Gaming review: The Division is a terrible Tom Clancy game

“Tom Clancy’s The Division,” released March 8, could be the answer Ubisoft has been looking for after the recent faltering of “Assassin’s Creed.” Set in a New York City on the brink of chaos after a smallpox plague, “The Division” is a hybrid RPG/tactical shooter experience that will instantly appeal to players looking for a deep gaming experience.

It’s a near 1:1 recreation of Manhattan, allowing players to travel past some of the greatest architecture in the modern world, faithfully repurposed for Ubisoft Massive’s post-apocalyptic vision. And make no mistake, The Division is post-apocalyptic. A flu-like virus has devastated humanity, leaving only pockets of people behind.

Enter, you, the player. As a Division agent, you’re tasked with bringing order to the city. The Joint Task Forces attempting to keep the city afloat are struggling, so it’s up to you to fix what they can’t.

For those who endured Destiny, The Division will be immediately familiar. Like Bungie’s shooter, The Division has all the gameplay of a Massively Multiplayer Online RPG without all the players. Gangsters, Cleaners and random looters roam the streets of Manhattan acting as mobs for you to kill — in return you get XP, gear and a dribble of story detail. Where World of Warcraft would see you do this alongside 1000 other people, however, you invariably do a lot of this levelling alone.

That doesn’t mean you have to play alone though. You can squad up with three other players to take on The Division’s challenges, and this is far and away the best way to experience Massive’s game. The enemy count increases and the AI is better, but generally the game is just more fun when you’re playing with others — as are most games.

Loot is a huge part of any MMO, and The Division is no slouch here. Ubisoft navigated the troubled waters which nearly sank Destiny well here, ensuring not just a wide range of loot for players to acquire but a satisfying number of ways to acquire it. You can equip multiple weapons and armour pieces, which gives you ample opportunity to tailor your player character to your style of play. On top of that, there are many cosmetic items for players to find and acquire, empowering you with the ability to properly own your character.

These things are somewhat meaningless until you reach the end of the game, when you can really begin to customise your equipment based on your role in a team. Until then, the game is primarily about ensuring you have enough DPS (Damage Per Second) to eliminate mobs quickly.

“The Division’ is the latest example yet of our unique ability to deliver immersive gaming playgrounds that keep players engaged, and that they eagerly share with their friends and community,” said Yves Guillemot, CEO and co-founder of Ubisoft, in a statement.

Agencies/Canadajournal