Destiny Rising has been on my mind ever since it was announced, and Destiny itself has been part of gaming for as long as I can remember. The first title was released back in 2014. I will always be a Halo boy at heart, but Destiny was another huge success with Bungie and has been thriving for many years. To no surprise, we get another addition to the franchise, but I was surprised to see that it will be released on mobile.
This is where Destiny Rising comes in; it will be the first mobile entry for the Destiny franchise. I’m a huge sceptic when it comes to mobile gaming, as you either get a rare gem, something that is nothing like the advert or just some game you play to pass the time that is littered with adverts.
The ones I do play around the clock are Pokémon Go, Pokémon TGC Pocket, Fortnite, and Wild Rift (League of Legends), so when I stumbled across Destiny Rising, I originally thought it was going to be a knock-off of the original, but no, it is an actual entry in the franchise. So, after a quick install and getting comfy on my sofa. I dived into the world of Destiny in the form of mobile gaming.
Free-to-Play Structure
First thing to mention is that Destiny Rising is a free-to-play title. So, if you own an IOS or Android device compatible with running the game, you can dive in right now. Just like the other entries in the series, it is a sci-fi RPG shooter, but features a variety of playable hero characters that you get to play as. It is a shared world, with tons of different game modes all set within the Destiny Universe.
Developed and published by NetEase Game alongside the official licensing by Bungie, this story takes place in an alternate Destiny Timeline, which allows for Destiny Rising to explore a new story and narrative in the post-Dark Age era. This unseen era shows the terrifying collapse of civilisation and the dangers of the resulting Dark Age. You will play as the new generation of Lightbearers, resurrected by mysterious entities known as Ghost, who will help restore humanity’s prominence and secure its future.
From the sanctuary of Haven, fight back against the darkness and journey through a world trying to rise from the ashes. There are plenty of diverse Sci-fi biomes that will take you by surprise, and each one will allow you to uncover hidden stories and adventures in a distant future Earth.
Familiar Destiny Feel
From the get-go go Destiny Rising feels just like the main line games. Its sights, mechanics, and sounds will make you know in an instant that this is a Destiny game. Though that doesn’t go without saying, it also does a fantastic job at introducing new players into the Destiny universe without it feeling overwhelming. It has an engaging and expansive world that brings this FPS to life in the palm of your hand.
Game Modes and Heroes
With multiple game modes such as a campaign, 6-player co-op strikes, and competitive PVP modes, this Destiny game comes with everything you’d expect from the mainline series and features a diverse roster of Hero Characters that come with unique abilities and backstory to flesh out the experience more.
My personal favourite is Gwynn for her ability kit and gameplay. This brings the Gacha system into the Destiny world, which some people might not be too happy about, but it doesn’t faze me, luckily, because I’m used to this style of game through playing Genshin Impact and Zenless Zone Zero. You get the opportunity to try out heroes before you try to put all your resources into getting them, so that you know that the character you are going for is the right one for you.
Gameplay Experience
I love the fact that you get to choose between a first-person view and a fully third-person action view. It makes the game feel so much more cinematic and epic. It is a nice addition and makes it easy to play, I think, when you’re using the touchscreen. As your fingers aren’t getting in the way of the screen when you play in third person. On top of this shooting feels so good for a mobile game.
I tried out PUBG and COD Mobile, and I definitely prefer Destiny Rising when it comes to its gunplay. I also love the fact that controllers are compatible, as this makes playing the 6v6 PVP mode more enjoyable, as using the touch screen can be difficult. It could be because I’m not used to fast-paced FPS shooters on mobile, but it didn’t let it ruin my Destiny Rising experience. I loved the PVE raids and public events, and at times, it made me feel like I was just playing a mainline Destiny game as they didn’t hold back on what content we got.
Cross-Platform Play
Say if you have had enough of using your mobile device to play the game due to it’s heavy demand on your phones battery life or if you are like me and have big hands and can’t mobile game for hours on end without your hands getting uncomfortable then you can take the actioned to a PC or Laptop and run Destiny Rising through an emulator called MuMuPlayer.
This is a great way to play Rising as it consistently runs at a high framerate, which allows you to continue the immersive experience on PC. Seeing as Destiny Rising was built for mobile, I was impressed by how well the emulator made it look and run on my PC and Laptop.
Graphics and Audio
Graphically, the game looks fantastic, with newer mobile devices being able to run the game at 90 fps. It ran perfectly fine on my Samsung S24 Ultra, and it felt comfortable to play too. Audio is a mixed bag with the voice acting feeling a bit flat in a lot of cutscenes and dialogue between NPCs, but it makes up for it with everything else.
I literally spent the first few hours showing my partner just how good it looked on my phone and how I can’t believe how far technology has come to be able to allow a game of this magnitude to be played on the go on handheld mobile devices and tablets. It looked even when I used the emulator that allows for Destiny Rising to be played on a PC. It makes the game feel like another entry in the mainline series as it plays just as well as Destiny 2.
Monetization
There is plenty going on in Destiny Rising. This free-to-play title hooks you in with its addictive gameplay, game modes, and PVP fun, but don’t let this fool you, as there are plenty of Microtransactions littered throughout that will try to make this F2P title turn into a money landslide. Even more so when you throw in the Gacha element, which we have seen done many times in the HoYoverse games.
If you don’t mind the grind, then you can unlock things at your own pace, but there are plenty of taps that will try and make you send a quick buck to get stuff quicker. Just depends on how deep your wallet is.
Conclusion
To conclude, Destiny Rising is a standout addition to the Destiny franchise, even with the ever-present microtransactions typical of today’s free-to-play titles. It offers real excitement for long-time fans and provides a fresh, accessible FPS experience for newcomers. If you find gacha systems frustrating, be aware that some characters are locked behind them, but the gameplay remains both familiar and inviting.
Thanks to MuMuPlayer, you can seamlessly move the action to PC and enjoy a true Destiny experience however you play. Destiny Rising preserves what fans love and injects new energy into a beloved series. For its engaging gameplay, cross-platform versatility, and commitment to the Destiny ethos, I confidently award Destiny Rising an 8 out of 10.
Destiny Rising Trailer
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Game code was provided to us for the express purpose of reviewing.
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