Destiny 2: Shadowkeep

The story of Destiny 2: Shadowkeep receives mixed praise, with several critics highlighting its atmospheric depth and nostalgic elements. Impulsegamer and Vandal commend the emotional resonance of Eris Morn’s character development and the haunting, nightmare-like tone that enriches the Moon’s setting. COGconnected and Hobby Consolas appreciate the expansion’s role as a narrative setup for future content, noting its intriguing mysteries and the return to iconic locations like the Moon. The campaign’s focus on Eris Morn’s backstory and the interplay between Light and Darkness is praised for adding thematic weight, while the stunning lunar panoramas and atmospheric level design (as noted by Gameblog.fr) offer visual and emotional engagement. Critics also acknowledge the expansion’s attempt to bridge past lore with new threats, such as the Vex invasion and the introduction of Nightmare enemies, which some view as a step toward deeper world-building. However, the narrative faces widespread criticism for its brevity, unresolved arcs, and reliance on recycled content. Destructoid and Digital Trends argue that the campaign feels like a “run-of-the-mill set of objectives,” with repetitive tasks and underwhelming boss fights that rehash previous games. Hardcore Gamer and Metro GameCentral lambaste the abrupt ending and lack of closure, while Wccftech and Softpedia criticize the forced pacing and generic storytelling. Many reviewers, including GameSpot and USgamer, note that the 4–5 hour campaign feels incomplete, leaving players with more questions than answers. The reliance on nostalgia—such as callbacks to Destiny’s first game or familiar enemies like Crota—draws mixed reactions, with some (like GameGrin) appreciating the emotional ties and others (like Attack of the Fanboy) dismissing it as a “greatest-hits list” of past content. The narrative’s failure to resolve lingering plot threads from Forsaken or fully integrate new lore further diminishes its impact. Overall, critics agree that Shadowkeep is a polarizing entry in Destiny 2’s story arc. While it succeeds in creating a moody, atmospheric experience and advancing Eris Morn’s narrative, its short length, unresolved plotlines, and repetitive mechanics overshadow these strengths. The expansion is seen as a stepping stone for Bungie’s seasonal storytelling approach, with some (like PlayStation Universe) acknowledging its role in a broader narrative framework. However, the consensus leans toward disappointment, with many critics—such as IGN and Gameblog.fr—arguing that it fails to match the depth of Forsaken or fully capitalize on its potential. Despite occasional praise for its emotional moments and world-building, Shadowkeep is largely viewed as a missed opportunity to deliver a cohesive, satisfying story, leaving players eager for future expansions to tie loose ends together.

The gameplay of Destiny 2: Shadowkeep receives widespread praise for its refined core mechanics and innovative additions. Critics highlight Bungie’s signature "best in class" combat, with Vandal and Metro GameCentral lauding the precise gunplay, satisfying animations, and responsive controls. New activities like the Vex Offensive, Nightmare Hunts, and the Garden of Salvation raid are celebrated for their variety and engagement, with GameSpot and Gameplanet noting their fast-paced excitement and strategic depth. Armor 2.0 customization, introduced by multiple outlets including PlayStation Universe and Gameplanet, is praised for enhancing player flexibility, while systems like seasonal artifacts (Impulsegamer) and refined progression mechanics (GameGrin) add layers of accessibility and replayability. The expansion also improves quest tracking (God is a Geek) and introduces fresh content like the Dungeon mode (IGN Italia), reinforcing Destiny 2’s reputation as a polished, action-driven experience. However, several critics point to repetitive elements and underwhelming innovation. Digital Trends and InsideGamer.nl criticize the campaign for recycled missions and tedious Nightmare Hunts, while IGN Italia and Press Start Australia call out the Vex Offensive as monotonous. The expansion’s reliance on familiar mechanics—such as Strikes and Crucible matches—leads to a sense of stagnation, with PC Gamer noting that "much of the gameplay remains repetitive." Issues like convoluted systems (TheSixthAxis, Stevivor) and a lack of substantial new content (M3, Metro GameCentral) further detract from the experience. Critics also highlight the grind associated with Armor 2.0’s material collection and the limited impact of post-soft-cap activities, as mentioned by USgamer and Trusted Reviews, which diminishes long-term engagement for some players. Overall, critics agree that Shadowkeep is a competent expansion that builds on Destiny 2’s strengths but falls short of groundbreaking innovation. While the gameplay loop remains addictive and refined—endorsed by Destructoid, Vandal, and GameSpot—the expansion’s reliance on recycled content and repetitive tasks creates a mixed reception. Positive aspects like Armor 2.0 customization and new activities are balanced by critiques of complexity, pacing issues, and a lack of ambition compared to earlier expansions. The consensus leans toward appreciation for the game’s core mechanics but acknowledges that Shadowkeep feels more like an evolution than a revolution, leaving some players craving more originality despite its polished execution.

