We are in the “wind down” phase of Destiny 2’s current episode, with all its story content over, and only a new dungeon event going on. That’s actually going pretty well (“explore” dungeons are a cool concept), but now as of this week, Destiny 2 has introduced something that I think is cool. A Titanfall mode.
Okay not exactly, but a minimalist version of the concept called “Heavy Metal.” It’s a limited time event that pits the game’s tanks against the Fallen’s Brigs in 3v3 matches where big shots are lobbed at each side and tracking missiles can be used occasionally. There are minor dodge mechanics and it’s also a “kill confirmed” format where enemies drop coins you need to pick up after death for more points and to regain health.
There are some “balance” complaints about whether tanks are better (worse dodge but they hit harder) or Brigs are better (more mobility but less damage) though I have seen enough complaints about each side to say I think they…are actually pretty balanced. My games have been pretty evenly split between which side wins, though I know Bungie has all that data.
I think it’s fun, though I know not everyone does. The best strategy is to stick with your team, as if not, you will be ganged up on and destroyed. You need to use your dodging or your super tank boost to avoid shots, you need to learn when and where to use your tracking shots, you need to know how to lead shots, you need to know paths to sneak up on people. There’s actually a lot of strategy to it!
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Destiny is no stranger to “wacky” modes, but so far I’m finding this more fun that its Scorch Cannon mode (I sort of hate that) and even Mayhem which centers around too few useful supers that eclipse others. Here, everyone is on a level playing field and it’s survival of the fittest.
I get that people are saying it gets boring fast but I mean, come on, it’s not going to be the most advanced thing in the world and I don’t really care if we’re skipping one weekend of Trials for it. One bad thing it’s doing is its currency acquisition system is horrible, and getting XP to crawl toward a brand new gun-sparrow is sort of interminable and needs some buffs. But the gameplay itself? Even if we’re at 5% of Titanfall here, it’s fun, and once again it reminds us how awful it is that series is dead.
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Pick up my sci-fi novels the Herokiller series and The Earthborn Trilogy.
