The Division

Overly Dramatic Review in One Sentence

The alternate history version of the COVID-19 pandemic, however it came out 4 years prior.

The Actual Review

Game time:

PC: 27
Xbox: 45

Gameplay

This is one of the first more tactical shooters I ever played. I did play Rainbow Six back in the day, but it was before I understood how to play those games. With that in mind, even this time there were boss fights that actually required you to think through how to win. Yes, I sometimes cheesed the fights against the Gold Machine Gunners, but it was more out of frustration in dying so many times to them roaming the streets.

There is a ton of collectables, but I will say that these are the most important collectables I have ever looked for in a game. They don't serve any real gameplay advantage, but they are worth collecting. The downside is there are 100+ before the DLC collectables.

The guns feel so good. There is some absolutely solid ones that I love playing with and others that I avoid like the plague. The attachments and modification of armor and weapons are outstanding. You get a lot of flexibility in how you fight.

Add this to the different skills that you can select, and you have some very inventive tech to add to your fight. There is this one grenade that rolls on the ground and toward enemies that is just fun to use.

When you add that with the ability to have drop-in, drop-out co-op and this is so much fun with friends. Then you can jump into the end game plus the dark zone and it is almost perfect.

The Dark Zone is the first extraction shooter I can think of, and based on what I can find only it actually might be the first one. In the Dark Zone, you collected items from more difficult enemies, and then you had to call in a helicopter to extract the items. One of the DLCs was also a survivor mode which was this event where you had to make it through multiple difficulty levels collect items and getting warmer clothes. One of the best DLCs to a game ever.

I almost forgot to talk about the map. The map is a digital overlay on the ground that you see, but so does your character. It is such a cool concept.

Graphics and Sound

This game is 10 years old and still looks wonderful. They did an upgrade for sure, but even at medium graphics it was incredible. It takes place around Christmas in New York City and there are snow storms that make it hard to see people 10 yards (9.14 m) from you, you have bright sun splashing down the streets and alleys giving so much visual realism. I mean, honestly, look at this video.

There are car doors you can close, glass that is stepped on, and a multitude of different voices that had to this layering of sound. The guns do all have the same sound in the same category, which is kind of sad, but it isn't crazy noticeable.

Story and Characters

This might be the best game story out there. Easily one of the best I have ever played. You play as a Division Agent in the second wave because something happened to the first wave. There are 4 groups of bad guys that all make sense to the story. You have rioters, general people who just want to survive, but have gone too far. There is the Rikers who escaped from jail. Then there are the Cleaners which is sanitation workers who have taken the stance that everyone else needs to be burned to save the world from the virus. Lastly, there is the Last Man Battalion who was sent in to defend the UN.

As the agent, you are trying to learn what caused the virus, who is patient zero, and what happened to the first wave. This mostly take place through the main story, but the understanding of the rest of the first wave comes through some of those collectables.

These collectables and side stories that I was talking about earlier. They come in a few varieties that all add to the story. The phones are these leftover voicemails from people to their loved ones, sometimes they are interviews or conversations. There are also these things called "Echos" which is a 3D recreation of an event, and they are just so well done.

My Rating

It is almost a perfect game. The story is full and expansive that really pulls you in. The fact that this happened 4 years prior to the pandemic is such a crazy thought. However, in the decade since I first played this game, I am more excited about the rumor of a third one that I have been in a long time about any game. It could be incredible like this game, or it could be a terrible Ubisoft game. This game is outstanding, and I am sure if it isn't my favorite game, it is very close to being so. This is a must play. GET THIS GAME.

Parental Rating

There is a ton of violence. References to torture and sexual assault. There are elements of family, but for the most part it isn't a happy story. I think that my dad would appreciate the elements, but my mom would HATE me playing this game in the house.

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