Destiny 2: The Witch Queen + Bungie 25th and Season 15 (REVIEW)

"With the 30th celebration... It is time to kick it into full gear as the Guardians come back after a ritual saving therapy to end Savathun and her lucent hive and the light from them once and for all."

Titles: Destiny 2: The Witch Queen, 
Destiny 2: Bungie 30th Anniversary.
Developer: Bungie
Publisher: Bungie
Prices: 30th + Witch Queen USD 99.99
Standard (Witch Queen): USD 39.99
Deluxe Edition (Witch Queen): USD 79.99 
30th Anniversary: $24.99
Collector’s Edition: (with Witch Queen + Bungie 30th Anniversary): USD 249.99, Without code, is $149.99
Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4 / 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X and Google Stadia
Review Copy Provided: Yes (provided the Deluxe Edition and 30th Anniversary)
Date Reviewed: March 11th, 2022

So it’s been some time since Bungie sparked what was next for Destiny in the future. The Witch Queen came in the announcements as a proclaimed interesting new change in the future in Destiny 2 as a whole.
Despite most ends since the reveal back in August, Bungie came into being what is next into Destiny’s future, showing Witch Queen had much potential to maybe save the series as a whole personality.
They also gave us the 30th Anniversary DLC pack, which explains that we will be doing things for fun in many ways. Without the celebration to keep going forward, we can’t go without a legendary weapon known as the Gjallarhorn. Woah, crazy, but why is it back?) being redone in the Destiny 2 sandbox.

As we proceed, the months ahead in timing and all.

It’s time we begin our journey into Destiny 2: The Witch Queen and the 30th Anniversary DLC.
​Shall we?

Before the Witch Queen...
(Season 15 + 30th Anniversary DLC)

So we now will explain and enter.
30th Anniversary Expansion and Season 15.
Season 15 was quite enjoyable, with Osiris confirmed as Savathûn in disguise (wow, not a crazy coincidence.)
Mara Sov decides to trap Savathun into a crystal or a structure (honestly, a statue, lol). As we know, do things to help Mara Sov save her techs to prepare for the ritual, end her worm, and save Osiris as a duty. However, it was a challenge; Xûr also invited us to come along into his Dares of Eternity, bringing in some fun for us to be occupied bringing in many references and things from many of Bungie's past games. The outstreet wear was pretty cool, especially the Hunter and Titan class. Sorry, warlocks just that armor concerns me but that chest is cool tho!
The Dungeon “Grasp of Avarice” was an enjoyable and new dungeon. The art direction team and the devs did a fantastic job making something out of the jokes and things of the good old days in Destiny where we would farm that cave for loot and even make it lore.
Despite most things, the season was something. Finally, starting the ritual was a crazy thing as Xivu Arath tried to stop the ritual from continuing; as Savathûn vanished after finishing the ritual, we were expected to end here after she allowed us to bring back Osiris unconscious.
Despite most of the Dungeon for Bungie’s 30th and the Season being something, despite it being a long week and drought coming in place, I still enjoyed what they did here in most aspects to keep me going. Yet, the Crucible needs new maps and especially newer maps, and I mean new ones, not unvalued maps, honestly. Still, in the end, the story leading up to the Witch Queen was superb even with the 30th Anniversary Content and Goods; Gjallarhorn was good in the sandbox, too, so I really praise that, or maybe I am crazy indeed.

Bungie 30th Anniversary DLC rating:
7.5/10

Season 15 + Season 15 Story and End rating:
8.0/10

Now, it’s time....
WE ENTER THE WITCH QUEEN REVIEW FOR REAL..

---

The Day of the Hour:
THE WITCH QUEEN...

We begin in the destinations again, ah how norma- WAIT. HEY, WHERE DID TANGLED SHORE GO? DID IT TANGLE ITSELF?!?!?!?
Besides that, the destinations section looks more sleek and simple, looking more like the concept style in Destiny and is changing the way we see the game and planets.
As we begin in Mars, the art direction being pulled in and right away through Savathun’s throne world is just phenomenal, crafting despite most ways is super cool, creating ways to find the right roll to play with, levelling up and reshaping to craft a weapon to your playstyle is an excellent addition to the sandbox. 
Maybe the world needed a quick refresh in some way or actually like this “haha Bungie deleting planet go BRRRRRRRR” (pun intended).
Jokes aside, let's continue into the subclasses before entering the main story, season, raid, etc.

"Void 3.0 is the Wave..."

​Then just changing the Void Subclass into Void 3.0 was superb; making ways to add Aspects or Modifications to your subclass was a significant need as Stasis came in line, changing the concept forever, I’d say out of all three classes.
The Warlock class is just sooooo much fun, and I mean really fun and probably my favourite out of all three in the ranks.
 Don’t worry, Hunter and Titans are too! I really love the Hunters shatter dive for Hunter’s having the option to slam the ground and turn invisible or have others turn invisible as well as a great addition to help players in combat and survival in unique ways, but adding Child of the Old Gods or Chaos Accelerant or Feed the Void just makes a significant change in Warlocks entirely, just what it deserved, especially Titans now finally having the option to use Ward of Dawn is just incredible too, mostly making me feel like we are hitting a modernised design of Destiny 1’s way of subclass customising in this style, knowing Bungie is working on Arc and Solar as Arc being more of this Chaining/Combo Making class, with Solar being all about Healing and Burning is just going to be exciting when it comes out later in the line.
Most parts also change Crucible will deal with foes in the PVE Sandbox; mastering it changes the gameplay entirely.

