Destiny: The Dark Below Expansion. Zoom to the Moon!

     It's time for another back logged game review. Or in this case, a back logged expansion review. Three months after Destiny first launched, Bungie released the game's first expansion called The Dark Below. Faithful players of the game had been anxiously awaiting this expansion as it would bring a slew up updates, new weapons, gear, and more. In other words, The Dark Below was the perfect solution to breathe some new life into Destiny and freshen things up. So does the expansion do just that? Or will it leaving you just wanting more?

      The story of The Dark Below takes players deeper into the story of the hive and more specifically, their evil godlike ruler named Crota. Actually, I should say that the expansion takes players slightly into the story of Crota because there are only three story missions in the expansion. The story missions will take you to Earth and the Moon. So while you will see some new areas on Earth and the Moon, you won't be going to any brand new planets. The story introduces a new character named Eris. Eris was one of a group who was tasked with taking down Crota. Obviously that didn't go as planned and Eris is the sole survivor of that team. Eris desperately wants revenge and has asked you to help her stop the hive from resurrecting Crota. While the three story missions are good, you still end up getting the same issue of not feeling like all of the story has been told. So if you are looking for tons of story content you won't be happy.

      Eris also serves as a new vendor in the Tower. As with the other vendors, Eris will give players access to new items and players can collect special bounties from her. The bounties from Eris act the same as the other bounties and completing and turning them in increases your rank with Eris. Unlocking ranks with Eris will grant you access to new class specific gear (hunter cloak, warlock bond, etc.), armor shaders, player emblems, and materials for upgrades. As of now Eris does not offer any new weapons and gear aside from the fusion rifle Murmur and a pair of gauntlets you can earn from completing the new story quests.

     Besides the three story missions and Eris specific bounties, the expansion adds a new raid, strike mission (two if you play on PlayStation), daily/weekly heroic missions, new Crucible maps, and new legendary weapons and gear. The new raid called Crota's End is naturally located on the Moon. The new raid is set at level 28, but you really need to be at least level 30 to keep up in it. As expected, the raid is not easy and you are going to need coordination and teamwork to get through it successfully. Also, you can play the raid on hard difficulty too. As with the Vault of Glass raid, players can earn material to upgrade weapons and gear, as well as a chance to to earn new raid specific gear. As others have mentioned, it is still a little annoying that matchmaking is not available for raids and right now it seems like Bungie has no intention of doing so. The new strike mission on Earth is pretty fun and pits you and your fireteam against a lot of enemies and a high shielded wizard named Omnigul at the end. You'll find yourself running for cover and in the middle of large firefights at several points in the strike which adds to the tension. Fans of the Crucible are treated to three new maps known as Skyshock, Cauldron, and Pantheon.

     Something that can be frustrating with the expansion is that it adds another layer of grinding to upgrade which is something Destiny does not need any help with. One of the updates with the expansion is the ability to trade in your exotic weapons and gear for an upgraded version of that same piece. While it's cool to get a more powerful exotic weapon or gear piece, you have to have a couple things in order to do so. First (and obviously) you have to have an exotic item. Also, you can only do trading with Xur on the weekend. Then you must have an exotic shard which can be purchased from Xur for seven strange coins or from salvaging an exotic item. Finally you have to have 7,000 glimmer. Once you have all that you can make the trade. A problem is that Xur only carries certain exotic items to trade when he's around on Friday and Saturday. So if he doesn't have the exotic items you want to trade you are stuck waiting around another week in the hopes he'll have them then. Also, even though leveling up your upgraded exotics does move a little more quickly, you still have to start leveling them from scratch.

     The other frustrating part from the expansion is that there is now something called commendations. Commendations are a kind of mark or material you earn each time you level up to the next rank with factions. One commendation is required in order to buy any of the new legendary helmets, chest pieces, or weapons from vendors. You'll also still have to have enough glimmer and marks in order to buy the items too. What can be frustrating early on is that if you have enough glimmer and marks to buy the item, but haven't hit the next rank with a faction, you are stuck having to grind out bounties just to hit the next rank in order to get a commendation mark. Yes, more grinding. However, once you keep earning commendations and don't need to buy weapons, you're left with a pile of them in your inventory just sitting there. It's not a major problem, but still a little annoying.

     The Dark Below is not a terrible expansion. The problem with it is that while is does offer new things, a lot of it is just a kind of familiar rinse and repeat affair. The strike mission is fun, and the new raid definitely offers high end players another challenge. While the new story missions aren't bad, I would have liked to have seen more than just three. While three new maps isn't jaw dropping, it is nice to see new maps added for the Crucible fans. The addition of new legendary weapons and gear, as well as trading in exotics for upgraded ones is cool, but having to grind to re-level up your exotics and earn commendation marks can get old. Especially for anyone already tired of the Destiny grind. As always, Bungie has continued to patch and refine things with the game and this expansion. It will be interesting to see what they give fans in the upcoming House of Wolves expansion as well.   

Final Verdict: 7/10

Written by: Alter Ego 83