I had absolutely zero hype for Destiny going into the beta, I only played it because keys were extremely easy to come by. I wasn't even planning on bothering with pre-ordering and then canceling. The most I've kept up with the game was watching the first few minutes of the E3 2013 unveiling, so to say I knew nothing about the game is an understatement. So I loaded up the beta, completely blind and having no idea what to expect. About 4-5 hours of beta play later, I do believe I'm getting this at launch.
It was definitely a surprise to me to find that this game is essentially a MMO-lite FPS. Once I got to the tower for the first time and saw others roaming about, then seeing the vendors and figuring out that they were all MMO staple NPCs, it turned me off a bit because I just don't have the time to put into a game like this. As I continued onward, the scope of the game contracted quite a bit and I didn't feel as overwhelmed anymore. It's possible there is a lot of stuff not shown in the beta but if I was able to wrap my head around the different options and upgrade paths without having to source the internet, then it's likely not too difficult of a game.
Given that it is MMO-lite, I kinda like it. I like being in a world with others roaming about, it makes it feel more alive. There are drawbacks to this though, as I had flashbacks to WoW where I'd get tired of running back and forth in a zone and having the fight the same exact groups of mobs. It's the same here, especially since the one zone they gave us access to was essentially a handful of large play areas separated off by caves/tunnels/bunkers/whatever you want to call them. I can already see with how the missions are laid out, especially the exploration missions, that running back and forth is going to be a chore.
The overall mechanics of the game, including control, is fabulous. Even at 30fps, I think the controls are buttery smooth. I have zero complaints about how the game handles at default sensitivity settings. I love that weapons don't have any bullshit sway when aiming, I love that you can pull off headshots easily with an accurate weapon and an appropriate range for your gun. Jumping feels grounded and solid. Movement is easy. Really all I could want in a FPS.
Graphics are gorgeous, I was really impressed, even with the Xbox One version running at 900p. I can easily handle 900p so getting them at 1080p at launch is icing on the cake. I love the lighting and the skyboxes, those were the two things that stood out to me.
Finally, I like that there is finally a space game that is set in our near space region. Do I want to fight on Mars, Venus, Mercury and our moon? Absolutely. Not some weird made-up planet, but ones I know exist. Ones that I look forward to seeing someone else's imagination as to what they would look like. I've heard nothing but good things about the catacombs on the moon, I hope the other planets present well. I look forward to expansions or sequels that will take us out further into our solar system.
Overall, the beta impressed me. And based on the rumors, it looks like it will have just enough PvE content to keep me going until I get tired of the game. I did play a couple of PvP matches but I wasn't moved by it. I'm not much on PvP games these days anyway, so it felt like just more of the same to me. It's all PvE solo and co-op for me.