The graphics and visual design of Destiny 2: Shadowkeep received widespread praise for their atmospheric depth, environmental storytelling, and artistic creativity. Critics highlighted the Moon’s haunting aesthetic, with Destructoid noting the "artistic design" of the moon zone, particularly the "Scarlet Keep" and the Hive faction’s "dark tunnels and creepy vibe." Digital Trends lauded the Vex Offensive’s "gorgeous" environments, including lush green areas and moss-covered Vex structures, while Gameplanet emphasized the stark contrast between the Moon’s bleakness and the vibrant Garden of Salvation. IGN Italia and Trusted Reviews commended Bungie’s world-building skills, with the Black Garden’s "vivid details" and the Moon’s "luminous flora" creating immersive, lore-rich spaces. Many reviewers, including Hardcore Gamer and Vandal, praised the redesign of the Moon’s zones, such as the "haunting Hive citadel" and "eerie underground tunnels," which enhanced the expansion’s sense of mystery and exploration. However, several critics pointed to recurring criticisms about recycled assets and a lack of originality. God is a Geek and Hobby Consolas noted that the lunar setting reused elements from Destiny 1, calling it "a little bit lazy" and questioning its novelty compared to earlier entries. GameGrin acknowledged the "creative reuse of assets" but argued that the visual design "wasn’t groundbreaking," while Easy Allies felt the Scarlet Keep was "underutilized" despite its nostalgic appeal. Softpedia and others mentioned that the Moon’s "recycled assets" detracted from its impact, even as they praised its "eerie atmosphere." Some reviewers, like GameSpot (on PC), noted that technical graphical details were overshadowed by gameplay focus, while 3DJuegos highlighted minor technical issues like menu lag on PC. These critiques suggest a tension between Bungie’s artistic vision and the limitations of revisiting familiar locations. Overall, critics largely agreed that Shadowkeep’s visual design excelled in creating atmospheric, immersive environments that reinforced its narrative and exploration themes. While the Moon’s "haunted mystery" (GameSpot) and "stunning visuals" (Windows Central) were universally praised, the reliance on recycled assets sparked debate about originality. Destructoid and Digital Trends celebrated Bungie’s art team for their creativity, while God is a Geek and others tempered their enthusiasm with critiques of repetition. The consensus leaned toward admiration for the expansion’s environmental storytelling and aesthetic cohesion, even as some felt it failed to fully capitalize on its potential. Ultimately, Shadowkeep’s visuals were seen as a strong but uneven achievement—rich in atmosphere and detail, yet occasionally constrained by nostalgia-driven design choices.

