Destiny: What we know so far

A screenshot from the game 'Destiny'.

Years in the making, and with a record-breaking beta launch behind it, Destiny is the game everyone's talking about. Chris Schulz wraps up what we know so far.

Firstly, how good can Destiny really be?

If advance buzz is anything to go by, Destiny is winging its way to Mars, swinging by Pluto then heading off into the unknown. But we all know buzz can't be trusted. (Just look at Watch Dogs, which broke pre-sale records but is unlikely to be awarded any Game of the Year titles.) Reviews after July's beta testing phase, which attracted 4.6 million gamers, were universally positive. And that's a very good sign. Also, it's from Bungie, the guys who invented Halo. They seem to know what they're doing.

Okay, I'm interested. So what's the big difference between Halo and Destiny?

The biggest change is that Destiny is online, all of the time. Bungie studio chief operating officer Pete Parsons puts it like this: "We added in the most exciting and unpredictable ingredient we could think of: players. Destiny's worlds are connected and alive." So keep your eyes peeled and your options open during the game - you never know when you might need to ask that lost-looking Ukranian kid for help.

Will do. Essentially, though, this is a first-person shooter, right? What will I be shooting at?

Aliens, mostly. You'll take on the role of a Guardian and help defend some of humanity's last cities after a post-apocalyptic event forced everyone off Earth. Destiny's alien species come in four distinct life forms: the four-armed Fallen, the Alien-esque Vex, the enormo-mech Cabals, and the horrific Hives.

Now I'm a little scared. But are the story modes just a bit of a token nod, like Titanfall?

Apparently not. Bungie calls its standalone story - about the destruction of Earth and rebuilding of mankind - lengthy and comprehensive. Plus you can ask your friends to join you on your adventures. Also, Game of Thrones star Peter Dinklage will be there to help guide you on your way.

Wait, what?

Dinklage voices your robot AI buddy Ghost. There was some controversy over this after fans playing the alpha version of the game made fun of his corny dialogue, including his line: "That wizard came from the moon". Bungie responded by making his voice more robotic, deleting that line, then printing T-shirts with the phrase on it.

Okay, I'll have to order one. Is it just shooting or can I do other stuff?

There's a safe house called The Tower, where you can buy weapons, customise your outfits, shoot the breeze, trade and socialise. Or, if you're in the mood for a little violence, you can head to the Crucible and take part in various battle modes against other online Guardians to win skill points and rewards.

Woah. I'm convinced. Should I send my family to the bach and book in some alone time with Destiny?

Maybe. When GTA Online launched last year, there were a tonne of bugs including loading lags and hang times that took a while to iron out. That's not the only online game that's had glitches. But Bungie know their stuff, and they're riding high after that beta launch, so book it in. Just remember to eat properly. And feed the cat

Sheesh. Alright then, why can't I read a full Destiny review in today's TimeOut?

The servers were only switched on on Tuesday night, which didn't give us enough time to meet our deadlines. Plus, gamemakers Bungie say day one reviews shouldn't be trusted - they want players to take Destiny on a "nice, long road trip". So that's what we intend to do.

Check out our full Desiny review this afternoon at nzherald.co.nz

"To all our faithful fans... we'll see you starside. Love, Bungie."

Little was read into the farewell note that Halo's original creators penned for the end credits in their 2010 swansong, Halo: Reach.

In hindsight, it probably didn't seem all that cryptic. "See you starside?" Cool, we'll see you online too. Grifball 'til we die, right?

Except Bungie had already told us where they were headed. You see, the very first reference to Destiny could be found in 2009's Halo 3: ODST. Take a look around the bombed-out streets of New Mombasa and search for a little poster bearing an image of Earth with a seriously undersized moon and a simple slogan: "Destiny awaits."

It didn't mean anything to anyone at the time - how could it have? - but now it serves as gaming's ultimate nudge and wink. It tells us now just how long Destiny has been on the radar, and hints at just how great this game could be. Bungie grabbed our attention in 2001 with revolutionary first-person shooter action, and held it with unprecedented levels of detail in both the playable universe and the supporting fiction.

Destiny promises to let players build their own legends, supported by - but not restricted to - the narrative penned by Bungie's creative team.

For a Halo player, becoming integral to a living universe is a natural progression and an exciting prospect.

If Halo was Combat Evolved, then Destiny must be Potential Realised.

Hail Bungie, masters of the long game.
- Troy Rawhiti-Forbes

What: Destiny
Platforms: PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One
For fans of: Halo, Titanfall, Borderlands

- TimeOut