 "​About Crucible and Gambit.."
Despite most things, Crucible is Crucible, the mode we all hate and love; nice of them to return old maps, but honestly, we need new maps ASAP despite it all, bringing these old maps back was a great addition managing to help some players or newbies to vent out more ways to play in the PVP field, except I know Trials of Osiris will be dropping some a new Scout. Still, we need more new goods and things despite the Scout, which is neat; PVP undoubtedly needs more love in most instances. Maybe adding a mode where we don’t use our Supers or Abilities would be a dope mode to experiment and try out for once in a way. We do need new methods, and no, we don’t want to see Bungie even get near the Battle Royale ideal in the game because it’s just silly and probably best to let Fortnite take that genre than anything else; I don’t think it would work or see it at all in my opinion, but like you can see that it may work but in reality no.
Gambit still needs a rework but I see it's improving but needs more work done, though Bungie good work so far on fixing it slowly so nothing will impact my review on this here..
Hopefully, Lightfall comes around bringing us the bag of goodies for the PVP players of new and original maps to keep us going for the years to come. 
It would even be nice to have some new maps in the next future seasons during Witch Queen too!
It’s about time we get into the campaign (the real mumbo jumbo of it all).

"The Queen of Lies will fall soon enough.."
It's Campaign time..
Although, despite most ends, the story came in line to be probably the best Campaign’s Bungie places out. I’ve been wondering if I am crazy or not, but Bungie really came out here and just took my number one expansion I loved out of all, aka The Taken King, to now Number 2 over this is mind-boggling.
Legendary Campaign was something Destiny 2 needed, and it’s just so damn good. It’s very subpar and unique, bringing its style in gameplay; even here and there, Legendary Mode can be played by yourself or with friends; the choices are yours.
Personally, the Legendary Campaign is the best way to enjoy what the Art Direction team and Developers did in Savathun's Throne World, and it is so beautiful and vibrant in most ways. Sometimes I’d say too that I get reminded of working my survival skills in combat.
I’d say that the Hive Guardians are something and a nice challenge instead of dealing with the same for over and over, but crushing them gives a very satisfying feeling of taking back your powers/reclaiming your territory of the traveller; I’d say personally that the Lucent Brood and the Hive Guardians was interesting but bringing in a challenge, especially in Legendary Mode against our kind (with a team of 3, It's way more fun), so with that said, this difficulty is excellent and needs to come back for future expansions, etc.

Personally, crafting the Glaive and using it inside her Throne World was fun even in Solo; even if cornered in a specific position, you can use the shield to slowly get back for cover or use it to revive allies; the Glaive can be pretty confusing at first glance. Still, it takes time to master or learn in ways, but man, Slashing enemies with this thing is lovely.
Despite most, the season is quite exciting and has a great cutscene and start even with its stories being shown weekly is excellent, even the weapons and VFX is just so lovely, even with the emotes too!


The Ending of the Campaign is insane, and I loved it completely and want to praise it completely; Bungie and the Art Team made the Best Campaign in Destiny History; they proved it here by going beyond what most did, just the visuals, and everything was outstanding despite its hiccups during the past expansions leading up to this moment, especially with the raid.
I’d say it’s the best raid I played despite the bugs and issues on launch, although the release of Witch Queen was smooth sailing, especially the Raid Jacket looks so cool despite some saying Ugly makes me think they are crazy. Still, the pricing raises an eyebrow.

---

The Verdict

​Overall:
I feel like this is insane, but I think this launch was too perfect. 
Tooooo perfect in most instances despite the bugs and error codes, and was okay and understood the situations they dealt with, but.
Bungie coming in here to make Destiny 2 into a better foundation is proven accurate and no longer a joke when people say, “They won’t listen”, yet here we are hearing them listen; let’s say it’s time to throw that joke in the trash or dumpster fire and let them do their magic and show us what the future for Destiny is to hold; here they are now listening because this expansion proved that in many ways proving many wrong on who they are here.

I recommend this campaign and re-experience in Legendary for anyone to give a second chance despite not being their cup of tea, etc.
Despite that we all have our own opinions, so we can agree or disagree and if you don't like the expansion or like Destiny.

Quote:
“Bungie coming in creating it’s best Campaigns and Expansion since Taken King, proving that we are in for the best yet to come in Destiny.”
Final Rating:
9/10
Pros:
Innovative and the Best Campaign since Taken King
Tremendous Challenge in Legendary Difficulty in the Story
Great ways to Customise and change the Playstyle you choose
Savathun’s throne world and everything in it is a piece of art that belongs in a museum especially the raid. 
(haha, crazy talk).
Cons:
​Crafting and Materials can be bothersome but isn’t hard to grind if you put time into it.

Until, then.. GAME ON and See you in the Crucible!

-Timothy Stambaugh (Tim/TimTheGamer12).