Shadowkeep, the latest expansion for Bungie’s sci-fi loot shooter Destiny 2, represents something of a fresh start for the game. Not only did it launch alongside a free update that doubled down on the RPG elements die-hard fans have been craving, but it also represents Bungie’s first crack at new Destiny 2 content since its split with publisher Activision and the game going free-to-play. Shadowkeep has the unenviable task of satiating series veterans while also enticing new players to see what Destiny 2 is all about. Shadowkeep does buckle under the weight of these expectations, but it brings just enough to the table to be worthwhile.
Shadowkeep reintroduces brooding series regular Eris Morn, who has awakened an ancient evil on Earth’s moon. Although brief at only five hours, Shadowkeep’s campaign is packed with memorable story beats and combat encounters, all built on the solid foundation of Destiny 2’s outstanding shooting. It feels like a mixture of Destiny 2’s cinematic campaign and the original Destiny’s opaque world-building, so every fan should find something to like. It helps that the moon has always been one of Destiny’s most striking environments, and while whole sections are basically identical to the first Destiny, there are enough new areas to keep it from feeling like a simple copy.
The main problem with Shadowkeep lies in its value proposition. The patrol zone on the moon, the two new cooperative Strikes and the three new competitive Crucible maps are free for all players. Purchasing Shadowkeep gets you the campaign, a new raid, Nightmare Hunts, a new dungeon (unreleased at the time of writing) and the current season pass, which includes a seasonal activity and an exclusive tier of rewards. Nightmare Hunts challenge players to defeat ghostly versions of threats from Destiny’s past, but they just play out like shorter strikes. The seasonal event, Vex Offensive, is a fun gauntlet of intense shooting, but it gets repetitive quickly.
The reworked season pass is entirely new to Destiny 2 and warrants its own discussion. As players level up, they will earn set rewards along a track. One track is free for everyone, while an additional one is available only to season pass owners. It is undoubtedly an effective way to incentivize regular play, but the inclusion of a faster path to weapons, armor and upgrade materials feels like a tacked-on addition to justify Shadowkeep’s $35 price. Those who play Destiny 2 religiously may find the investment justifiable, but it is difficult to understate just how paltry this offering looks when compared to last year’s Forsaken expansion.
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Everything Shadowkeep sets out to do, it does reasonably well; the problem is that does not offer much in the way of truly unique content. Devoted players will enjoy revisiting the moon and advancing the overarching story, and this expansion does provide a good excuse to dive back in and play around with the new RPG elements, but the fun is fleeting. Exhausting Shadowkeep’s new content will not take long, and after that, it is back to the same (admittedly enjoyable) Destiny 2 grind.
