Destiny Rising: A Journey Back to the Early City Age

Destiny Rising isn’t just another expansion or side story; it feels like a time machine that lets us step into one of the most mysterious and often-discussed eras in the series’ lore — the early City Age. Bungie has always been known for crafting worlds that live and breathe, with layers of myth, history, and mystery. This time, instead of pushing further into the far future or beyond the stars, the game pulls us back into the foundations of what became humanity’s last safe city. For me, that premise alone was exciting enough to dive in headfirst.

When you start Destiny Rising, the familiar mechanics are all there — the tight gunplay, the satisfying abilities, the dance between PvE exploration and PvP combat. But the setting is what gives it a whole new flavor. Walking through the post-Collapse City, seeing the cracked streets, the makeshift settlements, and the early defenses of what would one day become The Last City, you feel like you’re part of something raw and unrefined. It’s not polished like the Tower we’ve known for years; it’s fragile, desperate, and alive.

Codes That Give You a Boost

Before diving deeper into gameplay, it’s worth mentioning something practical: there are actual codes available for Destiny Rising. These codes can unlock rewards that help smooth the early grind or give you unique cosmetics tied to the new era. Personally, I love when developers acknowledge that some players want little shortcuts or collector’s perks without ruining the balance of the game. In my case, redeeming one of the codes early on gave me a weapon skin that fit perfectly with the gritty atmosphere of the City’s streets. It might not sound like much, but when you’re trying to immerse yourself in a world like this, even a small visual detail can make the whole journey feel more personal.

Exploring the Post-Collapse City

Exploration is where Destiny Rising shines. Unlike the grand, expansive landscapes of previous games, the post-Collapse City feels intimate. Streets twist around ruined skyscrapers, hidden courtyards shelter small communities, and dark underground tunnels lead you to forgotten tech from the Golden Age. There’s something powerful about fighting through places that feel lived-in, where every wall has graffiti, every market has voices, and every battlefield feels like someone’s home turned warzone.

During one mission, I found myself in an abandoned metro station, now converted into a base by scavengers. The lighting was dim, the walls covered in improvised banners, and you could almost feel the desperation of those who had once tried to carve out safety here. Fighting through waves of enemies in such an environment gave me chills — not because it was hard, but because it felt so real.

PvE at Its Best

If you love story-driven missions, Destiny Rising won’t disappoint. Bungie has clearly put a lot of effort into weaving the lore into the missions themselves rather than just leaving it in grimoire cards or side notes. You’re not just shooting enemies; you’re fighting to protect early settlers, securing routes for supply lines, or uncovering hidden threats that could crush humanity before it even has a chance to rise again.

One of the standout missions for me involved escorting a group of civilians through a collapsing part of the City while enemy forces poured in from all directions. It wasn’t about killing the most enemies or getting the highest score — it was about survival, about keeping hope alive. It’s moments like these that remind me why I fell in love with Destiny in the first place.

The PvP Arena Feels Different

On the other side of the coin, PvP in Destiny Rising feels more grounded than in the futuristic arenas of the mainline Destiny games. The maps are smaller, the layouts more urban, and the fights more personal. Instead of floating platforms and alien architecture, you’re battling in half-ruined office buildings or across rooftops where one wrong step can send you crashing down to the street below.

I’ve always been a casual PvP player, someone who dips in when I need a break from story missions. But in Destiny Rising, PvP feels like an extension of the narrative itself. The weapons are familiar, the supers are as flashy as ever, but the atmosphere is grittier, more desperate. Winning a match feels less like sport and more like survival, and that’s an energy that keeps me coming back.

A Different Kind of World-Building

Destiny has always excelled at world-building, but Rising does something unique: it shows us the foundation of the myth. We’re used to Guardians being larger-than-life heroes, symbols of hope and power. But here, in the early City Age, things aren’t so certain. The City itself is fragile, threatened on all sides, and you get the sense that one wrong move could doom it forever.

In one cutscene, I watched a group of settlers argue about whether the Guardians could even be trusted. That moment stuck with me, because it reminded me that the relationship between humanity and its defenders wasn’t always a given. Trust had to be earned, and that’s something Rising explores in ways the main games never really touched on.

The Feel of the Gameplay

Mechanically, Destiny Rising doesn’t reinvent the wheel — and honestly, it doesn’t need to. The gunplay is as smooth as ever, with each weapon feeling distinct and satisfying. Abilities still create those “wow” moments when you clear out an entire wave of enemies or turn the tide of a firefight. What’s different is how much weight the environment adds to every encounter.

Fighting in ruined apartment complexes means tighter corridors, ambushes around corners, and less reliance on long-range sniping. The game pushes you into close encounters more often, and that changes how you think about loadouts. Personally, I leaned heavily on shotguns and close-range supers, which isn’t usually my style, but it felt right for this setting.

Emotional Resonance

What surprised me most about Destiny Rising wasn’t just the action, but the emotional resonance. When I finished certain missions, I didn’t just feel like I had completed an objective; I felt like I had made a difference. There’s a moment after one particularly tough mission where the settlers you save start singing together in relief. It was such a small detail, easy to miss, but it hit me hard. That’s the kind of storytelling Bungie nails when they’re at their best.

Final Thoughts on Destiny Rising

Destiny Rising is more than just a new entry in the franchise — it’s a love letter to the roots of its universe. By pulling us back to the early City Age, it grounds the grand mythology of the series in something tangible, human, and vulnerable. The mix of familiar mechanics with a fresh setting makes it both nostalgic and new. And with the addition of codes that give players fun rewards and customization options, it also feels accessible to newcomers who might be jumping in for the first time.

For me, Destiny Rising reminded me why I’ve stuck with this franchise for so long. It’s not just about shooting aliens or grinding for loot — it’s about stories, about worlds that feel lived in, and about the connections we make with characters and each other along the way. If you’re a longtime fan, this is a chapter you won’t want to miss. And if you’re new, this might just be the perfect place to start your journey.