Halo 4 vs. Destiny
Critically Compared
Here we go boys. Possibly the two biggest sci-fi shooters in recent memory, pinned against each other in a critical comparison to the death!
In one corner, we have Halo 4, Bungie’s abandoned pre-pubescent teen that was graciously adopted by 343.
In the other corner, we have Bungie’s newest and favorite offspring, Destiny.
Which will win? Armored/badass/faceless soldiers, or wizards from the moon?
Note: As usual, I will name the things that both games have in common, and judge which one does it better. Also note that both games are the same genre and share many qualities.
So without further ado…
Round 1: Story
Destiny doesn’t have one.
Point Halo!
Well, not exactly. You see, Destiny’s story is completely dependent on how much the player want to learn about the lore. There are several resources that players can use to learn about the imaginative (and relatively detailed) world that Bungie has created.
It a shame that not much of that lore come through during the game. Most missions are not really story based, and instead play out as:
- Go Here
- Kill That
- Pick Up/Stand Next To/Hold X Near That
Halo’s story is one beloved by millions, and even though Halo 4’s story is pretty different from the rest, it at least has a plot line and character arcs.
Result: Halo 4
Round 2: Shooting
Destiny and Halo, despite having many similar traits, play very differently. Destiny is much faster paced, while Halo is more slow and kind of methodical.
Destiny also has offers the option for players to aim down the sights on every weapon, a feature that is absent in Halo.
This combined with the overall flow and openness of Destiny, is why it wins this round.
Result: Destiny
Round 3: Leveling & Customization
These two categories seemed pretty insignificant in the grand scheme of things, so I decided to combine them.
Both games offer a leveling system in order for players to unlock new content as they progress. In Halo, the leveling is exclusive to multiplayer mode, occasionally rewarding players with gear to customize their Spartan with.
In Destiny, leveling and loot applies in both the Story mode and PvP matches. This allows players to use what they earn in the open world in battle against other enemies. The whole system plays like this: Kill….Get Loot… Apply Loot…. Kill Some More…. and repeat…
Still Destiny’s leveling and customization systems have much more depth than Halo’s.
Result: Destiny
Round 4: Multiplayer “Mode”
Technically speaking, Destiny is entirely multiplayer, meaning the player is never offline. But rather than just giving the point to Destiny, I will instead compare both games’ Player vs. Player modes.
Destiny’s PvP mode has all the basic game modes, but that’s it. While more PvP modes may come via DLC, at the moment there are only 4. Or maybe 5…. 6? I don’t know. Regardless, it isn't even close to the variety of PvP modes in Halo 4. Plus, higher leveled players are so overpowered with their gear abilities, that newbies have a hard time having fun.
Halo’s multiplayer is legendary. It’s simple, easy to get a hang of, and accessible to almost everyone. Not everyone appreciates this, but I think it’s a quality that game developers should keep in mind more often….
Result: Halo 4
Final Round: Overall Gameplay
Like I said before, Destiny is very repetitive. Even though the shooting in Destiny is better than Halo’s, I’m not sure that can hold up against Halo’s diversity of gameplay.
After all, Halo 4 had some amazing set pieces and level design. Like that level on the outside of the space ship!?! Awesome…
Plus, Halo has more vehicles and gameplay option so that everyone can have his/her own style.
Hurray for diversity!
Result: Halo 4
End Result
Destiny: 2 Points
Halo 4: 3 Points
Winner: Halo 4
Keep in mind that the opinions expressed in this post are just that: opinions. Also remember that I am not an expert and that nothing I say is conclusive. Don’t hate me Destiny fans.
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Thanks for reading and hopefully I’ll see you next time.
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