Future 2’s subsequent massive chapter is simply across the nook, with a deliberate enlargement launch for Lightfall on February 28. The enlargement represents the penultimate storytelling beat within the long-running Future story up so far – what Bungie has come to name the Mild and Darkness Saga. I acquired an early take a look at a new ViDoc, in addition to some extra detailed demos of the enlargement’s deliberate techniques, and it has me excited to see some notable modifications coming to considered one of my most performed interest video games.
Lightfall’s largest additions are on the planet Neptune, on a metropolis known 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 persevered because the Collapse that decimated a lot of the remainder of human civilization.
Two of essentially the most outstanding characters we are going to 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 normal 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 attention-grabbing twist, the Cloud Striders solely stay round 10 years after their dramatic enhancements, in distinction to the seemingly infinite 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, through which the participant’s Guardian fights their means by means of Shadow Legion forces which have been enhanced by The Witness – the long-awaited massive unhealthy that has been making its approach 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 have been fast-paced and frenetic, largely in because of using 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 quite 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 appreciated what I noticed of Neomuna. The battlefields have been massive and enemy-packed, with a lot of distinct locales. Whereas I couldn’t get a transparent sense of absolute dimension compared with different locales, the temporary glimpse I noticed of the map suggests a vacation spot of comparable dimension to earlier ones, with three main public play bubbles and a lot of smaller, extra personal 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, largely centered on acquainted characters on Earth who’re making an attempt to carry off Calus’ forces, so anticipate lots 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 also be characterised by a significant effort towards bettering the participant expertise.
One central aspect of that enchancment is the deal with buildcrafting and loadouts. A brand new construct administration display screen helps you to see your complete construct in a single place, with out having to modify round. That additionally makes it a lot simpler for associates and content material creators to snapshot a construct and share with others. Necessary data is viewable straight away, like which sorts of Champions you’re geared up to confront. The brand new seasonal artifacts transfer away from perks and mods that should be unlocked after which utilized to your armor. As an alternative, artifact unlocks are merely unlocked and lively straight away.
In a associated development, Future 2 can also be getting a totally featured loadouts possibility. This one is especially thrilling for me, because it seems like an particularly overdue choice to encourage simple exploration of various builds and beauty seems to be 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 objects will be both in your character or within the Vault. Adjustments to shaders or different beauty components additionally change with the faucet of a button to your new loadout.
To place it one other means, you probably have one most popular set-up for raiding, one other for Crucible PvP, and a 3rd for messing about on a vacation spot and exploring, you may set all of them as much as change between at a whim. Loadouts are by no means locked out, and will be modified at any time, aside from particular locked loadout actions, which is because it’s at all times been. As a participant who is typically restricted on how a lot time I can spend in-game, previously I’ve typically caught with one sturdy most popular loadout that would get me into the motion shortly. With this new method, 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 by means of 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 doubtless have a number of ranks already full when Lightfall launches. Many actions carry over from one season to the subsequent, however ranks do partially reset with every new season, reflecting the seasonal actions that you simply could be engaged with. Guardians who’ve the very best ranks are clearly gamers who’ve spent lots of time general with Future 2 but additionally with the present content material.
Because the final main enlargement forward of the storyline’s conclusion with the Remaining Form subsequent 12 months, Lightfall is in one thing of an odd 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 12 months. Nonetheless, Lightfall is trying intriguing and fascinating. Strand seems to be 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 enlargement for themselves.
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