The critical reception of Destiny 2: Shadowkeep’s sound design and music largely emphasizes its atmospheric depth and immersive qualities. Multiple reviewers highlight the soundtrack’s ability to evoke an eerie, haunting tone that aligns with the Moon’s desolate and unsettling environment. GameSpot and InsideGamer.nl both commend the game’s use of soundscapes to amplify the lunar setting’s isolation, while IGN Italia praises the “sublime” blend of recurring themes and new compositions that enhance immersion. Impulsegamer specifically notes how audio elements like muffled gunshots, possessed ghost dialogue, and atmospheric tension create a “nightmare theme,” reinforcing the game’s psychological horror. Trusted Reviews and Vandal also laud the soundtrack for its emotional resonance, with the latter calling it “some of the best in the series” for its role in heightening campaign tension. These critiques collectively underscore how the audio design serves as a pillar of the expansion’s narrative and environmental storytelling. While most reviews celebrate the sound design, some critics point to its more polarizing aspects. VG247 describes the soundtrack as featuring “unsetting sound effects like ‘nails-on-a-chalkboard music,’” which could be interpreted as an intentional choice to evoke discomfort rather than a flaw. This approach aligns with the expansion’s horror-driven tone but might not appeal to all players. Additionally, 3DJuegos notes that while the soundtrack is “epic and varied,” specific details about voice acting are absent, suggesting a focus on music over other audio elements. Though these critiques are minor, they reflect a nuanced perspective where the intensity of the sound design could be overwhelming for some, even as it contributes to the game’s thematic cohesion. Overall, the consensus among critics is overwhelmingly positive, with the sound design and music of Shadowkeep being praised for their ability to deepen immersion and reinforce the expansion’s horror aesthetic. The recurring themes of eerie atmospheres, unsettling soundscapes, and emotionally charged compositions are consistently highlighted as key strengths, with reviewers like Impulsegamer, Trusted Reviews, and Vandal emphasizing their impact on player experience. While minor criticisms about intensity or focus exist, they do not detract from the broader acclaim for how the audio elements elevate Destiny 2’s narrative and environmental storytelling. The expansion’s sound design is widely regarded as a standout feature that enhances its unique tone and reinforces its place as a memorable chapter in the series.

The voice acting in Destiny 2: Shadowkeep receives widespread praise, particularly for its emotional resonance and narrative impact. Multiple critics highlight Eris Morn as a standout character, with Gameplanet noting her performance adds "depth to her character and emotional weight to the narrative," while IGN Italia praises Mavi Felli’s portrayal for its "strong and impactful" delivery. Impulsegamer and USgamer emphasize how Eris Morn’s voice work enhances the game’s atmosphere, with the latter describing it as "spooky" and contributing to a chilling narrative. Additionally, Press Start Australia lauds Morla Gorrondona’s performance for its "tragic depth and likeability," while COGconnected acknowledges her character development as a key strength. The Guardians’ voices, particularly in the final cutscene, are also noted for their effectiveness, with Impulsegamer highlighting the unsettling use of the player’s own voice by The Darkness as a narrative highlight. While most critiques focus on Eris Morn, there is limited discussion about other voice actors or characters. IGN Italia and COGconnected mention only Eris Morn and the Ghost’s dialogue, respectively, without elaborating on broader voice acting quality. This suggests that while the core performances are strong, the review coverage lacks depth regarding secondary characters or ensemble work. However, no outright criticisms of the voice acting itself are present; instead, the focus remains on Eris Morn’s excellence and the narrative devices that leverage her performance effectively. The absence of negative feedback implies a general satisfaction with the voice work, though it leaves room for further exploration of other vocal contributions. The overall consensus among critics is overwhelmingly positive, with Eris Morn’s voice acting serving as a central pillar of Shadowkeep’s storytelling. Reviewers like Gameplanet, Impulsegamer, and Press Start Australia consistently praise her performance for enriching the game’s emotional and thematic layers, while USgamer and COGconnected note how it enhances the narrative’s atmosphere and engagement. Though some reviews are brief or focused narrowly on specific elements, the collective sentiment underscores that the voice acting—particularly for Eris Morn—is a significant strength. This alignment suggests that Shadowkeep’s vocal performances effectively support its storytelling goals, even if they don’t break new ground in broader voice acting innovation.

