Summary
Destiny 2is experiencing a resurgence, with player numbers skyrocketing past those of Season of the Wish’s launch, and that’s thanks to the massive changes and additions that came with Into The Light as well as the hype-inducing revelations from the livestream for The Final Shape’s gameplay.Destiny 2’s new Prismatic subclasseswere revealed alongside the all-new Dread faction and the first-ever Exotic class items outside ofDestiny 1, and it all made a huge impact on the community’s morale. Prismatic subclasses can grant a lot of options and unlock near-endless gameplay combinations, and as much as that can be intriguing, they are also about to go through Stasis' biggest problems from Beyond Light.
Destiny 2has added several subclasses or reworked existing ones over the years, and this process started with Beyond Light, as it introduced a new “subclass 3.0” system with Stasis. With Stasis being the first of its kind in many ways, including its many options for slowing and freezing targets, it was the ultimate power-creep tool to use inDestiny 2’s Crucible as well as several PvE activities. Now, Primsatic subclasses in The Final Shape risk stumbling into the same pitfalls as Stasis both in terms of gameplay and accessibility, and it can be a big head-scratcher for Bungie to address.
Destiny 2’s Prismatic is a Controversy Waiting to Happen
Why Destiny 2’s Prismatic Subclasses Shouldn’t Follow in Stasis' Footsteps
With The Final Shape, Bungie needed a massive expansion to win back all the fans that were left disappointed by Lightfall and the company’s recent history, between layoffs and developer morale. In typical Bungie fashion,Destiny 2is delivering when it needs it the most, and a big part of the freshly rekindled hype is precisely the addition of Prismatic subclasses. Prismatic is the ultimate dream for buildcrafters thanks to its many options, but this can also easily lead to extreme levels of power-creep as well as generally uneven playing field.
Upon release,Destiny 2’s Stasiswas in a broken state, so much so that PvP players started campaigns to get it nerfed. Likewise, Stasis was criticized for being Destiny 2’s first paywalled subclass since those without Beyond Light couldn’t get it.
Destiny 2’s subclasses and Exoticspale in comparison to what Prismatic is seemingly about to offer, and they may very well be not worth going back to after The Final Shape. This unbalanced approach, with Bungie devs admitting to it in the recent livestream, can be good for the game in terms of power fantasy, but it can be equally problematic for a plethora of reasons. With Prismatic, players can essentially have access to all keywords and mechanics from every subclass, and that can create a massive divide between what Guardians are capable of and what the game’s difficulty has to offer.
Destiny 2’s Prismatic Subclasses Are Caught Between a Rock and a Hard Place
Destiny 2 is Facing an Uphill Battle With Accessibility and Game Balance After Prismatic
Not only that, butDestiny 2’s PvP modeshave long been suffering for various reasons, chief among them lack of new maps and adequately-balanced ones while at it. The Final Shape can move the needle in the wrong direction in this case, as those who purchase the expensive DLC can gain access to Prismatic subclasses, and free-to-play gamers or those still on the fence can’t. In PvP modes, having access to a subclasses that combines them all can break the game, especially so for those who don’t have them and still have to play against them.
As it stands, it seems unlikely that Prismatic will be free for all, and rather, players will have to purchase The Final Shape to get it.
There have been multiple instances where Stasis completely broke PvP and generated several controversies, such as uptime on crowd control abilities or the fact that the Darkness subclasses were paywalled. As it stands, unless Prismatic has major drawbacks that have yet to be announced,Destiny 2’s The Final Shapecan run into these same issues on launch, and that can be bad for morale and for Bungie’s need to retain players rather than driving them away. It’s unclear how Bungie can get out of this situation without nerfing Prismatic, and that too can hurt the game’s best-ever power fantasy.
Destiny 2
WHERE TO PLAY
Dive into the world of Destiny 2 to explore the mysteries of the solar system and experience responsive first-person shooter combat. Unlock powerful elemental abilities and collect unique gear to customize your Guardian’s look and playstyle. Enjoy Destiny 2’s cinematic story, challenging co-op missions, and a variety of PvP modes alone or with friends. Download for free today and write your legend in the stars.An Immersive StoryYou are a Guardian, defender of the Last City of humanity in a solar system under siege by infamous villains. Look to the stars and stand against the darkness. Your legend begins now.Guardian ClassesChoose from the armored Titan, mystic Warlock, or swift Hunter.
