Destiny: Rising Review: NetEase’s Gacha Spin on the Destiny franchise

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Destiny: Rising is an exciting sci-fi RPG shooter for mobile devices, created by NetEase Games. It became available worldwide on Android and iOS last month. The game takes place in a different timeline than the original Destiny, showing humanity rebuilding after a devastating era known as the Collapse and Dark Age, as the power of the Light starts to reappear.

Does Destiny: Rising capture the excitement of the original game on mobile, or is it simply a visually appealing game designed to get you to spend money? In this review, I’ll break down the gameplay, story, how the game makes money, and ultimately, whether it’s worth playing. I spent over 20 hours testing it on an iPhone 12, exploring the story mode, completing Strikes, battling in PvP, trying out Shifting Gates, and tackling guild missions.

Experience the iconic gameplay and flashy combat on your mobile

I was most excited about the combat in Destiny: Rising, and the game immediately delivers. It quickly becomes clear just how impactful the fighting is. Each character class, or Lightbearer, gets two weapon slots: a standard primary weapon and a more powerful power weapon. They also have a Relic ability which acts as a powerful ultimate move.

I especially loved using the powerful Relics – they create amazing visual effects on the battlefield that I haven’t experienced in other shooting games. Their abilities are really satisfying to use, whether you’re quickly defeating large groups of enemies or overcoming a difficult boss.

Destiny: Rising offers a lot of variety, and each character feels unique, so switching between characters like Wolf, Ikora Rey, and Jolder really impacts your combat strategy. The game also controls incredibly well – it’s responsive, movement is fluid, and the sliding mechanic is surprisingly fun.

Darting behind cover or aggressively charging enemies makes combat more exciting. When you combine these moves with weapon changes and special abilities, the game truly comes alive. But movement is more than just running and sliding now. With Destiny 2: The Final Shape, each Lightbearer class gets a unique jump and double jump, fundamentally changing how battles unfold.

Picture yourself jumping to avoid enemy attacks or quickly double-jumping over groups of opponents – this feature lets you do just that! Double jumping helps you reach higher areas for a better view, escape tricky situations, or even attack from above. It’s a small addition, but it makes the combat feel much more dynamic and less like typical mobile shooting games.

Experience multiple game modes and an original storyline set in the Destiny universe

Destiny: Rising’s missions aren’t just thrown together – they create a connected world that blends the game’s story with different types of challenges. The game takes place as humanity tries to rebuild after a devastating event, and you’ll soon be caught up in conflicts across ruined cities, dangerous alien areas, and ancient mysteries.

Each chapter introduces both new dangers and new allies, along with a game mode that evolves alongside your character’s progress. While the story and voice acting aren’t exceptional, they’re sufficient to keep you engaged, particularly when combined with impressive cutscenes that highlight the importance of upcoming battles.

Destiny: Rising doesn’t just have the main story – it also includes different ways to play to keep the game interesting. You can explore the backgrounds of your favorite characters with Character Quests. Plus, there are Player vs. Environment (PvE) modes where you’ll fight through challenging waves of enemies and bosses, putting your skills and reactions to the test.

If you enjoy competition, the PvP modes like Shifting Gates and Iron Bar offer exciting challenges. Instead of battling computer-controlled enemies, you’ll go head-to-head against other players and their unique strategies. These matches are quick, intense, and really reward good teamwork. What’s great is that these modes feel fully integrated into the game, not just added as an afterthought.

In Destiny: Rising, everything you do – from following the main story, fighting other players, or completing extra tasks – helps your character get stronger. This blend of engaging story and different ways to play is what sets it apart from other mobile shooters that can become too repetitive.

Destiny Rising puts you straight in a Space Opera with its visuals and music

Destiny: Rising immediately stands out with its surprisingly high level of polish for a mobile game. NetEase clearly invested a lot of effort into the visual details, creating beautifully designed landscapes that are a pleasure to look at and explore.

Honestly, the visuals in this game are amazing. Every shot feels powerful with these really cool flashes and explosions, and the elemental magic looks fantastic when you use it in a fight. But it’s not just the effects – the characters themselves look incredible. Each Lightbearer has unique armor, weapons, and ultimate moves that really stand out and feel impactful. They’ve clearly put a lot of work into making everything visually pop!

The game features a fantastic soundtrack reminiscent of a sci-fi movie. Boss battles are accompanied by powerful orchestral music, while calmer areas have subtle ambient themes. Even during regular combat, the music is energetic without being overpowering. Combined with the visuals, the music gives Destiny: Rising a cinematic feel, making each moment feel impactful.

The game offers a seamless UI and simple, well-laid-out controls

Good controls are essential for a mobile shooter, and Destiny: Rising gets it right. The game uses a standard setup: move your character with your left thumb and aim and shoot with your right.

You can also adjust the controls to perfectly suit your preferences. The user interface is well-designed, offering both visual appeal and functionality. The menus are modern and use clear, simple icons. During gameplay, the heads-up display provides all essential information quickly and without feeling overwhelming.

I really appreciate how the game handles notifications. They point me towards daily stuff and rewards without being annoying, which keeps me hooked without feeling stressed. It’s clear NetEase put a lot of thought into making this game comfortable to play, and honestly, it shows – it’s what will keep me coming back for more.

IAPs do exist, but they don’t spoil your experience

Destiny: Rising does a good job of appealing to both free players and those willing to spend money. The game immediately rewards players simply for playing, offering bonuses for pre-registering, completing daily and weekly missions, progressing through the story, and participating in events. These rewards provide the in-game currency needed for special item pulls.

You can consistently earn new characters, equipment, and improvements just by playing the game, without spending any money. The game uses a ‘gacha’ system where you collect characters and items. Standard banners use ‘Bon Voyage Charms,’ and special, limited-time heroes become available with ‘Limited Edition Charms.’ Players who don’t spend money will likely find the system rewarding enough to keep them playing.

However, players who spend money have a definite advantage, especially with special tracks and shops. Limited-time events usually offer the most sought-after characters, and it can be difficult to get them without spending money or saving up resources consistently.

Destiny: Rising’s free-to-play system feels fair and inviting, not pushy or greedy. Although it still relies on collecting characters, it’s designed so you can create a powerful team without spending a lot of money, as long as you’re patient and make good decisions.

Final Verdict

I’ve put a lot of hours into Destiny: Rising, and honestly, I’m really impressed. It’s not just another mobile RPG shooter – it actually does a great job of mixing quick, exciting combat with cool character classes, even if the story is pretty standard. It’s easy to pick up and play, but still feels really satisfying when you’re leveling up and getting better.

Destiny: Rising is a great choice if you enjoy sci-fi role-playing games, blending exciting action with character development. It also appeals to fans of hero-collecting games, offering a generous free-to-play experience that’s engaging without requiring purchases.

Destiny: Rising Review by GamingonPhone

Gameplay Mechanics – 8
Gamemodes and Storyline – 7.5
Graphics and Music – 8.5
Controls and UI – 8
Free-to-Play Elements – 8

8

Good

Destiny: Rising is a beautifully designed mobile sci-fi RPG that’s fun for everyone. It features exciting battles, impressive graphics, and rewarding character development, whether you play casually or love to grind for upgrades.

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2025-09-21 11:13