Is Destiny 2: Lightfall Worth the Price? A Deep Dive
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The question of whether Destiny 2: Lightfall is worth its price tag is complex, with a “yes and no” answer. At its core, Lightfall presents a solid, engaging experience with a wealth of activities to keep players occupied. However, its value proposition, especially concerning the premium bundle, and certain narrative shortcomings, merit careful consideration before parting with your hard-earned cash. A seasoned Destiny veteran might find the endgame content rewarding, while a new player may be overwhelmed and face a steep learning curve. Ultimately, whether Lightfall is “worth it” depends on your playstyle, expectations, and willingness to invest in the Destiny ecosystem. This article explores various facets of Lightfall, dissecting its pros and cons to help you make an informed decision.
Breaking Down the Cost: What You Get and What It’s Worth
The base Lightfall expansion grants access to the new campaign, the Neomuna destination, the Strand subclass, and the Root of Nightmares raid. The annual pass edition (usually around $100) throws in two dungeons, an Exotic Sparrow, the Quicksilver Storm catalyst and ornament, and season passes for the four seasons following Lightfall’s release (Seasons 20, 21, 22, and 23).
Here’s where the debate heats up. The quality of these additions varies. The dungeons are generally well-received, offering challenging and rewarding experiences. However, the value of the season passes depends on how much you engage with the seasonal content. If you’re a dedicated player who completes all seasonal activities, then the annual pass offers good value. However, if you only play sporadically, you might be better off purchasing the base expansion and individual seasons that interest you.
Many have criticized the $100 Lightfall bundle price tag as excessive. Bungie provided no concrete explanation for the price hike, leading to speculation about industry trends related to inflation and production costs. Independent assessment suggests that Lightfall’s intrinsic value is closer to $35-$50, depending on how much value you place on the story, gameplay, and content offered. This implies the bundled extras are worth around $50-$65, a figure that may not justify the full price for some players.
The Core Experience: Campaign, Strand, and Neomuna
The Campaign: A Divisive Narrative
The Lightfall campaign has been a point of contention among players. While the missions themselves are well-designed and challenging, particularly on Legendary difficulty, the story has been criticized for its pacing, lack of clear explanations, and underdeveloped characters. Some players have praised the campaign’s difficulty, especially the final boss fight against Calus, Disiple of the Witness, while others are saying that Lightfall’s campaign is more challenging than The Witch Queen.
However, the overwhelming consensus is that the narrative falls short of expectations, especially compared to the critically acclaimed Witch Queen campaign.
Strand: A New Paradigm
The Strand subclass is a significant addition to Destiny 2’s arsenal. Its grappling hook mechanics and focus on movement and crowd control offer a refreshing playstyle that many players have embraced. Mastering Strand requires time and effort, but the payoff is a powerful and versatile subclass that excels in both PvE and PvP activities.
Neomuna: A Visually Stunning but Underutilized Destination
Neomuna is a visually stunning destination, boasting a vibrant cyberpunk aesthetic. However, some players feel that Neomuna is underutilized, lacking the depth and variety of activities found in other Destiny 2 destinations. The patrol space is relatively small, and the available quests and challenges can become repetitive.
Lightfall for New Players: A Rough Start?
Destiny 2 can be a daunting game for new players. With its complex lore, intricate mechanics, and vast array of activities, it can be overwhelming to get started. Lightfall, while offering a new entry point, doesn’t necessarily alleviate this issue. The campaign’s narrative shortcomings can be particularly confusing for newcomers who lack the context of previous expansions.
However, Lightfall does offer a substantial amount of content that new players can enjoy. The Strand subclass provides a fresh and exciting playstyle, and the Neomuna destination offers a visually stunning environment to explore. Completing the Legendary Lightfall campaign provides a complete set of 1770 Power level gear, which is a fast route to get you to that point, and putting you in a better position to be raid-ready.
New players should consider utilizing resources like the Games Learning Society (https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/) and online guides to navigate the game’s complexities and optimize their experience. GamesLearningSociety.org can provide valuable insights into the educational and social aspects of gaming, helping new players understand and appreciate the broader context of Destiny 2.
Is Lightfall a Bad DLC?
Calling Lightfall a “bad” DLC is an oversimplification. It certainly has its flaws, most notably its divisive story. However, it also offers a new subclass, a visually stunning destination, and challenging endgame content. Some say, without the good free update, this DLC is by far the WORST DLC to be released. It sits next to Curse of Osiris and Shadowkeep, which makes it bad, but not so bad. It’s not terrible but it certainly feels like the pointless filler that it is just to sell strand.
