Destiny 2: The Final Shape

The majority of critics praised Destiny 2: The Final Shape for its emotionally resonant storytelling, cohesive narrative structure, and satisfying conclusion to the Light and Darkness Saga. Reviewers like Game Informer highlighted its "heartfelt, character-driven storytelling," while IGN Brasil lauded it as the "most well-developed and deep" entry in the series, particularly commending the arcs of characters like Zavala and Cayde-6. CGMagazine noted the expansion’s ability to revisit old story beats while introducing fresh elements such as Prismatic subclasses, creating a sense of closure for long-time fans. Many emphasized its accessibility and emotional weight, with PlayStation Universe calling it "Destiny’s best story" for its linear focus on the conclusion, and GamesRadar+ praising its "cohesive narrative that respects the player journey." The expansion’s ability to balance epic stakes with intimate character moments, as highlighted by Dexerto and Gaming Nexus, further solidified its reputation as a standout entry in the franchise. While most reviews were overwhelmingly positive, a few critics pointed to minor flaws. WellPlayed criticized the story for relying too heavily on nostalgia and fan service, arguing that key character returns felt "forced" and the pacing was "problematic." Gameliner noted some predictable plot twists, while Eurogamer observed that the narrative leaned on a "simple tale of good versus bad," though it acknowledged the effective reintroduction of characters and nostalgic art direction. These critiques were relatively isolated, with many reviewers acknowledging that even if the story wasn’t entirely original, its execution and emotional payoff made it compelling. For instance, But Why Tho? praised the "emotional and exhilarating ending" despite some uneven character development, while TheXboxHub noted that the narrative twists, though not groundbreaking, were "engaging." Overall, The Final Shape was widely celebrated as a triumphant conclusion to Destiny 2’s first major saga, with critics like GameSpot calling it "the best story Destiny has ever told in an expansion" and RPG Site hailing it as a "near-perfect conclusion" for long-time fans. The consensus emphasized its ability to deliver emotional depth, character growth, and narrative cohesion, even if some elements felt familiar or formulaic. While a handful of reviewers found aspects of the story lacking in originality or substance, these criticisms were overshadowed by the universal acclaim for its storytelling impact. As Malditos Nerds noted, the campaign’s "immersive and well-crafted" design, paired with its ability to "celebrate memories and iconic characters," solidified The Final Shape as a defining moment in the franchise’s history—despite minor reservations from a few critics.

The gameplay of Destiny 2: The Final Shape receives widespread acclaim for its innovative mechanics and engaging design. Critics highlight the Prismatic subclass as a standout feature, praised for its flexibility and depth. CGMagazine notes that the subclass allows "mix-and-matching of abilities," while God is a Geek calls it "fantastic" for offering a "multi-faceted gameplay experience." The expansion also introduces dynamic combat elements, such as new enemy types, raid-like mechanics, and puzzle-solving, which enhance variety. Game Informer emphasizes "intense action, gunplay, and raid-like mechanics," while IGN Brasil applauds the "interesting combination of abilities" that cater to diverse playstyles. The campaign is lauded for its emotional stakes and cooperative challenges, with TheSixthAxis praising its "excellent campaign with challenging missions" and PlayStation Universe highlighting the "challenging and well-designed" raid. These elements collectively create a gameplay experience that feels fresh and immersive, reinforcing Destiny 2’s position as a leader in the looter-shooter genre. Despite the enthusiasm, some critics point to minor flaws. Gameliner notes that "some elements feel repetitive after a while," while Gaming Nexus raises concerns about the "new pathfinder mechanic promoting anti-social behavior" and an "initial difficulty spike for solo players." IGN Brasil mentions that the Titan class was perceived as weaker compared to others, and TheSixthAxis criticizes the final boss fight for its abrupt difficulty curve. Additionally, some reviewers, like CGMagazine, suggest that the Prismatic subclass’s mechanics could feel like a "cop-out" to some players. While these critiques are valid, they are often framed as minor drawbacks rather than deal-breakers, with many acknowledging that the game’s strengths outweigh its shortcomings. Overall, the consensus among critics is overwhelmingly positive, with most praising The Final Shape for elevating Destiny 2’s gameplay to new heights. TheXboxHub calls it "the pinnacle of the looter shooter genre," while Vandal highlights it as "the best in the Destiny series" due to its varied combat and engaging mechanics. Even critics who noted flaws, such as Gaming Nexus and IGN Brasil, acknowledge that the expansion’s innovations—particularly the Prismatic subclass and raid design—significantly enhance the experience. The majority of reviews emphasize that the game’s strengths, including its creative customization options, challenging content, and collaborative elements, make it a must-play for fans. As CGMagazine and GameSpot note, the expansion successfully balances innovation with the core appeal of Destiny 2, ensuring a rewarding experience for both newcomers and veterans.

