Destiny: The Taken King

The opinions of several videogame reviewers regarding the Story of Destiny: The Taken King are overwhelmingly positive. Critics such as ActionTrip, Arcade Sushi, and AusGamers praise the improved storytelling, engaging characters, and better narrative approach. They highlight the introduction of new cutscenes, well-developed characters, and a more cohesive storyline that adds depth and immersion to the game. Additionally, reviewers like Game Informer and Game Revolution appreciate the clear objectives, expanding mythology, and renewed focus on narrative, making the story more coherent and enjoyable for players. On the other hand, some critics, like CGMagazine and DarkStation, express more negative views on the story of Destiny: The Taken King. CGMagazine criticizes the unengaging and disconnected nature of the story, while DarkStation points out that most narrative elements are hidden in the Grimoire, leading to a lack of in-game storytelling. Despite the inclusion of pre-rendered cutscenes that add excitement to the missions, the overall narrative experience falls short for these reviewers. Overall, the consensus among critics leans towards the positive side, with many acknowledging the significant improvements in the storytelling of Destiny: The Taken King compared to the base game. Reviewers such as GameSpot, IGN, and InsideGamer.nl commend the compelling narrative, engaging cutscenes, and well-developed characters that enhance the player experience. While there are differing opinions on certain aspects of the story, the general sentiment is that The Taken King succeeds in delivering a more immersive and enjoyable storyline for players, addressing previous criticisms and setting a higher standard for storytelling in the Destiny universe.

The majority of critics praised the gameplay of Destiny: The Taken King for its various positive aspects. Critics like Attack of the Fanboy and Game Informer highlighted the solid core shooter mechanics, with the former mentioning the introduction of new enemy types and abilities, and the latter praising the spot-on first-person controls and seamless multiplayer experience. Additionally, critics such as Game Revolution and Push Square appreciated the improvements in leveling up systems, faster progression, and engaging co-op experiences through strikes and raids. The addition of new subclasses, challenging bosses, and diverse gameplay elements like platforming and puzzles, as mentioned by Gaming Age and Hobby Consolas, further enhanced the overall gameplay experience. On the other hand, some critics pointed out certain negatives regarding the gameplay of Destiny: The Taken King. CGMagazine criticized the missions for feeling repetitive and disconnected, lacking an immersive experience. Softpedia mentioned questionable design choices and frustrating elements in some areas, impacting the overall attractiveness of the gameplay. Slant Magazine also noted recycled mechanics from previous raids, which may have hindered the freshness of the gameplay for some players. Overall, the consensus among critics is overwhelmingly positive towards the gameplay of Destiny: The Taken King. The game was commended for its diverse and interesting missions, challenging boss fights, improved leveling systems, engaging co-op experiences, and the introduction of new subclasses and mechanics. Critics like IGN and GameTrailers highlighted the distinct attack styles, teamwork elements, and enjoyable gameplay modes, contributing to a more dynamic and versatile combat experience. Despite some minor criticisms regarding repetitiveness and questionable design choices, the majority of reviewers found the gameplay to be very good, offering a satisfying and immersive experience for players.

The opinions of the critics regarding the Graphics and Visual Design of Destiny: The Taken King are overwhelmingly positive. Critics such as ActionTrip, Attack of the Fanboy, and CGMagazine praise the game for its beautiful visuals, expansive areas, and impressive skyboxes. They highlight the gorgeous surroundings, awesome character designs, and high-quality new locations in the expansion. Additionally, critics like EGM and Gaming Age commend Bungie's art design for creating a visually stunning experience with dramatic lighting, skyboxes, set-pieces, and effects. The introduction of new locations like The Dreadnaught is particularly lauded for offering a sense of freedom, different perspectives, and enhancing the overall spectacle of the game. On the flip side, some critics express more reserved opinions about the Graphics and Visual Design of Destiny: The Taken King. Critics like Hardcore Gamer note that the visual design remains largely unchanged from the original Destiny, with only minor improvements. They mention that while the presentation is adequate, there is not a significant leap in visual quality compared to the base game. Additionally, Arcade Sushi's brief mention of improved graphics without much detail suggests a lack of in-depth analysis on the visual design aspects of the game. This indicates a potential lack of innovation or groundbreaking advancements in the graphics department for some reviewers. Overall, the consensus among the critics leans towards the positive side when it comes to the Graphics and Visual Design of Destiny: The Taken King. The majority of reviewers appreciate the game's stunning visuals, expansive environments, and attention to detail in design elements. Critics like GameSpot and Hobby Consolas highlight the impressive scale, clever level designs, and immersive locations that enhance the gameplay experience. While there are some mentions of the visual design remaining relatively unchanged or lacking significant improvements, the overall sentiment is that Destiny: The Taken King succeeds in delivering a visually captivating and engaging experience for players, with the introduction of new locations and enemy designs adding variety and freshness to the game world.

