Is Destiny 2: Lightfall Worth It in 2024? A Deep Dive for Passionate Players
As a hardcore Destiny 2 player and content creator, I get asked this question a lot: "Should I buy Lightfall?" With the launch of Destiny‘s next big expansion just around the corner, it‘s time for a deep dive into everything Lightfall has to offer.
An Unequivocal Yes for Dedicated Guardians
Let‘s get straight to the point: if you play Destiny 2 regularly and are invested in the world, story and endgame, Lightfall is absolutely worth buying. Major expansions like this only come once a year, and they completely transform the Destiny experience for months to come. For dedicated players, it‘s a no-brainer purchase.
However, more casual fans or those new to the series may need a bit more convincing. To help you decide, let‘s break down what you‘ll get in Lightfall, and why it‘s shaping up to be one of Destiny‘s most game-changing expansions ever.
Say Hello to Neomuna and Strand
Lightfall brings Guardians to Neomuna, an eye-popping neon city tucked away on Neptune. This is a completely new destination unlike anything we‘ve seen before in Destiny. Neomuna‘s aesthetic feels like Blade Runner meets Tron – a futuristic metropolitan marvel brimming with towering skyscrapers, vibrant holograms and sleek architecture.
Early previews indicate that Neomuna‘s verticality brings a refreshing new dimension to Destiny‘s level design. Expect to be platforming up walls, leaping across chasms, and rappelling down shiny high-rises. Neomuna looks like an absolute joy to explore and battle through.
Even more enticing is Strand – the first new elemental power added to Destiny 2 since Beyond Light‘s Stasis subclass in 2020. Early hands-on impressions indicate Strand provides an entirely unique playstyle centred around manipulating, tethering and dominating the battlefield with binding ethereal threads. This isn‘t just a fresh coat of paint on existing subclasses. Strand fundamentally changes how your Guardian can fight and traverse the environments. Unlocking Strand aspects and customizing your build will be a major endgame grind that keeps hardcore players hooked for months.
An Action-Packed Story Campaign
Venturing through Neomuna and mastering Strand will occur primarily in Lightfall‘s story campaign. At around 8-10 hours, it will feature heavier doses of story and lore compared to recent expansions. Long-time narrative threads concerning The Witness, The Traveler, and the endless struggle between Light and Darkness will begin to converge.
The campaign culminates in a showdown with The Witness itself, the enigmatic mastermind behind the Black Fleet. Fighting an entity as powerful as the Witness is a first for Destiny. Combined with the excellent worldbuilding and environmental storytelling Bungie is known for, the Lightfall campaign looks incredibly promising for lore aficionados.
Exotics, Weapons and Loot – Let the Grind Begin
No Destiny expansion would be complete without hordes of new loot, and Lightfall delivers. A slew of new Exotics like Quicksilver Storm have already been revealed, with many more waiting at launch. We‘ll also see additions across all weapon archetypes, letting players find fresh new guns to craft and create builds around.
The Season 20 battle pass will accompany Lightfall‘s release, offering 100 tiers of new weapons, cosmetics and materials to earn. And Bungie has hinted the new Legendary gear will feature origin traits – bonuses unique to where the drop came from. With crafting now a major part of the gear loop, the grind for god rolls will be as addicting as ever in Lightfall.
Raids, Dungeons and Endgame Galore
Once the champagne bottles pop and the credits roll on Lightfall‘s campaign, the real endgame begins. A new 6-player raid will arrive shortly after launch, plunging teams into the mysterious Pyramid ship on Neptune. If it‘s anything like the excellent raids in recent expansions, expect weeks of progression perfecting strategies with your fireteam.
Lightfall will also see the long-awaited return of dungeons – 3 player pinnacle endgame activities filled with unique encounters. Two new dungeons will release over the course of Year 6, likely tied to each new season. And of course, core playlists like Crucible, Gambit and Vanguard Ops will continue to receive new maps, modes and updates.
Engine Overhaul and Quality of Life Improvements
Under Lightfall‘s slick surface lie fundamental improvements to Destiny 2‘s aged foundation. The new Lightfall engine overhaul enhances graphics fidelity, load times, UI and crossplay. Key quality of life upgrades are also coming, like Guardian Ranks for further progression, enhanced new player onboarding, better matchmaking and UI conveniences.
These may not be flashy bullet points, but for hardcore players pumping in hours every week, they add up to a smoother, more modern Destiny 2 experience. It‘s an important refresh before Destiny likely goes exclusive to new-gen hardware.
Breaking Down the Annual Pass Bundle
For players who know they‘ll be invested long term, Lightfall‘s Annual Pass bundle offers a lot of value. Here‘s what it includes:
- Lightfall Expansion ($49.99 value)
- Season Passes 20-23 ($10 each, $40 total)
- 2 new dungeons in Y6 (~$20 value each if sold separately)
- Exotic Quicksilver Storm Auto Rifle
- Other Exotic cosmetics and bonuses
At $99.99, the bundle offers $130+ worth of content and perks for a nearly 25% discount. If you‘re a Destiny die-hard who buys all content anyway, it‘s a smart way to save money and get bonuses.
The Verdict: A Must-Buy for Existing Players
When compiling everything Lightfall has in store, it‘s clear this expansion will meet or exceed the bar set by recent hits like Beyond Light and The Witch Queen.
For occasional Destiny dabblers, you may want to wait for reviews before jumping in. But for committed players who‘ve been with the franchise for years, Lightfall is looking like an absolute must-buy brimming with enticing new toys and experiences. See you starside!