The majority of critics overwhelmingly praised the graphics and visual design of Destiny 2: The Final Shape, highlighting its artistic ambition and immersive environments. Game Informer lauded the "artistically striking" new destination inside the Traveler, noting its blend of familiar locations with surreal, organic shapes that evoke a sense of wonder. IGN Brasil and MeuPlayStation emphasized the "visually unique" and "impressive" design of The Pale Heart, with the latter calling it a "lindos" (beautiful) area that maintains the series’ high standards. Critics like God is a Geek and PlayStation Universe celebrated the "visually stunning" variety, with the Traveler’s interior described as both "terrifying" and "gorgeous," blending twisted, reality-bending elements with nostalgic nods. The expansion’s environments were frequently noted for their creativity, with GamesRadar+ calling them "vibrant, weird, and eldritch," while Dexerto praised the "surreal and diverse" landscapes that showcase Bungie’s artistic growth. These reviews collectively underscore a strong emphasis on visual innovation and emotional resonance through design. While the consensus was largely positive, some critics pointed to minor limitations. Vandal noted that the game’s "aging graphics engine" occasionally hindered cinematic moments, suggesting technical constraints impacted the experience. This critique was relatively isolated, with most reviewers focusing on the strengths of the art direction rather than its technical execution. Additionally, while the Traveler’s inner landscape was praised for its originality, a few critics implied that its abstract nature might feel overwhelming or disorienting to some players. However, these points were overshadowed by the widespread acclaim for the expansion’s visual creativity and attention to detail. Overall, the critical reception of Destiny 2: The Final Shape’s graphics and visual design was exceptionally favorable, with nearly all reviewers highlighting its artistic achievements. The Pale Heart and the Traveler’s interior emerged as standout elements, praised for their originality, emotional depth, and technical polish. Critics like Eurogamer and GameSpot noted how the art direction balanced nostalgia with innovation, creating a "remarkable" and "fascinating" experience. While Vandal’s critique of the graphics engine’s limitations provided a rare counterpoint, it did not detract from the general consensus that The Final Shape represents some of Bungie’s most visually impressive work to date. The expansion’s ability to merge surrealism with familiar Destiny aesthetics solidified its reputation as a visual triumph within the series.

The majority of reviewers praise the sound design and music in Destiny 2: The Final Shape, highlighting its immersive and emotionally resonant qualities. Gameliner emphasizes the excellence of voice acting, particularly Keith David’s performance, which adds depth to characters, while IGN Brasil commends Keith Richards’ portrayal of Zavala for its emotional delivery. TheSixthAxis notes that increased voice work and impactful sound design during battles elevate the storytelling experience, and COGconnected lauds the "phenomenal production quality," describing the soundtrack as a "harmonious tapestry" woven into the game’s narrative. Additionally, PCGamesN praises the atmospheric music and sound design for enhancing key moments, while TheXboxHub highlights the effectiveness of creepy voices and creature sounds in building tension. These critiques collectively underscore a strong foundation in audio craftsmanship that enriches the player’s engagement with the game’s world. However, some critics express disappointment, particularly regarding the musical direction. WellPlayed directly criticizes the soundtrack as a "disappointment compared to previous expansions," noting a lack of emotional impact and clever composition. The absence of composer Michael Salvatori is singled out as a significant loss, suggesting that the music fails to match the innovation seen in earlier entries. While this perspective is less common among reviewers, it reflects a concern about the evolution of Destiny’s audio identity. Other critics, such as Multiplayer.it, focus on voice acting in Italian, which adds depth but doesn’t address broader musical shortcomings. These negative points, though fewer in number, indicate that while the game’s sound design excels in many areas, its music may not fully meet expectations for some players. Overall, the consensus leans heavily toward admiration for The Final Shape’s sound design and voice acting, with most critics agreeing that these elements significantly enhance the game’s atmosphere and narrative. The praise for voice performances—particularly from Keith David and Richards—alongside meticulous attention to sonic details, such as creature sounds and atmospheric music, demonstrates a cohesive and immersive audio experience. While WellPlayed’s critique of the soundtrack stands out as an exception, it does not overshadow the broader acclaim. The game’s audio design is widely regarded as a standout feature, balancing technical precision with emotional storytelling, even if some fans hope for more innovation in its musical direction.

The voice acting in Destiny 2: The Final Shape received widespread acclaim, with critics highlighting its emotional depth, authenticity, and contribution to the game’s narrative. Multiple reviewers praised the return of Nathan Fillion as Cayde-6, calling his performance "pitch-perfect" (God is a Geek) and noting its ability to add "emotional depth and authenticity" (PCGamesN). Similarly, Keith David’s portrayal of Commander Zavala was consistently lauded for maintaining the character’s essence while bringing fresh nuance. CGMagazine and TheSixthAxis emphasized how his performance elevated the story’s maturity, while Dexerto specifically noted David’s ability to convey Zavala’s "crisis of conscience." Other critics, like COGconnected and But Why Tho?, highlighted the strong dynamics between characters such as Cayde-6 and Crow, further enriching the narrative. The overall consensus was that the voice acting not only met but exceeded expectations, with many calling it a standout element of the expansion. While the majority of reviews were overwhelmingly positive, some critics noted minor reservations about changes in vocal performances. TheXboxHub acknowledged that Zavala’s new voice actor, Keith David, "was different" from the previous performer but still "well done," suggesting a slight adjustment in tone. Multiplayer.it also mentioned that "some characters' voices are noted to have changed," though this was framed as a neutral observation rather than a significant flaw. These critiques were rare and did not detract from the general enthusiasm for the voice acting, which most reviewers felt enhanced the storytelling without overshadowing the game’s broader strengths. The overall consensus among critics is that Destiny 2: The Final Shape features exceptional voice acting that significantly elevates its narrative. Nearly all reviews celebrated the performances of returning actors like Nathan Fillion and Keith David, with many citing their work as a key factor in the expansion’s emotional resonance. While a few noted minor shifts in vocal delivery for certain characters, these were overshadowed by the widespread praise for the quality and impact of the voice acting. As IGN Brasil noted, the performances were "memorable and emotional," while GameSpot highlighted how the campaign’s focus on character conflicts set a new standard for Destiny 2. The critical reception underscores that the voice acting was not just good but integral to the game’s success, with many critics agreeing it was one of the expansion’s most compelling aspects.

