It helps that players can point out the villain of the story, even if his motivations are generic. With a rousing score, solid voice acting, and simple-but-straightforward cutscenes, Destiny 2 feels different than its predecessor because it has an actual story to tell. Despair is conveyed in a compelling way as the player’s Guardian struggles to crawl their way through the rubble. A new and formidable foe, Dominous Ghaul, attacks the first game’s hub world and effectively wipes out the entire established narrative. The opening moments of the story spell doom for the galaxy’s protectors and their stronghold. Fan-favorite characters are introduced with enough gusto to make a strong first impression, and nearly every important mechanic is explained by dialogue or an on-screen prompt. For the uninitiated, this could be seen as the first chapter of a sprawling story. While the first outing relegated backstory and lore to an encyclopedia hosted outside the game, the second smartly hits reset on the complicated happenings of the universe. One of the most immediate improvements in Destiny 2 comes in the storytelling. Diehard players of the original game had to be convinced why leaving behind all their gear and starting from square one was a good idea, while uninterested skeptics wanted more than just Destiny 1.5.

In many ways, this sequel had a lot to prove. Players who bought into the never-ending story of the first game found plenty to be satisfied with, and those who didn’t had already moved well past Bungie’s latest shooter.

Maybe a Destiny 2 wasn’t what this dedicated community was looking for.

Gaming biggest space opera returns