Destiny Beta 60 minutes gameplay – has potential to hang out with the big guns

Bungie’s Destiny Beta is now live for PS4 gamers across the globe and we’ve posted some 60 minutes of gameplay that looks beyond the opening mission. The game is shaping up to be an excellent, well made prospect that has the potential to hang out with the likes of Call of Duty and Battlefield games where others have simply failed.  Take a look at the Destiny Beta 60 minutes gameplay video, and our impressions. Game on!

Destiny Beta impressions:

Having sunk some hours into the PS4 Destiny Alpha it has been a real eye opener to finally piece things together with the arrival of the Beta yesterday on PS4. It appears that developers Bungie under the wings of Activision are running a well oiled machine with their game and having now spent a bit of time on planet Earth shooting up aliens, it’s obvious there’s a lot riding on the game. On one hand, Bungie are all set to prove that there’s more to the studio than their Halo franchise which has now been handed over to 343 Industries, and the other, Activision are keen to promote another shooter that has the potential to be every bit as impressive as its yearly Call of Duty games. Some might suggest is there room for another big shooter for console gamers and this is perhaps a valid question considering the sheer numbers of shooters that are released with many of them failing to reach the same success as more established brands despite how well made they are.  The thing is, many gamers are comfortable with what they know and love, and as Call of Duty and Battlefield 4 demonstrate, these are the go to games for most players simply because they are an accepted norm. Destiny though looks and feels like it has the potential to sit alongside those two great franchises and although a new intellectual property, is garnering one massive marketing push. The Alpha and Beta release simply reek of an unadulterated confidence and it’s this which shines through when playing. Whilst there’s aspects of the gameplay that are remarkably similar to Halo (as expected), the game sports enough of its own character to stand out. Simply put, it’s a very different approach despite the fact that at the end of the day gamers are pointing guns and shooting things.

The first hour of Destiny sets the tone and introduces the basics for any would be adventurer heading out into the field. There’s a cohesive and well written story, drenched in a deep and methodical lore, exemplified by an impressive script, rousing music and accomplished voice acting. Peter Dinklage of Game of Throne fame does a fine job as you’d expect an AI partner to sound given the circumstances despite some people making complaints that his performance is a little emotionless. Aesthetics aside, Once players choose a class, find their feet and enter the ‘Tower’, the core mechanics make themselves known, and what is really neat is the fact that the co-op play is entirely optional despite it constantly being pushed in your face as other players populate your game.

Looking at the gameplay itself and the structure is solid, where players start at the hub ‘Tower’, stock up on upgrades and equipment before entering orbit and heading off on one of the missions. The overarching levelling up is the hook, and it’s this which will undoubtedly keep players coming back for more even when they’ve seen the same environment so many times. What’s neat is being able to continue playing whatever mission takes your fancy, even ones completed, or if feeling brave, going for those which are above the player’s level. The procedure here follows a tried and trusted formula of character progression, with added abilities being unlocked with each level. It’s the same as any other game which rewards those who invest the time. However, the game is also accessible to those who just want to dip their toes in for short periods, making for all the right ingredients for success.

Destiny beta

Destiny is aiming high, and comes with some incredible production values which is understandable considering the rumoured exceptionally massive cost to produce the game. It’s coming to last gen and current gen systems too which means everyone gets a slice of the action, bar PC players which seems a little odd, but then again, the PC market is flooded with MMO games and shooters.  As a game for solo players, Destiny captivates as much as it entertains and offers a thrilling universe to explore, maim and pillage. However, the co-op is also well met and integrated in the most seamless of ways with a take it or leave it approach that will likely resonate well with the gaming masses come release. In a nutshell, the question to contemplate is whether there’s room for another big shooter on consoles, and the answer is a definite yes. More variety is a good thing, but why should Destiny succeed where others have failed? It’s likely the marketing has a big role in the acceptance of the game, but more so, how well it’s constructed and easy to play. Whilst deliberately sharing familiar elements from the other big shooters, the key is that Destiny holds its own identity, and it’s this well crafted aspect that provides a relishing prospect for greatness. It certainly has the raw elements to rival the big guns and if it doesn’t quite reach the same levels, then at least there’s a solid game here that can only grow ever outwards amongst a sea of repeated experiences.

Destiny releases on Xbox 360, PS3, Xbox One, PS4 on September 9th 2014.

Written by: Rob Cram

Rob Cram has hundreds of video game reviews, thousands of articles under his belt with years of experience in gaming and tech. He aims to remain fair and free from publisher/developer influence. With his extensive knowledge, feels his gaming opinions are valid and worth sharing. Agreement with his views are entirely optional. He might have a bias towards cyberpunk.