Destiny Matchmaking Isn’t Completely Viable

Earlier this week I wrote a review for the new expansion pack for Destiny, The House of Wolves. I thought it was much better than The Dark Below. One of my fellow Nerd Stash writers, Billy Whitehouse, argued then shortly after my review was posted that matchmaking should be available for all Destiny game modes including raids and the weekly nightfall strike. Personally I agree with him but I also have to disagree.

There is matchmaking in the strike playlists and the daily heroic strike (and the Crucible), but there is none when it comes to the raid, the weekly nightfall strike, and the harder levels of the new Prison of Elders in the new expansion. I always found matchmaking a hit or miss when it comes to Destiny and even though I personally agree that matchmaking should be added to the game, it should be done so lightly. It’s a double edged sword if you will.

On one hand, you can end up with a really good team when you want to tackle the stirke playlists. Then again you can end up with a poorly coordinated group of players who doesn’t have a mic (I never encountered anyone with a mic in matchmaking other than the Crucible) or someone at the bare minimum level to tackle such a hard feat. This can be frustrating for players like myself who want to get through something fast like the Vault of the Glass raid.

Billy stated that there could be a similar set up to Destiny matchmaking as on Battle.net where you can set searching perameters to find players. That could work but at this point in time it would be too hard to implement into the game itself. There is a confirmed sequel on the way and with possible news coming at E3 (I’m not saying it will but anything can happen), Bungie could implement matchmaking into the next installment. Would players want new content so to not get bored or get something that might take some time to implement such as matchmaking, to get it right? I would go for more content.

Now there are sites such as DestinyLFG.com which helps you find players to tackle raids and weekly nightfall strikes. Those modes are impossible to solo unless you are like some guys who solo Crota’s End raid on their own with no deaths. Besides even then not everything is perfect. I myself use DestinyLFG and still find it difficult to find a team good enough to work together. People exaggerate about their experience, lie about their level caps, or hell, they don’t stick with the team to the very end.

An example is that out of all the times I have used DestinyLFG, I only was able to get through two raids and one nightfall strike without a hiccup. That was only out of doing it for the longest time. I occasionally get back together with the people I did so well with because that makes it easier. Billy is right though: it is hard to find friends or people you know to get a full team together to tackle a raid. If I had a good team I can get through Vault of Glass in 30-45 minutes, yet matchmaking is not perfect on DestinyLFG and it usually takes me a few hours to get through a raid.

Overall matchmaking is a good idea, but I don’t find it a viable option at this time. DestinyLFG is a good way to go for now and I definitely won’t be surprised if matchmaking of some sorts is added in the inevitable sequel.  Even then DestinyLFG is still not a great option. It is best to find friends who have the game to tackle the raids. I myself have had a few old fashioned LAN parties to play with friends. It is what makes Destiny fun.