But what is interesting about this comparison between the two games is how this new PS5 title Godfall is rooted in fantasy, and so too did Destiny have its roots in the fantasy genre. For a time in early development, Bungie considered taking players to a fantasy world instead of setting them off into the solar system. In a GDC presentation in 2013, Christopher Barrett and Joseph Staten gave an inside look at the development of Destiny, including these fantasy roots.
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In 2013, Barrett shared a number of concept images from that earlier time in Destiny’s development and explained what was most appealing about going in a fantasy direction instead of a sci-fi one Bungie had been known for over the years due to the popularity of Halo:
Staten said that there were also “grub lords” and “giant rat piranha fish” among many other ideas that the early Destiny team came up with during the early development of the game. First off, it is certainly interesting to consider what Bungie would have done with a game that had more in common with World of Warcraft, Elder Scrolls, or Godfall than with the sci-fi genre in which Destiny eventually found its home.
But secondly, it is clear how some of those fantasy staples found their way into Destiny, which would come to identify itself instead as mythic science fiction or science-fantasy more along the lines of Star Wars. Exotics in the game have unique names and lore attached to them, including their own questlines to earn them. Destiny has, from the beginning, ben rooted in deep lore from the first game’s Grimoire cards to Destiny 2’s in-game lore tabs. While Destiny doesn’t have any giant frogs (yet), there are plenty of creatures, space wizards and magic, and haunted ships to scratch that fantasy itch.
Barrett himself drew the comparison back in 2013 that fantasy gives the allure of seeing ancient ruins in the distance and wondering what could be hidden within and below the ruins. With Bungie not quite able to shake its sci-fi pedigree, the developers asked themselves, what is different about ancient ruins and an ancient derelict spaceship floating in the depths of space asking to be explored? And the rest is history. Destiny marched down a path of sci-fi and, as a live game, has continued to evolve and deliver new places, characters, and weapons as it continues to expand its own universe.
There are few details to go on about Godfall currently with its debut trailer and a short clip of combat gameplay, so it is hard to know how closely the game will resemble something like Destiny or Diablo or Monster Hunter—all games that it may resemble more so than Destiny.
But just as nearly every looter in the past few years has been compared to Destiny, like The Division and Anthem, it seems impossible for people to drop the tendency to compare. What is perhaps most interesting is the common worldbuilding foundations than many developers pull from, whether it be Bungie or Godfall’s developer Counterplay.
Destiny 2 is available now for PC, PS4, Stadia, and Xbox One. Godfall is coming to PC and PS5 holiday 2020.
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Source: YouTube
