The Destiny beta kicks off on Sony platforms on July 17 (July 23 for Xbox platforms), and in my estimation, that beta will be very informative.
While it’s certainly true that it is only a beta test, let’s not forget the rumored content: Four story stages, four multiplayer maps, and a fair portion of that massive world to explore. We’re going to get a much more accurate idea of Bungie’s ambitious shared-world shooter, and that idea could lead to major Game of the Year hype.
The only thing that could derail this train is a buggy beta, which always ticks off gamers. Of course, it is a test, so it’s not going to be perfect, but a lot of gamers don’t seem to get this. The bottom line is that if it runs smoothly and participants get a true sense of the game’s scope and potential…
Destiny as Game of the Year…it’s hardly a stretch, even before the beta
I think a lot of gamers, especially those who love a good shooter, expected Destiny to be a legit Game of the Year contender well before they even got their hands on the alpha. Destiny has a lot going for it. Besides, the developer and publisher has been pushing this game through the freakin’ roof, as it has dominated headlines and the public interest throughout 2014. It led off Sony’s conference at E3, which is significant, because it’s not exclusive to the PlayStation platform, and Sony typically likes to highlight their exclusive software.
They’re putting a lot of time and money into this production and it shows. Gamers aren’t stupid; they notice this effort, even if not all of them care about the game. Leading up to the alpha and beta tests, Destiny was already widely considered an impending gem. Furthermore, if the beta really is robust and participants appreciate the amount of content, we can expect even more praise thrown Destiny‘s way.
One last thing to consider: It might epitomize the term “next-gen” for a lot of people
I think it’s fair to say that we haven’t seen a game yet that most would agree to be “next-gen.” Granted, it’s a highly subjective term, but the majority of new hardware owners are still waiting for the defining games of this new generation. Many believe Destiny could be one of them. While titles like Titanfall and inFamous: Second Son hinted at the capability of these new consoles, a game like Destiny could finally showcase this great new power. We’re talking about an ever-evolving MMOFPS of sorts, so it could continue to tap into more of each system’s power of time.
Honestly, this is a big reason why Destiny is getting so much attention. In a year where some of the biggest games have proven mildly disappointing, a project like Destiny almost feels like redemption for 2014, doesn’t it?
