Given that Bungie, as a studio, was behind the development of the mainlineHalofranchise games from the IP’s creation up until the release ofHalo: Reachin 2010, the DNA of theHalogames still lingering through toDestiny 2is arguably inevitable. Despite how far these two separate IPs from separate development studios might stray from each other at times, there are still some of the faintest, most subtle similarities that will persist. Once again, this DNA and discrete influence are bleeding through inDestiny 2’s new Edge of Fate expansion.
Aside from the mixed reception of the length, direction, and finale ofDestiny 2’s new Edge of Fate campaign, one aspect of this campaign that isn’t up for debate is its difficulty. Especially on the highest difficulty, Mythic,Destiny 2’s Edge of Fate campaign requires teamwork, expertise, and/or firepower to a degree that arguably feels reminiscent of theHalofranchise’s iconic Legendary All Skulls On (LASO) campaigns.
Destiny 2’s Edge of Fate Expansion Puts Its Campaign Front and Center, Where it Belongs
From as early as the originalDestiny, the campaigns of the base game and subsequentDestinyexpansionshave generally served as a stepping stone to the true endgame experience. Ultimately, despite being a prerequisite before certain other activities become available, and their seamless, overarching story ties, there’s often quite a disconnection between the campaign and other endgame activities for many reasons.
One of the most notable distinctions betweenDestiny 2’s campaigns and other endgame content is the difference in difficulty. However, with the Edge of Fate expansion’s campaign, this has all changed, and the difficulty is much steeper than it’s ever been. UnlikeDestiny 2’s past expansions, the Edge of Fate expansion’s campaign now offers four difficulties, which arguably bridge the gap that so many ofDestiny 2’s past campaigns have come close to, yet never fully achieved, in putting the campaign on par with the rest of the endgame’s level of difficulty.
Destiny 2’s Edge of Fate Mythic Campaign Has Major Halo LASO Vibes
With the Edge of Fate expansion having multiple difficulties and some creativenew Banes, Boons, and other difficulty modifiers, the campaign itself is finally worthy of being regarded as endgame content. This is something that the earlyHalogames had perfected, not because the campaign was often the only ‘endgame’ PvE content in most of the earlyHalogames, but because, even without the lure of shiny rewards, the challenge of overcoming the LASO campaigns of theHalogames is its own worthwhile reward.
Even beyond the new campaign,Destiny 2’s new Banes and other difficulty modifiers are present in nearly every endgame activity in thenew Portal activities hub.
So far in the Edge of Fate expansion, it seems likeDestiny 2is moving away from artificial methods of increasing the difficulty of endgame content, likecontroversial Champion enemiesor infamous ‘bullet-sponges,’ in favor of creative layers of difficulty. Now more than ever, this feels likeDestiny 2is finally tapping into its own version of theHaloLASO campaigns. Naturally,Destiny 2’s Edge of Fate campaign still has the added benefit of shiny loot, but now the challenge itself is at a level that Raids and Dungeons have been at since the early days of the franchise.
No matter how far theHaloandDestinyfranchises stray from each other, it’s only natural for some subtle similarities and influences to seep through, going both ways. Of course, aside fromDestiny 2’s Bungie 30th Anniversary Pack having some very distinctHalo-inspired content from their roots. Ultimately, not only are theHaloLASO vibes fromDestiny 2’s Edge of Fate expansion a welcome sight to see for fans of both IPs, but it’s also a big milestone forDestiny 2to finally reach its own version of this iconic feature.
