Game Review - The Division 1.8

...And save they did!

Hey everyone,

Guess what? I know it's been a very long time since I've done this but here's another one of my game reviews. This time I focus on the an underdog becoming big time shooter. The infamous, the underrated and the every-time-overlooked Tom Clancy's The Division!

Since this game release a lot of has changed, industry and game wise also, and this year (2017) it all culminated into a perfect storm of opportunity for this to shine. Given, there are still some issues but man I've been having fun playin this!

Ask me how much I've payed to get all these vanity items? That's right... nothing!

What has changed?

When I reviewed the Beta of The Division way back in beginning 2016, although I was impressed by the game, some issues were all but too obvious. Not enough things to do end game and the Dark Zone (DZ). Both of them - I'm happy so say - have changed a lot!

In this last (free) update, in addition to the already existing High Value Targets, you get to try out a new zone (West Side Pier) a new PVE mode (Resistance) and even a new PVP mode (Skirmish) for all those that wanted to test their skills against other players.

Resistance is basically a survival mode where you go against wave upon wave of enemies and on Skirmish, even though you already had the DLC Last Stand (8x8), in this free mode you play a smaller, faster version in a 4x4 mechanic.

Beware these guys! Hunters are the most difficult enemies you'll find in The Division but... they might drop good loot!

Also you now have Global Events (GE), and with them new Classified Gear Set. Classified Gear raises the bar on the existing Gear and full gear perks (4 and 6 pieces equipped) making you grind and farm the DZ bosses for that sweet, sweet loot.

Speaking of the DZ, one of the biggest changes that came with the 1.8 update has been the whole DZ mechanic. No more "friendly-fire" (meaning you can only shoot another agent if you really want to) and the new Rogue 2.0 mechanic (once in rogue manhunt, you can only stop being rogue if you get to a certain area of the map and deactivate it). Although many rogue players were, at first, against this mechanic, most player, even rogue ones, have seen this as a positive change. As a result, the player community has returned to the DZ bit by bit.

You now have, on top of this, commendations. Achieving these commendations will give you cypher fragments and if you combine 10 of them you get a cypher key that allows you to buy a encrypted cache that can drop Cosmetics, emotes or weapon/backpack shaders. Yes it's a bit like a loot box but you can also buy every cosmetic/shader via pay-to-buy, no RNG needed. This makes you feel like at least you have a choice: Grind for commendations or simply pay for stuff!

An example of Assault commendations. Some are easy... some impossible without the right team!

To be fair, most commendations are easily achieved simply by playing the game and I already have all type one vanity items which I didn't spend one dollar on. Comparing this, to most recent games, sounds very reasonable. Not to mention, almost everyday you can buy a new cosmetic just via in game currency, so free of any extra charge or commendations!

But all are not roses...

Matchmaking on PVP is still a bit shady at best. I was playing Last Stand before the update and most time I was paired against level 40 players (the cap at the time, now raised to 99 in update 1.8). It was a murder for sure but I endured it just for the commendations and I've since returned (but not often).

Lag issues regarding all aspects of the game are constant. While they are not annoyingly impossible to handle, when you're doing a PVP or a Legendary mission where you need your skills to work when you actually need them, it's a pain in my soul when they don't!

The last thing I found negative, at least on PS4, is  the exotic drop rate. I feel they've been somehow nerfed or just down right cut. I've been playing this game for almost four months now and I've yet to even see the Bullfrog Exotic, the Showstopper drop once and I'm not even gonna mention the new exotics House, or Big Alexandro that, ever since the update and even the last GE, I've not seen... ever!

Here's a combination of Classified Gear set with Exotic backpack. Loved it to be mine!

In conclusion

All in all, this game came to fill in the emptiness that Destiny left. Although not as good nor as fun as Destiny one, I feel rewarded and I have fun playing every single day. If you're even fortunate to get the Season Pass, you'll also be granted with more game experiences like the Underground (this one also with new perks) and Survival (which I have yet to master, I admit). 

I hope that, unlike Bungie, Ubisoft does not deviate from this most rewarding, transparent, fun and clear path. Well done underdog! To me, you are the new shooter looter to look out for! (You and  maybe Warframe).

An awesome four out of five!