“There is something concerning you? More Fallen march on the City?”

“No, not this time. I have word that Osiris was seen on Mercury. The Caloris Basin. He’s turned his mind back to the Vex.”

“Mercury? Too many channels to know. You activate one, you start to feed its veins. He threatens our peace.”

“Your duty, my son. You must never forget.”

“I cannot.”

The Ghost killed the feed and waited for its Guardian’s words.

“Ghost, prepare my Vex arsenal and plot a course for Mercury. That old man is about to wake up hell.”

Intro - Destiny:

Well, this is something that was probably a while in the making, my last few words on what is to be the most disappointing IP and the most amazing universe that is controlled by men with no hearts.

You could most definitely say that this is my final entry into this universe, also kind of a Dear John letter towards Bungie itself from myself. But, I will not only state things from my perspective, but I will write this from the perspective of a writer and someone that hopes to create.

Seeing such an amazing universe screaming for help and it's own creators turning their backs from it, it hurts, especially for writers at least I would hope that I am not alone in this. I know Kaleb and I both hurt when talking about this game, it doesn't make sense for such an amazing world to be so torn and to lack a heart. If this is what we feel, I cannot help but imagine what Joseph Staten might feel.

But I want to state because as many fanboys out there like to misconstrue these words as complaints, I only do this because I care, I want to care.

But recent times have taught me that caring is a commodity I cannot afford when they creators themselves do not. But without further ado, let's delve into this quick little piece.

Factions As Mere Gimmicks:

"Bound by an oath, they live as mercenaries, seeking battles and alliances beyond the Walls. Now the light of their fire has at last found rank among the City. Forge the fury of undying suns. Wield the Hammer of Sol with honour, Titan. It is a thing of legend, both past and future."

I wanted to touch upon this real quick, something that really baffles me is the fact that you have factions like the Sunbreakers that are Mercenaries, the Peacekeepers that fight for the wall even to their deaths, the entire hunter's lone wolf gimmick.

But none of that is expanded in-game, instead of having factions that actually compliment who you want to be as a player and as an individual in the universe, something that makes you feel like you belong somehow.

But no, the only things that are delivered to us in the vain are Dead Orbit, New Monarchy and Future War Cult. Factions, of which, feel like you get to do absolutely nothing with, you don't see Guardian NPCs complimenting the feeling that you're helping fuel some kind of mission sent from New Monarchy in the woods, you don't get random transmissions that help you feel more involved in the universe and gameplay, etc. These may be very random examples but they are examples that may help heighten the feeling of belonging to a faction, of being involved.

And yes, Guardian NPCs, give me more of that, I know you can you have done friendly AIs before, why not now? But I digress. I want to leave this topic in one note before I get even more convoluted in my own thoughts and ramblings about how great this could be.

And that is, what if we could become a part of the Peacekeepers? We take up the mantle of those that fell on the city in the defence against Ghaul, and in the aftermath of the city attack, we go on patrols on the actual city streets and we get to weed out the remaining forces of the Cabal that may be hiding in the city. You have the assets for the city, we've been there, there's no reason to actually make it playable and see how the civilians and other guardian NPCs rebuild this place that we call home, allowing us to interact with it with more than just a vista from the horizon.

We could have mini quests from the civilians with how the adventures are built in the free roam areas, solve problems for them as we walk the streets of the city, feeling like the ultimate defence force of this grand city.

Do something, Bungie, I know you can. Make us feel like we are a part of something.

What Legend?:

I want you all to think about this hard, what is interesting about the games? What legend have we forged that isn't for the convenience of plot or because of gameplay? How many things have we done that we have actually felt in the universe?

As of right now? Having stored 73 hours into Destiny 2, 160 hours in Destiny 1 on Xbox One and god knows how many in Destiny 1 on PS4 since Day 1, I'll have to check back on that for you all but you get the gist of it I have spent many an hour in Destiny.

But for what? Is the point that I want to drive forward, to this day, with how many hours I have clocked into both Destiny games, I still know nothing and now that I think about it, it is completely heartbreaking to think about. So what did I do? Why did I waste so much time in the game when I took nothing away with me when it came to its universe and story?

Hope, and friends.

Hope that I may see an interesting story on my screen one day and the prospect of playing with friends for whatever experience we may have together. I don't regret the hours put in with my friends and those I made in this game.

But I regret the money spent and the time spent on an adventure that delivered nothing of intellect and value. Only more headaches and suffering from my part and some of my friends'.

Which brings me to my other point; How many stories in the Grimoire are far more interesting that could've been far better stories to delve into in this game? This... Failed RPG because at its core it is a linear FPS.

