Although The Division is one of the biggest games of the year, many are abstaining from plumping up their cash for it this close to its launch. This is entirely understandable given the industry’s propensity for shoddy launches, with Ubisoft’s decision to not send out review copies of the game prior to its release setting a few alarm bells ringing.
So with there only being a few opinion pieces floating around the web at the time of this writing, accompanied by reports of several glitches, bugs and other issues, is the game worth buying right now in its current state? After having now sunk many hours into the game, here’s my thoughts on whether or not you should go and throw your cash at The Division:
Minimal teething issues
Almost immediately following the game’s launch, there were several reported issues with Ubisoft’s servers crumbling under the weight of those trying to play it, unceremoniously ousting players from the game in the process. Ubisoft’s Uplay service also went offline several times, creating a knock-on effect for those trying to play Rainbow Six: Siege and effectively rendering both games unplayable.
However, Ubisoft swiftly rectified this Uplay issue and did a good job of getting its servers back into working order, and it’s now fully functioning outside of a few teething issues. The most heavily discussed problem uncovered by players is Ubisoft’s odd decision to employ collision detection in the game’s Safe Houses, meaning that many players have been forced to voluntary line up in order to speak to NPCs (pictured above). Some players (myself included) have also found themselves falling through the game’s world, while others have noted that server issues have sometimes led to their weapons failing to fire bullets.
But with that being said, these issues are infrequent and the game has remained relatively stable considering that it’s a big multiplayer launch. There are bugs and glitches to be found within its game world, but it’s hardly an Assassin’s Creed Unity launch day disaster. There are problems, but in the hours I’ve piled into the game thus far, I’ve encountered nothing that has stood to sour the experience for me.
Lone wolf vs. playing with friends
While The Division does accommodate for the solo player, this is most definitely a game that is best experienced with friends. AI enemies in the game take a lot of damage and are relatively intelligent, meaning that strategy is key if you want to take them down most effectively. They’ll jump out of the way of your grenades, they’ll attempt to flank you and, if you opt to forego cover in favor of marching directly towards them like a lunatic, they’ll swiftly overwhelm you. Employing a plan of attack with your teammates is therefore the most efficient way of dealing with them, and while playing solo greatly diminishes their threat by reducing their numbers, it’s simply nowhere near as fun to tackle them on your own.
On the other hand, the PvP Dark Zone produces two varying and enjoyable experiences whether you’re playing solo or with friends, with the former allowing you to effectively “go Rambo” by venturing into its hostile world alone, while the latter makes you feel like a legitimate threat, wandering into its contaminated wasteland and hunting down fellow players alongside your party. While I personally prefer teaming up and becoming a force to be reckoned with, it’s nonetheless satisfying to take down a couple of Rogue Agents – the moniker given to those who have engaged in player-killing – using your wits alone.
But despite this, The Division is definitely better experienced alongside friends, given that the entirety of its PvE mode is rendered vastly more enjoyable when tackling it alongside teammates. If you have friends who are currently playing the game, then feel free to dive in, otherwise you may want to save it until you’ll have someone to shoot side-by-side with.
Time sink
After playing through the beta, my main worry regarding The Division was whether there would wind up being enough content in the final game to maintain my interest. While the jury’s still out on whether or not this will enjoy the same kind of longevity as Destiny, Bungie’s blockbuster FPS that, while notably divisive, still proved to be effective enough to court a wide audience over a sustained period of time, I’m happy to report that it’s managed to well and truly sink its claws into me.
While The Division is not the console shooter/MMO hybrid that Destiny also purported to be, its mixture of third-person action and RPG elements is satisfying, with it featuring plenty of room for customization of your player-character, firearms and your skill set. The cover-based shooting, the meat of the game, is methodical and benefits a tactical play style, and while I was initially bemused by just how much damage each enemy can withstand, overall it benefits the game by allowing for notable variations between the efficiency of different weaponry and perks. I can already see myself plugging many hours into unlocking new abilities and equipment, along with trying to find the best looking jacket to slap onto my soldier.
Should you buy it?
If you’ve got a friend or two (or preferably three, given that’s the max squad size) to play alongside you, then I would suggest you pick up The Division. I’m having a blast with it, and even though I haven’t sunk enough time into it just yet to offer a fully rounded conclusion in regards to its quality, I can say that I’m having some of the most fun I’ve had with a multiplayer shooter in quite some time. If the issues that typically plague games reliant upon online play are preventing you from handing over your cash, then rest assured that they’re minimal enough to not prove to be distracting, and that you won’t find yourself taking part in another disastrous video game launch week by picking up the game early.
