by AmethystVenom
New York has fallen into chaos on Black Friday due to a smallpox pandemic spread by currency. The Government activates sleeper agents called The Division to assist in helping to restore the city. As a member of the Division, you investigate the virus and collect intelligence you find along the way. I don't want to spoil any of the rest of the story for you. For this being an open-world RPG Third Person Shooter I was pleasantly surprised by the story. It built up throughout the main story missions nicely. I did find myself caring about the characters and what will happen to the city; it also includes some well executed cut scenes. I wasn't expecting this, as most online RPGs don't really deliver on this end.
Let us dig into the details a bit. The Division is basically divided into two parts, the main open world of New York City and the Dark Zone. I will go into the Dark Zone later. Once you are activated you will find yourself in one of the most beautiful open worlds I have seen to date. New York is stunning and is a character on its own. My only complaint is that I wish there were more random events with the "hostiles". Sometimes I wish there were more going on later during game play. This is a small complaint as there is plenty to do and look at. At its very best is the matchmaking system included in The Division. You can go up to a main mission and find a party in no time. You can also team up by matchmaking at safe houses. The Division is at its best by playing in squads with separate specialties. This adds to the fun and strategy game play and make the game truly shine.
You will find yourself in plenty of action whether it's guarding supply crates, assaulting enemy strongholds, helping out the Joint Task Force(JTF), investigating infected areas to upload information, securing coms, finding hostages, or any other of the many objectives you will find throughout the game. You of course have the main story missions, side missions, random encounters with "Cleaners" to rioters, escapees from Riker’s Island and even sanitation workers that have lost their minds thinking flame-throwers will cleanse the city.
There are also plenty of Intel items to pick up if you are a collector. From phone conversions, to shooting down drones for intel, survival guides and Echoes. Echoes are a new form of tech that allows you to see what happened in that area prior to you being there; a sort of virtual imprint. All of these features help you feel like you are in this world. Another handy inclusion is the ability to see everything you have collected at your main base. We’ll go there next.
The Progression system is very fluid and the RPG elements are fantastic. Your ranking up feels very natural, as you have to accomplish certain tasks in order to get specific skills, talents and perks. You have three facilities in your home base - The Medical Wing, Tech Wing, and Security Wing. Your main story missions and certain events are what will earn you credits for these three parts of your base. Examples without giving up too much are: upgrading the medical wing gives you healing support, tech wing gives you sticky bombs, and security wing allots you a ballistic shield. You can upgrade these three abilities, earn modifications, and eventually advance a skill power for each of the three. Upgrading also gives you special talents that can be equipped and perks that are well developed. One thing I find original about the base is it provides upgrading perks that give you the ability to gather items like tools, fabric, and electronics. In collecting these items you are then able to craft your own clothing, weapons, and tech later in the game.
Next, of course, there are guns, gear and clothes. You earn currency during the game to purchase these items from vendors. If you want to save your money, you can also craft guns and gear, or if you’re patient you are able to randomly pick up these items from helping out citizens in need by giving them a med kit, soda, etc. The guns are great whether you are into playing as a marksman, or as a more dominant character using a sub-machine gun, a light machine gun or an assault rifle. You are able to set three main weapons including your pistol or one-handed shot gun. You are also allowed to keep guns in your inventory and change them out on the spot. I've found this particularly useful playing solo. You also have modifications for your guns including skins. My big complaint here is, why does a skin count as inventory space?
The gear you can feel once you upgraded in your next gun fight. Some gear also comes with mod slots where you can upgrade certain things such as stamina, health, etc. It's certainly necessary to keep your gear up to spec with your level. Clothes, if you are a fashion forward kind of agent, can be obtained throughout the city, by helping those citizens in need or you can upgrade your base to have a supply line which gives you a vendor for clothes, weapon skins, etc.
Now we can discuss the Dark Zone. After you finish the story, hit your 30 level cap, this is what you have to look forward to.Alhtough, there are weekly and daily missions you can play at three different difficulties. You can farm these for look, credits and other currency. Not that you can't go in earlier (I have) but I'm assuming most people will finish the story first. The Dark Zone is a PvP and PvE area and from what I have seen so far, is where the replayability of The Division is. This is also where the best loot in the game is but it can be tricky to obtain. You are not only battling some of the most difficult enemies in the game, you also have to watch your back for rogue agents. Since everything picked up in the Dark Zone is considered contaminated material, all your loot must be flown out by helicopter at specified extraction points. I know people that solo this and people like me that prefer to stay in a team. If you die you not only lose your loot you also may lose your ranking. The kicker is that going rogue puts a target on you. The ranking is separate from the Level 30 cap in the main story setting however. The last I heard there was a level 99 Dark Zone player so the endgame seems to be here. If there is interest when I get more experience in the Dark Zone I will write a separate piece focusing on just this area of the game.
To sum it all up, I'm addicted and having a blast. I've played solo and in a group. The group is where it shines. If you only want to go through the main story, I'd say rent it. You can do that in a week or so blowing through it. There have been some glitches like being trapped in grass and falling through the map but this is to be expected soon after release nowadays. In fact, there is already a patch that has come out and corrected the majority of these issues. The story was better than I expected with a terrific climax. The missions are fun to go back and play through on the harder difficulties, especially with new groups of friends. My review score is taking into account the year one plan they have for the game.
As far as free updates in April - Rain content and a trading system for loot is coming. We have Incursions which will focus on team strategy against more difficult enemies and situations. They have stated protecting and escorting armored vehicles to also be added. In May we will receive Conflict, which to quote the developers "will change the way you play in the Dark Zone and will add a new Incursion in the iconic Columbus Circle." I'm guessing we are going to get more updates. As long as they stick with the community this will be a game to have.
If you have the season pass or purchase DLC alone we have Underground in June, Survival in the summer, and Last Stand in the winter to look forward to.
From the “The Division” website:
Underground - June. The first expansion lets players explore the uncharted underworld of New York City. Players will chase deadly enemies with up to three other Agents through an endless maze of tunnels and subways.
If you have played games like Diablo 3, than this might work similar to the their implemented (Nephalem) Rift system, with random generated dungeons and more challenging encounters as well as better rewards the more you progress. That would be great.
Survival - Summer. In the Survival expansion, players will have to survive as long as possible by gathering essential supplies and high-tech equipment to take back New York. The Rogue Protocol seems to play a big role in this mode.
Last Stand - Winter. A new threat rises in winter 2016, as players and their squad must prepare to defend against a relentless foe. Based on the shown footage you will probably be able to establish your own base with turrets and other tools to hold the attackers of. Furthermore its cover art is featuring the Statue of Liberty in some way.
Even with its issues I am addicted and if the developers keep listening to the players this experience will just get better and better.
8.5 out of 10 stars
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