Lots of you will have waited on the edge of your seats for the release of The Division. A fair few of you probably couldn’t care less. But some of you, like us, have been rather on the fence about Ubisoft’s latest IP. Would it be as good as it initially looked? Would it be multiplayer only? Would it be another soulless Destiny? It’s a huge game and the press only got to start playing when the servers turned on for release, so I wouldn’t expect any in-depth reviews too soon. While you’re all waiting, though, here’s what we thought after the first five hours of gameplay.
Well, tickle my magazine clips and send me to Times Square, it’s actually good, very good. While cut scenes aren’t anything special and the lack of character customisation is terribly disappointing, the in-game graphics are magnificent. I’ve never been to New York, but it looks just like it does on TV complete with some great lighting and weather effects and day to night cycles. Taking on enemies while you’re in the middle of a snowstorm and your visibility is compromised by thick fog adds another level to combat, which is solid by the way. Okay, I’ve never had to pump so many bullets into a hoody-wearing chav before, but it still feels good and the selection of weapons so far is decent.
The early part of the game introduces the idea of crafting and upgrading, selling and buying, perks, talents, skills and weapon mods. It’s these RPG elements that are going to push the game along and separate it from a bog-standard cover shooter. There are certainly enough stats and upgrades to keep us happy. Even your BOO (Base of Operations) can be upgraded and expanded with each chosen modification giving you different benefits that allow you to tailor your playstyle. There are perks and skills up for grabs that are more geared towards personal levelling and some more suited to those who intend to dive right into co-op play.
One of the biggest questions interested parties will be asking right now is whether or not The Division can be played solo, and we’re pleased to confirm that it most certainly can. While the Dark Zone is more suited to multiplayer and high-end loot hunters, the main campaign and all the associated side-missions can be played alone and it feels no different to any other single-player third person shooter. If you want to play with others, you can hook up with friends or the missions have matchmaking options. The good news if you’re a multiplayer phobic is that unless you invite them via the matchmaking, enter a dedicated social space or stroll into the Dark Zone, there are NO randoms on your game. You won’t find them piddling about down the same road as you and there’s no-one to get in your face when you’re trying to take a breather and examine your inventory. If you want the single player experience, you’ve got it.
We’ve only had time for five hours play on the day of release, so it’s difficult to lecture you all on whether or not The Division is going to be Game of the Year. So far, though, we’ve loved every second in this world and we’ve barely scratched its frozen virus-ridden surface. It’s not Destiny. It’s not multiplayer hell. It’s a gorgeous cover shooter with RPG elements and scope to play however you want to play. We’re pretty sure the Punk and Lizard team will still be playing in twelve months time.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
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