With the recent release of The Edge of Fate expansion, the start of Destiny 2’s broader Fate saga is now underway. This new era for Destiny 2 is already turning out to be a major shift for the franchise, though not all of the adjustments have been a smooth transition so far. For better or worse, though, these controversial changes in Destiny 2 arguably needed to be made so that the franchise can move on from its decade-long Light and Darkness saga.
However, one aspect of the new Edge of Fate expansion that seems rather odd is the disregard for the personal vehicles that have been a staple feature of the Destiny franchise since the original game. Not only is the lack of access to Sparrows and Skimmers on the new planet Kepler a real head-scratcher, but the complete disregard for the new Gryphon vehicle is especially confusing, leaving this new feature’s fate uncertain. Hopefully, though, the new Gryphon vehicle type will get its proper turn in the spotlight in Destiny 2 in the near future.
Destiny 2's Edge of Fate Expansion Sure Puts the 'Tiny' in Destiny
The Edge of Fate may just be Destiny 2’s smallest expansion so far in terms of length, though the heavy groundwork it lays isn’t unnoticed.
Destiny 2’s Gryphon Has a Wealth of Untapped Potential After Sitting Out on The Edge of Fate Expansion
In the short time between when The Edge of Fate expansion was officially revealed and when it was released, the first-ever Gryphon vehicle was introduced to Destiny 2. Unlike Sparrows and Skimmers, the new Gryphon vehicle type comes with mounted weapons. All things considered, the timing of this new vehicle being introduced just before The Edge of Fate expansion’s release date admittedly made it seem like Destiny 2 was going to take after the Borderlands games and make Gryphons, and vehicle combat in general, a core part of this new expansion. Surprisingly, this isn’t the case.
The Gryphon was only available to be earned for a limited time through Destiny 2’s Heavy Metal event. This event is expected to return soon, likely along with other permanent ways to unlock the Gryphon.
So far, there doesn’t appear to be any places throughout the planet Kepler where players can summon their Gryphon, or any other personal vehicle. Instead, players will get to use the new Darkmatter exploration abilities on Kepler to explore the planet and solve puzzles in a Metroidvania fashion. Regardless of the reception of these new Darkmatter abilities, this doesn’t justify the disregard for the new Gryphon vehicle throughout Destiny 2’s Edge of Fate expansion, since it still has a wealth of untapped potential.
Destiny 2 Could Beat the Borderlands Franchise at Its Own Game When it Comes to Vehicle Combat
With Destiny 2 now having a brand-new personal vehicle type with integrated weapons, it’s arguably high time for vehicle combat to become more than just a gimmick for campaign missions and LTMs from Seasonal Events in Destiny 2 to be used sparingly. For inspiration, Destiny 2 could look to how the Borderlands franchise takes full advantage of its vehicle combat as a core gameplay mechanic.
Where the Borderlands franchise’s vehicle combat falls short, though, is in the endgame difficulty scaling far outpacing vehicles' health and damage capabilities, so Destiny 2 could address this issue and potentially beat the Borderlands franchise at its own game. Regardless of a little healthy competition between these two rival looter-shooters, Destiny 2’s new Gryphon vehicle ultimately has a lot of untapped potential that could provide a fresh experience in PvE content.
Destiny 2 Has the Perfect Excuse to Bring Back the Sparrow Racing League
Beyond vehicle combat becoming a bigger part of PvE content, the Gryphon could also be the key to finally bringing back the fan-favorite Sparrow Racing League from the original Destiny, except with a twist. With these new vehicles having integrated weapons, this could potentially inspire a variety of PvP game modes beyond traditional races, and these kinds of party game modes could be a surprise hit in Destiny 2, but not if they never happen.
WHERE TO PLAY
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer, Online Co-Op
- Engine
- Tiger Engine
