Starfield's aerial combat is poised to be a captivating aspect in the forthcoming RPG, serving as a noteworthy example for other shooters, specifically Bungie's Destiny 2. Implementing aerial combat would seamlessly blend into the sci-fi universe of Destiny 2 and inject new vitality into the game.
Undeniably, Starfield's aerial combat encompasses several intricate elements that have the potential to greatly influence other sci-fi shooters. Firstly, the ability to construct ships in Starfield with fully customizable modular components adds an impressive array of possibilities for combat strategies. Additionally, the various methods of engaging enemy ships in Starfield, such as intense spaceship dogfights or direct infiltration of enemy vessels, offer an abundance of inspiration for other gaming experiences.
What Destiny 2 Could Learn from Starfield’s Aerial Combat
The Destiny 2 community has long been requesting ship-based combat, noting the existing foundation and support for this type of activity within the game. The Lightfall expansion trailer sparked speculation about the possibility of ship combat, but it ultimately turned out to be limited to cutscenes. However, there are still parts of the community holding out hope for future expansions to bring ship combat to Destiny 2.
Currently, ships in Destiny 2 serve mainly as a way for players to showcase their rare and unique designs between activities. These ships can be purchased from the Eververse Store or earned as rewards for completing specific content. However, aside from appearances, player vehicles in Destiny 2 have no significant differences, except for Sparrows which have varying speeds and perks. After seeing what Starfield has showcased prior to its release, it would be beneficial for Destiny 2 to consider the potential of aerial combat, especially considering the game already has a vast selection of ships available for use.
Destiny could greatly benefit from incorporating Starfield's space combat mechanics, which include the exciting feature of infiltrating enemy ships and exploring their interiors on foot. The introduction of procedurally generated content, such as ship interiors, holds immense potential for enhancing the overall gameplay experience of Destiny 2. This is especially important due to the repetitive nature of some of the existing content, particularly in the PvE playlists.
Although rotating modifiers have somewhat addressed the issue of replayability in Destiny 2, they are only scratching the surface compared to what can be achieved through different combinations of randomized locations and enemies. While player ships in Destiny 2 may not be as sizable as those in Starfield, the idea of infiltrating enemy ships opens up a realm of possibilities for a thrilling and innovative game mode that the series can explore and experiment with.
Aerial combat, similar to what Starfield offers, presents a great opportunity for Destiny 2 to introduce new PvP content. While the Sparrow Racing League in the Destiny series was a vehicle-based game mode without combat, it still deserves recognition for allowing players to use their personal vehicles in unique ways. Although this game mode has not been available for some time, there is still a strong desire within the community for its return in Destiny 2, along with the addition of space combat.
Following the recent reveals for Starfield, games like Destiny 2 should seriously consider incorporating similar features into their own future content. The highly customizable and intricate nature of aerial combat in Starfield has the potential to revolutionize the sci-fi shooter genre. Given Destiny 2’s existing framework and support for aerial combat, it would be a missed opportunity not to explore the possibilities this new content could bring to the game.
Destiny 2 is available on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