The technical performance of Destiny 2: Shadowkeep received mixed but largely positive feedback across platforms, with notable improvements over time. On PS4, critics like M3 praised Bungie’s efforts to address bugs and enhance playability, noting that the free-to-play model and updates contributed to a smoother experience. Trusted Reviews acknowledged initial server instability on launch night but highlighted Bungie’s impactful delivery despite these issues. For PC, 3DJuegos and Easy Allies emphasized stable performance, with the latter calling out smooth framerates and shorter load times on modest hardware, while Multiplayer.it noted negligible frame drops and general optimization. On Xbox One, COGconnected mentioned segmented loading sections as a minor drawback but otherwise found no significant stability issues. However, technical challenges persisted in specific areas. PS4 users faced criticism for the UI (Destructoid) and chaotic launch-night server problems (Gameblog.fr), alongside achievement transfer issues. Xbox One’s performance was marred by "segmented loading sections" (COGconnected) and poor frame rates during the final stages of the Jardín de Salvación incursion, as noted by 3DJuegos. PC users, while generally satisfied, experienced menu lag in Eververso (3DJuegos) and minor console-specific lag (Multiplayer.it). Stevivor also pointed to "first day jitters," reflecting initial launch instability that Bungie eventually mitigated. These issues varied in severity but underscored the game’s early technical hurdles. Overall, critics agreed that Shadowkeep’s technical performance improved significantly post-launch, with Bungie’s responsiveness to feedback and updates playing a key role. While PS4 and PC received more consistent praise for stability and optimization, Xbox One faced some platform-specific challenges, particularly in load times and specific content sections. The consensus was that the game’s initial teething problems were outweighed by its long-term improvements, with reviewers like M3 and Trusted Reviews highlighting Bungie’s ability to refine the experience despite early setbacks. Despite minor hiccups across platforms, the technical foundation of Shadowkeep was seen as solid, especially for PC and PS4 users who benefited from smoother gameplay and fewer disruptions.

The consensus among critics highlights Destiny 2: Shadowkeep’s strong replayability through its diverse and evolving content. Multiple reviewers, including GameSpot and Digital Trends, emphasize that new activities like dungeons, raids (e.g., Le Jardin du Salut), seasonal passes, and events such as the Vex Offensive provide sustained engagement. Impulsegamer and VG247 note the expansion’s robust post-launch systems, including progression mechanics like the Seasonal Artifact and armor customization, which keep players invested long-term. Additionally, M3 and Hobby Consolas argue that Destiny 2’s inherent variety—spanning PvP, raids, and co-op modes—ensures enduring appeal, even if Shadowkeep itself offers limited standalone content. The expansion’s focus on world-building and incremental updates also appeals to fans, as noted by Gameplanet and Windows Central, who praise the Moon’s exploration and evolving overworlds. However, several critics point to repetition and recycled mechanics as significant drawbacks. Hardcore Gamer and IGN Italia criticize the expansion for relying heavily on familiar locations and gameplay loops, with IGN Italia specifically calling out the Vex Offensive as repetitive. Trusted Reviews and USgamer highlight that post-soft cap activities, like seasonal content and loot progression, can feel monotonous, while Metro GameCentral notes that recycled material diminishes enthusiasm over time. Wccftech and 3DJuegos also mention the initial content feels sparse, with some players deterred by the lack of immediate rewards or groundbreaking innovations. These critiques suggest that while Shadowkeep offers enough to keep dedicated fans engaged, its reliance on repetition risks alienating those seeking fresh experiences. Overall, critics agree that Shadowkeep’s replayability is a mixed bag, balancing substantial content with recurring design flaws. While Destructoid and GameGrin acknowledge the expansion’s ability to draw players back through new challenges and exploration, others like InsideGamer.nl and PC Gamer argue that its repetitive nature limits long-term satisfaction. The broader consensus leans toward moderate optimism, with many recognizing the game’s commitment to ongoing engagement via seasonal updates and endgame systems, even as they acknowledge its shortcomings. As COGconnected and Press Start Australia note, the expansion sets up future content effectively, but its current offerings may not fully satisfy all players. Ultimately, Shadowkeep’s replay value hinges on whether one prioritizes variety and progression over innovation—a divide that reflects both the game’s strengths and its limitations.