Unleashing Destiny 2's Crota's End: A Heartbreaking and Groundbreaking Experience

Highlights

Destiny 2's storytelling in the Final Shape era may change, but the core franchise's tales are unlikely to undergo significant changes.

The game's expansions frequently incorporate additional narratives by means of items, dialogues, and lore tabs. Examples include Veil Containment in the Season of the Deep and Chioma Esi's audio logs.

Banshee-44, previously known as Clovis Bray, possesses a sorrowful and tragic past. His dialogue, which breaks the fourth wall, serves as a poignant reminder of the lasting consequences events can have on characters.

In the world of Destiny 2, the way the game tells stories and intertwines different plotlines has captivated science fiction enthusiasts. This trend is expected to continue even as the 10-year saga comes to a close. Although the upcoming episodes in The Final Shape era may bring some changes to how Bungie presents their tales, the franchise's core stories are unlikely to be altered. An interesting example of the game's storytelling approach is seen in its expansion called Season of the Witch, where the iconic Crota's End Raid from the original game is revisited. Through a bittersweet secondary plot, the game subtly breaks the fourth wall.

Destiny 2's expansions often feature various minor stories that are conveyed through items, dialogues, cutscenes, and lore tabs found within the game. Season of the Deep's Veil Containment is a prime illustration of this, as a seemingly insignificant mission unveils some of the most intriguing and valuable pieces of lore in the game's history, thanks to Chioma Esi's audio logs. More recently, Season of the Witch introduced a new Hive weapon named Ex Diris. Players who fulfill the requirements for its catalyst can bring it to Banshee-44 in The Tower, wherein a moment of fourth-wall-breaking interaction occurs between the players and the character.

How Destiny 2's Ex Diris and Crota's End Give Players a Sad Moment With Banshee-44

Banshee-44 has always been an intriguing character in Destiny 2, despite not being a key player in the main storyline. His somber demeanor and frequent forgetfulness have garnered attention from both himself and other characters in the game. Surprisingly, the recent Beyond Light expansion and The Lament quest unveiled a shocking revelation - Banshee-44 was actually Clovis Bray, the infamous scientist responsible for humanity's downfall through his horrendous experiments and obsession with the Darkness artifact known as Clarity Control.

Throughout the quest, it is revealed that Banshee-44 was originally called Clovis-1, and his Exo body contained the mind and memories of Clovis Bray. However, he despised his human self and chose to aid Elsie Bray in her mission to rectify Clovis' mistakes. To do so, he repeatedly wiped his memory with new reboots, a process that strains the minds of Exos and could potentially degrade them. Banshee-44 fought against the Vex on Europa, and upon completion, he willingly allowed Elsie to erase his identity, transforming him into Destiny 2's Gunsmith - Banshee-44.

In his pursuit of redemption for sins that were not technically his own, he also forgot about humanity's most significant achievements and the companions he lost on his journey. When players complete the Exotic quest for the Ex Diris catalyst in Destiny 2, Banshee-44's written dialogue expresses how the weapon triggers his recollection of names from the past. He then asks Guardians to convey his regards to Crota if they happen to use the gun against him. This moment breaks the fourth wall, as it coincides with the release of Crota's End and serves as Bungie's clever way of engaging the players.

Having said that, Crota's initial defeat in Destiny occurred during what is now known as the Great Disaster. During this event, multiple fireteams ventured to the Moon with the intention of stopping the Hive God, but tragically, they met their demise. This incident also forms the basis of Eris Morn's backstory in Destiny 2's Season of the Witch. Therefore, Banshee-44's request becomes even more heartbreaking as it seems he has not only forgotten about Eriana and the other Guardians who fell to Crota but would likely not even recognize Eris in her current Hive form if he were to encounter her. Bungie's fourth-wall-breaking line, while amusing in reference to players' loot-hunting habits, also serves as a somber reminder that certain characters may never be the same again.

Destiny 2 is available on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.