14 DAY TRIAL // The digital edition of Game Informer features an interview with Lars Bakken, the multiplayer lead for Bungie's Halo 3 and one of the creators of Firefight, revealing more information about the company's upcoming FPS MMO Destiny.
Destiny is an always connected shared world first-person shooter, an equal parts mix of FPS, open-world sandbox and persistent universe. Players are able to meet online to trade, socialize and most importantly fight in order to protect the Earth from alien species.
Its role-playing game elements still remain a mystery, although it has been made clear that players will be able to customize their characters and outfit them with different armor, weapons, clothing and vehicles.
The game will feature very competitive multiplayer, both PvP and co-op, featuring an online “single-player” campaign that is shared with other players. Players will also take their single-player characters to multiplayer matches and events, as there is no directly-to-multiplayer option integrated into Destiny.
The video interview with Lars Bakken is available on GameInformer. During the interview, he states that Destiny's gameplay will feel faster than Halo's and that players will be able to take out unprepared targets much easier, even with their regular weapons.
He went on to talk about maps, expressing his hope that the maps will elicit a familiar feelings in players, being created using the same design principles used for Halo maps.
Levels will have a greater emphasis on verticality and multiple access points (double jumping through a hole in the wall or taking the stairs to get to the second floor being offered as an example) and will feature lots of extra options, such as disabling supers.
Users will have the option to restrict voice communication to their fireteam only, and will be offered alternate communication options for interacting with other players, in order to prevent abuse and unwanted chatter.
The designer also mentioned that they are working on a system that will balance weapons over time, trying to avoid nerfing weapons for balance purposes.
To join the discussion about the latest reveal, have a look at the NeoGAF forums.
For additional information and pre-ordering for beta access, visit the official game website.