There have been a lot of questions as to what exactly the Division is. Is it a 3rd person shooter? Is it an MMORPG? Is it an action/adventure game? The truth is that The Division borrows elements from all of these genres and while the result isn't always as smooth as it could be, the overall result is fun and enjoyable especially with friends.
The story is pretty straightforward. New York has been decimated by an advanced small pox virus engineered by a psychopathic madman. The city has fallen into chaos. People are literally dying in the streets. 90% of the population is either dead or infected. You are a member of a secret covert government cell known only as "The Division". Your mission: Bring order to the chaos in the streets, help those who might be suffering, and take down those who would seek to capitalize on the crisis. Taking back the streets of New York and saving the surviving populace wont be easy. Several factions have sought to take control of the city. Rioters generally exist to cause mayhem, prisoners from Riker's Island have escaped and taken to the streets, deranged pyromaniacs in hazmat suits seek to burn anyone and anything in front of them, and rogue agents seek to create a new world order. Like I said....straightforward.
The Division's gameplay is good but at times there are issues. It's got heavy cover based shooting mechanics but at it's core it's still an RPG. That means tougher enemies will not simply fall over from a few shots, even head shots. Head shots count for higher damage, especially with weapon mods, but don't expect boss level enemies to drop even after you place a pinpoint sniper shot between the eyes. This makes sense from an RPG standpoint and makes fights challenging. It also breaks immersion sometimes though and can even be annoying at times. It's kind of weird having to unload 3 clips from an RPK into a rioter who is charging me with a baseball bat. Also some enemies can be bullet sponges making for tedious battles that can drag on longer than they should.
Also, being an RPG, there is plenty of loot to be had and plenty of ways to get it. Loot drops from enemies, faction vendors, stores, quest rewards, crafting, and searching through duffle bags can all reward you with various loot. While the gun and gear types are not extensive, there is plenty of variety to keep you experimenting and searching.
Character development is simple yet enjoyable and rewarding. Unlike other RPGs and MMOs you are not limited to a class and defining your role and playstyle is as simple as the abilities and perks you choose. Some purists may be put off by this but I LOVE it. Also perks and abilities can be changed on the fly without having to respec or alter your build. Switching from a damage build to a healing build is as simple as changing a few perks, abilities, and swapping a bit of gear. I liked that....a lot.
The Division is best experienced with friends. Grouping up with your friends, running through NY, and taking on hard missions is an absolute blast. It's where The Division shines brightest. PVP comes in the form of "The Dark Zone". The Dark Zone is a free for all zone with a twist. Players are free to work cooperatively or competitively to find specialized loot that cannot be found anywhere else. An added twist is that any loot found in the Dark Zone must be extracted by calling in a helicopter and loading the loot onto the chopper via an extraction zone. To stir the pot even further, you will drop any loot you find in the Dark Zone if you're killed. As I said above it's also a free for all zone so players are free to attack and potentially rob you at any point. Calling a helicopter to extract your loot takes 1 minute and 30 seconds and it is one of the most tense minutes you'll experience in the Dark Zone.
Now some would think that the Dark Zone would be a chaotic troll fest. But the truth is it is a very controlled chaos. Players who attack other players unprovoked become "rogue" agents. These rogue agents are lit up on the map and other players will receive bonus Dark Zone experience and DZ funds to kill them. Rogue players cannot leave the DZ until their rogue timers expire and the more they attack other players while rogue the higher their bounty becomes. Rogue players who survive and escape also receive DZ experience for their trouble. Calling a helicopter to extract your loot takes 1 minute and 30 seconds and it is one of the most intense minutes you'll experience. It's all pretty well done. Not perfect. But good.
Tom Clancy's Division isn't a perfect game. Bullet sponge enemies who rush you can be annoying as hell. NY seems somewhat empty when playing alone. The story is pretty forgettable. But what it does it does exceptionally well. Firefights are fast and furious. A diverse loot table will have you always searching for the next bad ass gun or hot piece of loot. Grouping is a blast and incredibly fun. If Ubisoft supports this game properly, The Division will be a fun filled enjoyable experience well into 2016.
WEAPON X GAMERS RATES TOM CLANCY'S THE DIVISION: B+
*Reviewed by OG Doc
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