Future 2’s subsequent massive chapter is simply across the nook, with a deliberate growth launch for Lightfall on February 28. The growth represents the penultimate storytelling beat within the long-running Future story up thus far – what Bungie has come to name the Gentle and Darkness Saga. I acquired an early take a look at a new ViDoc, in addition to some extra detailed demos of the growth’s deliberate programs, and it has me excited to see some notable adjustments coming to considered one of my most performed interest video games.
Lightfall’s largest additions are on the planet Neptune, on a metropolis referred to as Neomuna that has been thriving out past the remainder of humanity’s view for a whole bunch of years. Town is a departure from many prior Future locales, which have typically been dominated by ruins from way back. In distinction, Neomuna is vibrant and neon-lit, having continued because the Collapse that decimated a lot of the remainder of human civilization.
Two of essentially the most outstanding characters we’ll work together with are Cloud Striders – the defenders of Neomuna, and tough analogues to the Guardians we play as. We meet Rohan, a grizzled veteran, and Nimbus, a relative newcomer to their ranks. The 2 are cyber-enhanced and in addition appear to tower over commonplace human heights. As a rule, the Cloud Striders work collectively in a Mentor-Mentee relationship, maybe drawing some inspiration from the Jedi of the Star Wars fiction. In an fascinating twist, the Cloud Striders solely reside round 10 years after their dramatic enhancements, in distinction to the seemingly limitless lives of the Guardians.
The Cloud Striders have been holding off the presence of the Vex on Neomuna for a few years, however the brand new risk is the arrival of Calus’ Shadow Legion. Calus’ new ship, the Typhon Imperator, has landed on the far finish of the town, leaving a big swath of the brightly lit metropolis in shambles.
I acquired to see the whole thing of the opening mission on Neomuna, during which the participant’s Guardian fights their method via Shadow Legion forces which have been enhanced by The Witness – the long-awaited massive unhealthy that has been making its method to our photo voltaic system for thus lengthy. I additionally acquired to see extra of the Tormentors, the brand new scythe-wielding enemies that pull Guardians shut for devastating assaults. The battles I witnessed had been fast-paced and frenetic, largely in due to the usage of the brand new energy supply, Strand.
Gamers will finally entry a completely new subclass based mostly in Strand, which is described as a cosmic net that connects all life. It’s an influence supply not from the Traveler or The Witness however moderately from inside the Guardian. On this earliest mission, you get entry to Strand in short stretches, however with out absolutely unlocking the subclass. Every class (Warlock, Titan, Hunter) receives their very own distinctive subclass, however everybody will get entry to the brand new grapple means, which replaces your grenade slot when in use.
I favored what I noticed of Neomuna. The battlefields had been massive and enemy-packed, with plenty of distinct locales. Whereas I couldn’t get a transparent sense of absolute dimension as compared with different locales, the transient glimpse I noticed of the map suggests a vacation spot of comparable dimension to earlier ones, with three main public play bubbles and plenty of smaller, extra non-public areas that department away all through the town.
Whereas a lot of the storytelling is more likely to unfold on Neomuna with a deal with new characters, the Season of Defiance is a counterpoint, principally centered on acquainted characters on Earth who’re making an attempt to carry off Calus’ forces, so count on plenty of pleasant faces from the established fiction when making an attempt seasonal content material.
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Past distinct new locations and characters, Lightfall can be characterised by a significant effort towards enhancing the participant expertise.
One central side of that enchancment is the deal with buildcrafting and loadouts. A brand new construct administration display screen enables you to see your whole construct in a single place, with out having to change round. That additionally makes it a lot simpler for buddies and content material creators to snapshot a construct and share with others. Essential info is viewable immediately, like which varieties of Champions you’re outfitted to confront. The brand new seasonal artifacts transfer away from perks and mods that should be unlocked after which utilized to your armor. As a substitute, artifact unlocks are merely unlocked and energetic immediately.
In a associated development, Future 2 can be getting a completely featured loadouts choice. This one is especially thrilling for me, because it looks like an particularly overdue choice to encourage straightforward exploration of various builds and beauty appears and simply queuing up completely different loadouts for the completely different actions I’d undertake. Loadouts allow you to pull a full suite of kit (and its associated mods) onto your character, and the gadgets may be both in your character or within the Vault. Adjustments to shaders or different beauty parts additionally change with the faucet of a button to your new loadout.
To place it one other method, when you’ve got one most well-liked set-up for raiding, one other for Crucible PvP, and a 3rd for messing about on a vacation spot and exploring, you possibly can set all of them as much as swap between at a whim. Loadouts are by no means locked out, and may be modified at any time, apart from particular locked loadout actions, which is because it’s all the time been. As a participant who is usually restricted on how a lot time I can spend in-game, up to now I’ve typically caught with one robust most well-liked loadout that would get me into the motion rapidly. With this new strategy, that’s more likely to change.
Lightfall additionally brings the introduction of Guardian Ranks, a system meant to reply the query, “What ought to I deal with subsequent?.” Guardian Ranks allow you to progress via completely different challenges and actions, offering clear targets for learn how to enhance and additional develop your expertise in Future 2. Your rank is seen to different gamers. Longtime gamers will seemingly have a number of ranks already full when Lightfall launches. Many actions carry over from one season to the following, however ranks do partially reset with every new season, reflecting the seasonal actions that you just could be engaged with. Guardians who’ve the very best ranks are clearly gamers who’ve spent plenty of time general with Future 2 but additionally with the present content material.
Because the final main growth forward of the storyline’s conclusion with the Last Form subsequent yr, Lightfall is in one thing of a wierd place. The motion and storytelling should be memorable and thrilling, however there’s additionally the lingering sense {that a} a lot greater beat is about to drop subsequent yr. Nonetheless, Lightfall is wanting intriguing and interesting. Strand appears to be an exciting addition to our arsenals as Guardians, and the brand new participant expertise enhancements will all be very welcome. Gamers solely have a pair extra weeks to attend to expertise the growth for themselves.
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