The present story arc present in Future 2 appears to have been happening for an age, and the most recent chapter of it, entitled Lightfall, is now right here, promising to maneuver the narrative alongside. However can it match the highs of the final enlargement, The Witch Queen, or is it extra of a moist squib? Properly, there’s just one technique to discover out, and that’s to dive in headlong. Seize your ghosts Guardian, we’re entering into.Â
Let’s take a look on the narrative first, as right here the information is – sadly – fairly unhealthy. With none spoilers, I can reveal that we’ve got a complete new planet to go and go to this time, as there’s a metropolis referred to as Neomuna that has popped up on Neptune; one which we have been utterly unaware of. Sure, that’s proper, in a galaxy that it appeared we had explored to the final asteroid, we in some way managed to overlook a whole metropolis.Â
In fact, the information that it’s there was shared with not solely the Witness, the massive unhealthy of this story, however with Emperor Calus and his Shadow Legion. What this implies is that the as soon as peaceable metropolis is about to have a number of unwelcome guests, and at first, as all the time, that features us Gentle Bearers. We now have to cease Calus and The Witness, save the world (once more) and attempt to preserve the Traveller protected. Can we do it? Will anybody ever care?
To be brutally trustworthy, the story present in Future 2: Lightfall is terrible. It is filled with cliches, it is extremely onerous to care in regards to the destiny of the one two individuals we are able to work together with, and far, far more. The entire sport this time round appears to be like an prolonged coaching montage from an 1980’s motion movie, as we try to be taught to make use of the brand new subclass, referred to as Strand. We now have to be taught to waft, to not attempt to management the subclass, however to maneuver in concord with it. All in all, it’s fairly painful to play by means of. Osiris, probably the most highly effective Warlock ever, keep in mind, appears to have was a needy form of emo child, consistently doubting his personal powers and making an attempt to information us; this will get previous fairly quick too. Nonetheless, the story, whereas an important half, is just not the entire enlargement. Fortunately.Â
The brand new location, Neomuna, is fairly sufficient in a neon, Tron form of manner, with a really cool quantity of verticality in-built. However why, within the title of all that’s holy, is there a metropolis with solely two dwelling individuals in it? Rohan and Nimbus are Cloudstriders, an amazing title, and they’re cybernetically enhanced guardians of the entire planet. Sure, that’s proper, a metropolis so large that we have to experience our Sparrows to get anyplace, has a grand whole of two defenders. The remainder of the inhabitants? They’ve been uploaded into the cloud. Sure, actually.Â
In fact, the Vex have a go at this too, so when the Taken flip up, the one factor lacking is the Fallen to actually make it a celebration. Nonetheless, all of it seems to be good, and whereas the voice work isn’t going to win any awards, all of it works fairly effectively. Nonetheless, with Rohan being the grizzled veteran, and Nimbus in place because the younger and reckless character, Lightfall might have been referred to as Future 2: Deadly Weapon and nobody would have batted an eyelid – it seems the writers have been watching far too many buddy films when penning this travesty. And Nimbus is so unrelentingly cheerful it makes your set off finger itch…
So, what else does the Lightfall enlargement introduce? Properly, there’s a new Raid promised for later down the road (you’re taking a look at March tenth) and to be trustworthy it’ll need to be a superb one to make up for the frustration to date. It additionally brings in a complete new Darkness subclass, Strand, which for some weird motive, regardless of coaching with it for just about the entire sport, you possibly can’t even have and use till after the narrative is full.Â
There are a few new actions too, particularly Defiant Battlegrounds, which is just about the identical as all the opposite flavours of Battleground which might be within the sport, and Terminal Overload, a form of enormous occasion in Neomuna that sees you chasing about everywhere making an attempt to defeat waves of Vex and Cabal – whereas this can be a little bit of enjoyable, it’s punishingly onerous.Â
There’s additionally one new Strike added, however to be trustworthy it’s fairly unforgettable. The brand new enlargement raises our Gentle to 1600, and so as to even make a dent in a few of the enemies wandering in regards to the metropolis, you have to have no less than 1780 Gentle. To place that in context, after ending the marketing campaign and grinding as many occasions as potential, I’m at 1759 Gentle; the enemies within the metropolis can fairly one shot me, even now, and that is considerably galling. The grind is actually actual right here, that’s for rattling certain.Â
There’s a new season included within the enlargement too – the Season of the Defiant – and this brings with it the same old form of quests that you’d anticipate; enjoying the brand new occasions and so forth to earn season rank, which can provide you some good gear, together with a brand new Unique bow referred to as Vergals Curve. Apart from that, it’s fairly enterprise as traditional, and when you have performed any of the earlier seasons in Future 2 you’ll be proper at residence.Â
The general feeling I’m left with after enjoying Future 2: Lightfall is one among disappointment. The Witch Queen set a really excessive bar for this to reside as much as, and it simply doesn’t. The gunplay and traversal are pretty much as good as ever, however it should be mentioned that if they’d messed that up, then Bungie could have had a revolt on their palms. I’m not utterly satisfied by Strand simply but, nonetheless preferring to maintain my hammers (I play primarily as a Titan, as everyone knows Titan’s are the very best, proper?), however I can see with a little bit of apply it might develop into a useful gizmo within the arsenal. I believe the very best level I could make in regards to the story right here is that I truly don’t need to play it with my different characters as it’s such a slog and never very a lot enjoyable.Â
Being blunt, Future 2: Lightfall is a let down. The blessing is that the gunplay and motion are pretty much as good as ever, however silly problem spikes (I spawned again into town after a mission straight right into a public occasion that I had no manner of surviving) and poor writing make Lightfall a chore to play. Even the brand new enemies, Tormentors, seem at random intervals within the story however are by no means used to their full potential, and all of it combines to imply that there are extra misses than hits on this enlargement.Â
Future 2: Lightfall is on the Xbox Retailer
The present story arc present in Future 2 appears to have been happening for an age, and the most recent chapter of it, entitled Lightfall, is now right here, promising to maneuver the narrative alongside. However can it match the highs of the final enlargement, The Witch Queen, or is it extra of a moist squib? Properly, there’s just one technique to discover out, and that’s to dive in headlong. Seize your ghosts Guardian, we’re entering into. Let’s take a look on the narrative first, as right here the information is – sadly – fairly unhealthy. With none spoilers, I…
Future 2: Lightfall Evaluate
Future 2: Lightfall Evaluate
2023-03-05
Paul Renshaw
Professionals:
- New metropolis seems to be good
- Strand feels a superb long run match
- New weapons are fairly good enjoyable
Cons:
- Dreadful story writing kills any momentum
- Neomuna is a barren wasteland, and a missed alternative
- Issue spikes are excessive and far grinding is required
Information:
- Large thanks for the free copy of the sport go to – Bungie
- Codecs – Xbox Collection X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, PC
- Model reviewed – Xbox Collection X
- Launch date – 28 February 2023
- Launch value from – ÂŁ39.99
TXH Rating
3/5
Professionals:
- New metropolis seems to be good
- Strand feels a superb long run match
- New weapons are fairly good enjoyable
Cons:
- Dreadful story writing kills any momentum
- Neomuna is a barren wasteland, and a missed alternative
- Issue spikes are excessive and far grinding is required
Information:
- Large thanks for the free copy of the sport go to – Bungie
- Codecs – Xbox Collection X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, PC
- Model reviewed – Xbox Collection X
- Launch date – 28 February 2023
- Launch value from – ÂŁ39.99