Compared to expansions like Forsaken and The Witch Queen, which are widely considered to be among Destiny 2’s best, Lightfall falls short. However, it’s not as disastrous as some of the game’s earlier expansions, like Curse of Osiris.
Final Verdict
Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to buy Destiny 2: Lightfall depends on your individual preferences and priorities. If you’re a dedicated Destiny 2 player who enjoys the endgame grind and is willing to overlook the narrative shortcomings, then Lightfall may be worth the investment. However, if you’re primarily interested in the story or are new to the game, you might want to wait for a sale or consider purchasing individual seasons instead of the annual pass.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What comes with the $100 Lightfall Destiny 2 bundle?
The $100 Lightfall Destiny 2 bundle includes: Lightfall expansion, the new Root of Nightmares raid, two dungeons released in Seasons 21 and 23, a new Exotic Sparrow, the Quicksilver Storm catalyst and ornament, and Season Passes for Seasons 20, 21, 22, and 23. The Quicksilver Storm Exotic weapon is instantly unlocked upon purchase.
2. Do I need to buy Witch Queen if I buy Lightfall?
No, you don’t need to buy Witch Queen if you buy Lightfall. They are separate expansions. If you want access to Witch Queen content, you’ll need to purchase it separately (or the Legacy Collection, if available). Old storylines and expansions before Shadowkeep are no longer available.
3. Can you play Destiny 2 without buying Lightfall?
Yes, you can play Destiny 2 without buying Lightfall, but your access to content will be limited. You won’t be able to play any of Destiny’s main campaign missions (beyond the first one for The Witch Queen and Lightfall) before buying the expansion. This includes Shadowkeep, Beyond Light, The Witch Queen, and Lightfall – all of the campaigns that are currently available in Destiny 2.
4. Will there be a Destiny 3?
While rumors have circulated about a potential Destiny 3, there’s no official confirmation from Bungie.
5. Is Lightfall or Witch Queen better?
Witch Queen is generally considered to have a far better campaign/story and more interesting mission design. The post-campaign content is similarly good on both parts. If you want to play the endgame content, though, Lightfall is the way to go.
6. Is the Lightfall campaign easy?
No, the Lightfall campaign is not considered easy, especially on Legendary difficulty. Many players find it more challenging than The Witch Queen’s campaign, likely due to the difficulty of mastering the new Strand subclass.
7. How to get Lightfall cheaper?
- Look for sales and promotions.
- Check out third-party retailers.
- Buy the DLC as part of a bundle (if available).
- Use discount codes or coupons.
- Consider waiting for a price drop.
8. What exotic should I get from Lightfall?
Some of the best Lightfall Exotics include:
- Conditional Finality
- Winterbite
- Vexcalibur
- Swarmers
- Abeyant Leap
- Quicksilver Storm
- Ballidorse Wrathweavers
9. What is the best Destiny 2 DLC to buy?
Many players consider Forsaken and The Witch Queen to be among the best Destiny 2 DLCs. Forsaken offered a significant overhaul of the game, while The Witch Queen features a compelling story and engaging gameplay.
10. Which DLC should I buy for Destiny 2?
Consider purchasing Beyond Light for its new Stasis subclass, and The Witch Queen for its brilliant storytelling. Both contain a variety of new activities and an excellent patrol space to explore.
11. What are the benefits of completing Lightfall Destiny 2?
Completing the Legendary Lightfall campaign provides:
- Gear set fixed at 1770 Power level (20 above the soft cap, 30 below the Powerful gear cap)
- Lightfall Exotic armor
- 300 Strand Meditations
- 8 Upgrade Modules
12. What Destiny DLC is after Lightfall?
The next major expansion after Lightfall is The Final Shape, which is slated for release in June 2024 due to delays.
13. Can you get Quicksilver Storm without the annual pass?
To get it instantly, yes you need the annual pass for this season. The gun is marginal worse with it. It changes from kinetic to strand. That is it.
14. Can you solo legendary Lightfall?
Yes, it is possible to solo the legendary Lightfall campaign if you are a skilled player who knows how to strategize and stay alive.
15. What should I do first in Destiny 2: Lightfall?
It is recommended that players complete the first mission as it will unlock Neomuna and give players access to the new seasonal artifact in order to use the powerful seasonal perks that are now passives instead of equippable mods.