“Destiny” players have wanted to know the origins and the secrets of Lord Saladin, the non-playable-character (NPC) who arrives only during the limited time Iron Banner events since the introduction of the NPC. Now, he’s the focus of the very thin campaign of “Destiny: Rise of Iron” the latest expansion to Bungie’s shared world shooter.
The game starts off with an impressive cut scene detailing the death of the Iron Lords, notably Lord Jolder, who sacrificed her life to seal away SIVA, a destructive force that the Fallen have recently resurrected and are using for their own evil ends. It’s up to the player to team up with Saladin to stop the spread of SIVA before it’s too late.
What is SIVA? Where does it come from? Who is Lord Jolder? What’s her relationship to Saladin? None of these are explored or even hinted at over the course of “Rise of Iron’s” five-mission campaign, which equates to about two hours of game time.
First mission out of the gate, players must ascend a mountain and defeat an upgraded version of a boss from the first year of the game. This mission is visually impressive, putting players in a moving gondola ascending up Felwinter Peak, while shooting enemies from the cliff side. But once the mission is over, players have learned virtually nothing about SIVA.
While we do get an impressive final mission that pits players against three unique bosses, wielding a flaming axe that must occasionally recharge with fire, by campaign’s end, we’ve learned nothing about the lore of the Iron Lords.
Fortunately, the campaign is only part of the new content.
There’s a new area, the Plaguelands, to explore and patrol, a new strike mission, a new social space, tons of new weapons and armor with a new record for stats, and a few secrets that are fun to uncover. If players are itching for more stuff to do, chances are they’ll be satisfied with the expansion no matter what.
The post game content should add a few more hours to the game’s playtime, and if players have come this far in “Destiny,” it’s too good to pass up.
Exploring new guns and armor and all their perks and combos should keep players busy for a while. Adding to that the new modes in multiplayer, and “Destiny” should get more players than ever before.
“Destiny: Rise of Iron” may be brawny, but it’s brains are practically non-existent. It’s saving graces, it’s plentiful activities and upgraded arsenal, are enough to let it stand on it’s own two feet, but for players who have been looking for a deeper and more substantial story, this is another disappointment.
Bradley Burgess
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