So I've had a pretty decent amount of time with the game now. From 7am to 12pm yesterday, with some breaks in there, likely about 13 hours of actual gametime.
Anyways my impression is that I really like the game. I'm still not really sure what the story is all about, I either missed something, or there really isn't a story (a good, detailed one at least). Personally not a problem, the gameplay is fantastic, if I have one gripe with the gameplay, it is when you are driving the sparrow. They seem really non responsive, and the gas is L2 (instead of R2 like normal). Still that's a small part of the game to say the least.
I'm a level 13 Hunter. It seems to me that Hunters are very underpowered, compared to the Titan class I played in the beta. I took it because the description said something about sniping, which is what I like to do. Biggest problem with that, at least solo, is that you rarely get the opportunity to do so. It might be different with a coordinated squad.
The missions are all the same so far, very little variety. There was one on Moon that was pretty cool, where you pick up a sword and use it, instead of a gun.
The PVP isn't for me. I tried it, I hated it, I will try it again eventually, because certain stuff is locked behind the PVP (Armor, Weapons, etc). To be fair, I don't generally like any PVP games, so my opinion is a little biased.
On to the strikes, I haven't completed the Moon strike yet, after I write this I am going to attempt that, but the Earth strike was just nuts. I went in at level 8, the other guys were 7 and 8 (I believe), and we got absolutely rocked. Like just completely and utterly destroyed about 10 times before I backed out because we were never going to beat it. I leveled up, I went back, got a good lobby with another 9 and an 8, and we raped it.
That was the most fun I have had in a non Treyarch video game in years. Just slaying the waves of enemies was a blast, and nobody was calling me a person of colour because we were on a team. Then we get past the part where my fist attempt got stuck on, and one of those giant tank fuckers was there and we had to kill it. Very satisfying killing it, and then you play the final boss...
Anyways from a story perspective, Destiny is weak so far. From a variety perspective, there isn't a ton, but the gameplay, especially the strikes, is just awesome. I am considering starting over as a Titan or Warlock, but it took a long ass time to get to where I am. Maybe a second play through.
If you are wondering whether you should buy it, that's not up to me to say. I suppose it depends on what you look for in a game. It certainly isn't the best game ever made, but it is a good one. You can certainly lose yourself in it for hours at a time, at least in my experience. I don't imagine I will get any less than 40 hours out of it, on this single play through. I like to move slow, and with the amount of enemies that come at you, on solo, you have to. It's great for my style.