The technical performance of Destiny 2: The Final Shape varies across platforms, with notable positives highlighted by several critics. On PS5, reviewers like TheSixthAxis noted stable performance despite minor frame rate stutter during twelve-player activities on older hardware, while Gameliner acknowledged initial server issues but expressed optimism for improvements as the season progresses. MeuPlayStation pointed out flaws in the player search system but emphasized no significant technical problems, suggesting a generally smooth experience. For PC, Eurogamer reported no technical performance issues or stability concerns, offering a positive outlook. Meanwhile, Xbox Series X received mixed feedback, with Multiplayer.it highlighting interface confusion and stability challenges during large-scale activities, though no outright technical failures were mentioned. Negatives emerged across platforms, particularly in server reliability and specific glitches. On PS5, Gameliner and IGN France cited initial server capacity issues and event-specific problems, while MeuPlayStation noted the player search system’s flaws. TheSixthAxis also pointed to minor frame rate hiccups on PS4, though this was less impactful on PS5. For Xbox Series X, Multiplayer.it raised concerns about stability during high-player activities and a confusing interface, which could hinder the experience for some players. On PC, Gaming Nexus criticized bugs like activity tracking errors and rendering issues, detracting from the overall polish despite Eurogamer’s positive assessment. These inconsistencies suggest platform-specific challenges that may affect player satisfaction. Overall, the critics’ consensus reflects a mixed but generally improving technical landscape. While PS5 and PC received more balanced feedback—with stability on PS5 and no major issues on PC—Xbox Series X faced notable concerns about interface design and server reliability during large events. The presence of bugs on PC and server hiccups on PS5 indicate areas for refinement, though many reviewers acknowledged potential fixes as the season progresses. Despite these challenges, Destiny 2: The Final Shape appears to deliver a largely stable experience across platforms, with technical performance varying by hardware and specific gameplay scenarios.

The majority of critics highlight strong positive aspects of Destiny 2: The Final Shape’s replay value, emphasizing its fresh mechanics, expanded content, and engaging post-campaign activities. CGMagazine praises the new Prismatic subclasses and Transcendence mechanics as key draws for revisiting the game, while Game Informer and IGN France commend the variety of missions, raids, and high-tier activities that keep players engaged long after the main story concludes. TheXboxHub and COGconnected note the significance of seasonal updates and episodic content, which provide ongoing reasons to return. Additionally, Dexerto and Eurogamer highlight the raid’s challenge and the Prismatic subclass’s versatility, suggesting that exploration and experimentation with builds enhance replayability. Critics like MeuPlayStation and TheSixthAxis also stress the social and exploratory elements, such as hidden quests and class combinations, which incentivize repeated playthroughs. These points collectively underscore a robust foundation for sustained engagement. However, some critics raise concerns about repetition and innovation. Gaming Nexus and Twinfinite critique the lack of significant changes to the episodic structure, noting that new episodes feel similar to past seasons, potentially diminishing long-term appeal. Gameliner and RPG Site point out that repetitive gameplay elements and retention challenges for newcomers could hinder replay value, while CGMagazine acknowledges that nostalgia-driven callbacks might not age well. Additionally, Multiplayer.it mentions that the game’s structure could feel limiting for some players, and Vandal notes that the raid’s difficulty may require a dedicated community to fully appreciate. These critiques suggest that while the expansion offers substantial content, its effectiveness in maintaining engagement depends on individual preferences for novelty versus depth. Overall, the consensus leans positive, with most critics agreeing that The Final Shape delivers strong replay value through its mechanics, post-campaign activities, and seasonal updates. While some reviewers like Gaming Nexus and Twinfinite express reservations about repetition or innovation, the majority—such as Game Informer, IGN Brasil, and TheXboxHub—emphasize its appeal to fans and the enduring nature of Destiny’s endgame. Critics like COGconnected and Dexerto highlight how new features like Exotic quests and raids provide compelling reasons for players to return, even if minor criticisms about structure or novelty persist. Ultimately, the expansion seems to balance innovation with familiar elements, offering a satisfying conclusion to the saga while maintaining the franchise’s core appeal.