The Taken King, Destiny’s biggest DLC yet, came out on Sept. 15, but this was no standard $20 DLC like fans are used to. This DLC, plus the 2.0 update, has completely reworked almost every inch of the year-old game, adding in a different progression system, quests to fit with a more standard MMO approach, new voice actors, and an entirely new story line completely separate from the year-one story. But will this DLC stop the lackluster feel that has plagued the game since it came out last year?

After playing through the simple yet fun story, filled with beautiful cut scenes and a surprising depth of character development, I can say I am truly impressed with what this DLC has done for Destiny. The witty dialogue between the characters had me laughing out loud and the variety in missions never made me feel like I was playing only a slightly different version of the same mission over and over, which was a big problem in the year-one story.

The level design has also greatly improved, giving each mission its own unique feel. For example, there are stealth missions, missions with a parkour feel, and finally the standard run-and-gun missions. The Taken King also takes the idea of an open-world game truly to heart, placing some stories’ settings in a multiplayer map, which was a pleasant surprise followed by an “I know this place!”

Even just going on a patrol and exploring the open world has become much more fun since the DLC was released, with the addition of random objects that a player can scan and learn how they fit into the world of Destiny. This simple addition both adds to the game’s overall lore and gives the players something to search for.

A whole new world was also added in this expansion for players to explore called the “dreadnaught.” This dark and nasty world puts the player in very dangerous situations but promises great rewards in return.

After the basic story is finished, there are still many things to do within the world. Side quests will keep players busy for hours as they learn more and more about the universe they are in.

More strikes are also being added. These mission-like events have a run-and-gun type feel as players fights their way to a big bad boss they have to slowly bring down. The strikes are some of the best so far; their boss fights are intense and have unique mechanics. There are still some “bullet sponge” moments within the strikes, but they are still much improved from the year-one content.

New subclasses have also been added, each designed to fit with different play styles. There are now three subclasses for each of the three character types. Hunters have the addition of the Nightstaker subclass, a support-oriented class designed to lock down and stop enemy movement. The super, a large part of each class for the Nightstaker, is a void bow that traps enemies caught within its radius. Titans received the Sunbreaker subclass with the super of a solar hammer that players can throw at enemies from a safe distance or smash to pieces in up-close melee attacks. The warlocks were given the new subclass of Stormcaller, with a super that allows them to fling electricity from their fingers, which melts through enemy after enemy.

This DLC also added many new weapons and armor, giving the players something to strive for. The only small letdown is that the very best equipment from year-one, which I spent hours gridding to get, was quickly replaced with better gear from The Taken King. Although this made me question why I had spent so much time getting those amazing year-one weapons and armor, I am enjoying getting and using the new equipment.

Eight new PVP maps are also included. Each map has its own unique feel, some being close quarters where shotguns run ramped; others built with long lines of sight, forcing players to watch out for snipers sitting on the other side of the map; and still others a strange mixture of close- and long-range, filled with teleporters and jump pads, creating a hectic, quick feel to the map. Although each map is very different from all others, every one is designed with care and plays well and smooth no matter what play style a player adopts.

Two new game modes were also introduced in The Taken King, Rift and Mayhem. Rift is a capture-the-flag type game mode and Mayhem fits the name well, with all abilities on all players recharging much faster than normal.

Finally, this addition to Destiny will include one of the biggest and most in-depth raids. At this time there are two raids within the game, The Vault of Glass and Crota’s End. These raids are the hardest, most complicated events within the game.

Their puzzle-like design and lack of instructions leave the player and five of his or her friends to slowly figure out the mechanics built into the raid in a trial-and-error process. King’s Fall, the Taken King Raid, is promised to be one of the most complicated and challenging raids for players to attempt.

Overall, this DLC has done wonders for Destiny as a game, fixing many of the problems facing the year-one version. I am truly impressed with this expansion and think it is worth buying for both Destiny veterans and kinderguardians. Even if players left the year-one version of Destiny because of its boring story or strange progression system, I would encourage them to come back. The Taken King has added so much to Destiny that in my eyes it is a completely new game, and let me tell you — it is an amazing game.