The Battle of Twilight Gap, Battle of the Six Fronts, The Construction of the Wall, the Hunting of the Ahamkara, The first incursions to the Vault of Glass or Crota's Den, The Rise of the Iron Lords with Radegast who revived us to serve the people as their Knights of Old.

But... No, not anything at all was delivered to us of substance. Not one story that had long-lasting effects, not one story where we felt that we made a difference, not one where our choices are valued in some way or form, we are The Guardian, we have no name, no real Destiny™, we exist, but only to be the carrier of good news and the servants of three different people that we still know close to nothing about.

We are a false legend placed there for the convenience of plot™ and nothing more. We exist, but we might as well not.

Conscious Diversion:

"I looked at her and wondered how many innocent lives she'd ended on those broken blades. She did the strangest thing then. She took the last shock pistol from her bandolier and threw it between us as if to offer it. When I went to pick it up, she tried to knife me, but she was slow, and yeah - I did what I had to do. To this day, I wonder if she hated me or wanted to make me kill her - or just felt she should spare me the choice."

Many times in the so-called Destiny Grimoire and the new lore entries we have seen several examples of Guardians turning to the dark, quite forcibly having other Guardians take their lives, be it because they wanted to or because they believed in something different.

Much like the Guardians that rebelled against the City with the Concordat, and so on, but, this, however, is something we have not seen, not once. The grey morality that they seem to have behind the scenes when money is not a concern and stories seem to flourish, only then it seems like Destiny is at its best. When not hindered by its own game.

Quite ironic, however, when you think that this is Bungie, long known as the leaders of exploration in the video game industry and pioneers of several mechanics and pioneers of fun. Not anymore it seems, however, for they have shackled themselves with an amazing universe that they have nothing to offer to, while also making a deal with the devil.

How interesting would it be for us to explore such deeper meanings of storytelling as actual political rivalry? Guardians tainted by the dark like Dregden Yor or even such encounters like the Warlords, but that is another topic.

But even with all this lore, all this depth and expansion, Destiny remains barren of a heart, it takes but it does not give, that's the true issue with Destiny's story, a game that promises the gameplay of an RPG and the depth of a book, but it delivers absolutely nothing on those ends.

Not even giving you a voice or dialogue that will shape your own story, much like Destiny 1's original tagline that will live in infamy for myself.

Become Legend.

Legend of what? When all the Legends have already been built, you offer nothing but your status as Gary Sue that everybody else follows the same exact footsteps from. To paraphrase what I Hate Everything said when he made his first video on Destiny.

It loses all urgency when there's a couple hundred other Master Chief's running around doing the same thing as you.

I won't shy away from saying that even as amazing the lore might be, Destiny has lost all urgency and depth for me, and I will possibly be no longer giving it the benefit of the doubt from now on.

I want to say I am surprised, but really, I'm not. Bungie has changed, and with it the games they make. Until Destiny puts out something worth talking about that isn't behind a paywall but instead comes from the heart that Destiny's story and universe so desperately screams for, I will not be giving Destiny the benefit of my time or yours in my articles. Hence why I have consciously decided not to delve into its lore with the Lore Bites as well, because as expansive as it is, it is worth nothing when it's own game ignores it to a T with the main exception of Osiris coming to the forefront in Curse of Osiris.

However, I will not hold my breath for it. Given how they legitimately think that the Stranger's story arc is finished when it offered nothing, it seems that Bungie has lost all notion of what Storytelling is and should be.

You do not create with your expanded universe unless your universe comes from a novel first and is then adapted when you first create a universe you should create with your first installment. Not rely solely on what is supposed to expand your universe.

This is simply something I will not condone as a writer or as a consumer. When you create something, you do not tear it to shreds.

Author's Notes:

Well, this brings this painful chapter to a close, I will probably continue playing Destiny 2 with friends, but will I continue giving it the benefit of the doubt to write about it in here and beyond? Probably and most definitely not until they do something with it.

And well, Destiny 2 is already somewhat flawed to its core already, no substance to its system was delivered with it, they may deliver a good story in expansions with the good old shameful pay to know the ending™ signature move they have created since Destiny 1. But I seriously doubt they will deliver anything that contains any semblance of substance. I want to be proven wrong, but I just can't hope for this game anymore. We might see...

At least the soundtrack is good... ALSO FOR THE LOVE OF FUCKING GOD GIVE US BEARDS ON DESTINY AND MORE CHARACTER CUSTOMIZATION!

Los Patrones: This is something that I actually started a few weeks back, just about the same time that the PC version of Destiny came out, but, I didn't really have the passion to write it.

But here we are, I guess I did it now. I hope you have enjoyed it, even if it may be rambly. - Brendan Lor Lowry - Nels Jones - H8TRFFC - ULTRAMANZX - Some Perv - Thesk 'Darram - Robert