The majority of critics praised the Sound Design and Music of Destiny: The Taken King. Positive aspects highlighted by reviewers include the superb score, excellent voice acting performances, and how the music effectively sets the tone for the gameplay. Critics like ActionTrip, CGMagazine, and InsideGamer.nl specifically mentioned the outstanding voice acting, with Nathan Fillion and Nolan North receiving praise for their performances as Cayde-6 and the Ghost, respectively. The immersive and captivating music was also noted by InsideGamer.nl as enhancing the storytelling and creating a more engaging atmosphere for players. Additionally, Gaming Age and Hardcore Gamer commended the quality soundtrack and effects for effectively setting the mood throughout the campaign and Strikes. On the other hand, some critics pointed out a few negatives regarding the Sound Design and Music of The Taken King. ZTGD mentioned audio cues not triggering properly and experiencing crashes, which could potentially disrupt the overall gaming experience. Arcade Sushi noted that while the Ghost being voiced by Nolan North was an improvement, there was a lack of detailed analysis on the sound design and music. Furthermore, Softpedia mentioned that while the voice acting was better overall, there was not as much dialogue from Nolan North as the Ghost in this expansion, which could be seen as a drawback for some players. Overall, the consensus among critics is overwhelmingly positive regarding the Sound Design and Music of Destiny: The Taken King. The combination of a superb score, excellent voice acting performances, and immersive music contributed to enhancing the gameplay experience and storytelling. Critics like GameSpot and USgamer highlighted how the sound design and voice acting added charm, personality, and humor to the characters, making the cut scenes and dialog more engaging. While there were a few minor issues mentioned by some critics, the general sentiment is that the Sound Design and Music of The Taken King played a significant role in elevating the overall quality of the game.

The voice acting in Destiny: The Taken King has received overwhelmingly positive feedback from critics. Many reviewers highlighted the standout performances of Nathan Fillion as Cayde-6 and Nolan North as the Ghost. ActionTrip praised Fillion's performance as a refreshing change to the storytelling approach, while AusGamers and Dealspwn commended the professional delivery of the quests by Fillion. GameSpot specifically mentioned how Nolan North's portrayal added depth to the characters and storytelling, with Game Informer noting that the characters now have more substance when they speak. On the flip side, some critics had mixed feelings about the voice acting in Destiny: The Taken King. Arcade Sushi mentioned that the lines of dialogue from the base game and previous DLCs were hit or miss, even with the new voice actor for the Ghost. GameTrailers pointed out that while Nolan North did a commendable job as the Ghost, the robotic delivery made it hard to fully invest in the character. Additionally, GamePro Germany did not provide a specific evaluation of the voice acting for the Ghost companion, leaving some aspects of the performance unaddressed. Overall, the consensus among critics leans heavily towards the positive side when it comes to the voice acting in Destiny: The Taken King. Critics like EGM, GRYOnline.pl, and Push Square highlighted how the voice performances, especially those of Fillion and North, added depth, emotion, and personality to the characters, enhancing the overall immersive experience of the game. The improved voice acting was seen as a significant factor in elevating the storytelling and player engagement. While there were a few criticisms regarding certain aspects of the voice acting, the general sentiment is that the voice performances contributed positively to the overall quality of the game, with Nathan Fillion's portrayal of Cayde-6 being a standout favorite among many reviewers.

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The majority of critics found the replay value of Destiny: The Taken King to be very good, highlighting several positive aspects. ActionTrip praised the game for offering more rewarding end-game content and a simplified economy, making the grind for loot feel more satisfying. Many critics, such as Attack of the Fanboy and Cheat Code Central, appreciated the abundance of new content, including missions, strikes, challenges, and the addition of new subclasses, which added to the game's replayability. Critics like DarkStation and Slant Magazine noted the presence of hidden content, puzzles, and new modes like the PvP Crucible, providing players with more paths to earn rare gear and enhancing the overall replay value. Additionally, the introduction of new activities like Court of Oryx and the King's Fall raid, as mentioned by Twinfinite, contributed to sustaining player engagement over time. On the downside, some critics pointed out potential drawbacks that could impact the replay value of Destiny: The Taken King. Arcade Sushi mentioned roadblocks built to slow progression, which may deter some players from engaging in repeated plays. CGMagazine and GameSpot highlighted the repetitive nature of grinding for loot, which could lead to quests and activities feeling monotonous over time. Softpedia also mentioned the lack of matchmaking for raids as a potential drawback for players without enough friends to play with, potentially limiting their ability to fully experience the end-game content. Overall, the consensus among critics is overwhelmingly positive regarding the replay value of Destiny: The Taken King. Critics like Hobby Consolas and USgamer appreciated the significant amount of content, engaging activities, and improved progression systems that kept players coming back for more. The addition of new strikes, multiplayer modes, maps, and the King's Fall raid were widely praised for providing players with ample reasons to revisit the game, as noted by Gaming Nexus and Telegraph. Despite some concerns about potential roadblocks and repetitive gameplay, the majority of critics found the game to offer a wealth of content and engaging experiences that significantly enhanced its replay value, making it a worthwhile expansion for both new and veteran players alike.