Revenant Has Exposed a Major Flaw in Bungie’s Storytelling

The vampire-themed Destiny 2 Episode: Revenant promised players a story involving vampires with gameplay to go with it. But now players are instead questioning Bungie’s storytelling and advertising choices because the episode has none of that. For something that was marketed as if there would be vampire-slaying adventures, it has nothing but.

This episode, which pits players against Fikrul, the Fanatic, introduced a mix of new gameplay mechanics and lore-heavy content. However, a glaring misstep in weapon introduction and thematic execution has highlighted deeper issues with the game’s narrative coherence.

Destiny 2‘s New Vampire Themed Episode is Anything But That

Destiny 2‘s Episode: Revenant introduced mutated Scorn branded as vampires, but their portrayal failed to live up to expectations. Players were eager for a gothic experience akin to Castlevania or Demon Slayer. Instead, these Scorn behaved no differently than their predecessors, with few visual or mechanical changes.

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Even though the story so far has hinted at some vampiric elements like Fikrul creating Scorn from living Eliksni, the theme largely felt superficial. Players have noted the lack of unique enemy designs and mechanics, with one player summarizing, “It’s just generic Scorn action.”

This disconnect between marketing and gameplay has been a missed opportunity to deliver a story that the community would’ve truly liked. Bungie’s decision to also not to include crossbows as a weapon for the duration of the episode is also confusing.

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Revenant’s gameplay also fails to complement its story. While new activities like the Tomb of Elders draw inspiration from Destiny 1’s Prison of Elders, their connection to the vampire theme is strained at best. Players have also said that the missions feel like the same old activities rather than a vampire-hunting experience.

The Theme and Story Aren’t The Only Problem

The community’s disappointment with Revenant has also been added to by the technical problems. Act 2, released on November 19, 2024, was plagued with bugs and broken mechanics.

Players have reported numerous bugs, including broken mechanics and missing dialog in key story moments. One player called it “the buggiest the game has ever been.”

Destiny 2 fans criticize Episode Revenant for “ridiculous” number of bugs and “forced” narrative decisions – pic.twitter.com/K3x69CFfaj

— Destiny Bulletin (@DestinyBulletn) November 22, 2024

These technical flaws overshadowed the story and contributed to the growing player disappointment. While Bungie’s decision to release entire Acts at once was meant to address complaints about fragmented storytelling, the rushed content and unpolished delivery did little to improve the experience.

Episode Revenant Act 2 Cinematic! (Spoiler Warning)

One of the best cutscenes in Destiny hands down! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/J88c8LmPe4

— Destiny Bulletin (@DestinyBulletn) November 20, 2024

Despite these criticisms, Revenant had some bright moments. The cinematic that was released at the end of Act 2 received praise for its style and emotional depth. But these isolated successes aren’t enough to compensate for the large-scale issues.

But there is hope for redemption in Revenant’s final act which is planned to release in January 2025. Players are eager to see whether Act 3 can tie together all the broken pieces.

Some fans are also looking forward to the potential introduction of a scorned-out Awoken watchtower, which could finally capture the gothic, vampire-hunting aesthetic promised in Revenant’s marketing.

Until then, the debate over Bungie’s storytelling approach will likely continue as players call for better cohesion between gameplay and story. What have you thought of Destiny 2‘s Episode: Revenant so far? Let us know in the comments!