Some destinies are chosen!!

X-Men: Destiny is a video game that was developed by Silicon Knights and released by Activision in North America on September 27, 2011 for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii and Nintendo DS consoles. Mike Carey, the writer of the X-Men: Legacy comic book series, also wrote the storyline for this game.

Players select one of three new mutants who will ultimately join either Cyclops and the X-Men or Magneto and the Brotherhood of Mutants; through choices made by their character. X-Men: Destiny places an emphasis on "choice", as opposed to a more traditional linear type of gameplay. Throughout the game, players collect power enhancements called "X-Genes." Every X-Gene can unlock three types of abilities: offensive, defensive, and utility. X-Genes can be mixed and matched as the player sees fit for a unique experience. Some retailers packaged the game with exclusive pre-order bonuses. I pre-purchased mine through Game Stop and received Havok's suit and X-Genes.

Many established characters from the X-Men universe such as Caliban, Colossus, Cyclops, Emma Frost, Forge, Gambit, Iceman, Juggernaut, Magneto, Mystique, Nightcrawler, Northstar, Pixie, Pyro, Quicksilver, Surge, Toad and Wolverine make an appearance in the game. At the beginning of the game, players are prompted to choose one of the following core powers for their new mutant character: Density Control: Manipulates a mutant’s body mass, often manifesting as a rocky outer coating. It can be focused on a fist for a devastating punch, or evenly distributed to render the mutant indestructible. The super human durability granted by Density Control is perfect for enduring attacks from large groups of enemies at once. Energy Projection: This mutation allows a variety of energy-based attacks. Rapid-fire bursts take out crowds of weak opponents, while focused beams cut through the toughest armored foes. Energy can be contained and detonated far from the body, enemies can be stunned with disabling blasts to the nervous system, and the wielder can protect themselves with an envelope of raw, crackling power. Shadow Matter: Masters of Shadow Matter can craft indestructible blades out of thin air or use matter displacement to move faster than the eye can see. The Shadow Matter mutation also heightens one’s reflexes, making it easy to take on multiple opponents or deal severe damage to a single target.

This "boss" villain actually gets a hell of alot bigger!

The basic gameplay seems fairly straight forward, and as a huge fan of better games like the Mass Effect and Dragon Age series, thus far the simpler look and feel in X-Men: Destiny is okay with me. I'm not looking for anything complicated or revolutionary, and based on the reviews that I've read, this is generally how the game is being received. Hard corps gamers seem to be passing on this one, while diehard X-Men fans may be much more receptive to what this game has to offer. Just like the games morality engine, flip a quarter and make your call!