Bungie’s first-person, multiplayer shooterDestiny 2is still going relatively strong years after launch. The 2017 sequel has drawn the attention of gamers all around the world, combining fantasy and sci-fi into an epic, original adventure across the Solar System, andDestiny 2is still introducing new adventures to this day. Expansions such asDestiny 2: Lightfallstay true to the established enemies of the action-packed franchise, and the Vex is one that longtime players will probably recognize.
The Vex are a race of ancient, advanced beings who have adapted to the flow of space-time mathematically, meaning that all of their actions are coordinated for the purpose of bending reality to their mechanized will. At this point, they are a series mainstay, appearing as a major, alien foe since the firstDestinygame. Also, similar toStar Wars, the space fantasy setting blends dark and light to represent the duality of conflicts, which is a metaphorical force that’s crucial to both IPs. Playing as Guardians, gamers take advantage of special powers that are just beyond the Vex’s perception, making these enemies surprisingly flawed like the villainousImperial Stormtroopers fromStar Wars.
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Destiny 2’s Vex Share a Similar Notoriety As Stormtroopers
The vast army of the Vex is perhaps billions of years old, built to withstand most threats after simulating past, present, and future. The species sees itself as a prime form of sentience, although its combat capabilities contradict that notion. Notably, the Vex have difficulty aiming their weapons against Guardians despite their apparent readiness and awareness toward the motions of reality. This is because Guardians are Lightbearers, protectors capable of harnessing magic outside their computed reality. Just as Stormtroopers fail to quellthe Rebellion inStar Wars, a light-sided faction destined to bring balance to the Force, the Vex are similarly disadvantaged - to an amusing extent.
In certain cases, the Vex are portrayed as less effective even against the Cloud Striders ofNeomuna inDestiny 2’sLightfall. It’s a recent example that shows that warriors not attuned to the Light can reasonably defend themselves, giving factions a degree of plot armor that defies the Vex’s reputation. Still, the Vex are dangerous, but their numbers, disposability, and adversarial role are all factors that might make themDestiny’s analog toStar Wars' infamously inaccurate Stormtroopers.
During gameplay, players will notice that the Vex converge on their Fireteams as larger, well-organized groups. While theVex are sometimes treated asDestiny 2’s filler enemies, the Goblin foot soldiers in the species hierarchy have the power to overwhelm Guardians, fitted with standardized (yet equally flawed) capabilities. Looking back atStar Wars, a running joke is that Stormtroopers' helmets obscure their vision to the point where the armor’s unwieldiness can outweigh the protection it provides. Again, some Vex seem to carry a comparable weakness in that their heads render them stunned and vulnerable when hit. One key difference with the Vex, however, is the human element of Stormtrooper enlistment.
Recruited as conscripts, those soldiers demonstrate how Galactic Empire corrupts the worlds it touches, and it’s not too uncommon to seeStormtroopers remove their helmets inStar Warsstories. The Vex are more of a collective, rigidly observant to a unified purpose, while Stormtroopers have complex, human traits that affect their ability to complete objectives or commit themselves totally to the Empire’s goals. Regardless,Destiny 2has shown that the Vex are one of its most iconic soldiers, yet their poor aim and general fragility also make that threat a bit less imposing at times.
Destiny 2is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
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