"The Division 2": The never-ending search for the best loot has never been more fun
20.3.2019
Translation: machine translated
Support: Simon Balissat
After a bumpy start, "The Division" hit top form thanks to constant and comprehensive updates. The successor doubles and triples up. Simon and I will be hunting for prey in the livestream at 20:00 and you can join us.
The carrot that keeps you on your toes in "The Division" is the loot. Better equipment and better weapons increase the damage you deal. This allows you to kill enemies more efficiently and take more damage. This ensures that you get new loot faster and the game starts all over again. The motivation loop in "The Division" is the same as in its predecessor. However, Ubisoft has expanded the loot shooter principle in every conceivable way.
You don't really care about the story. However, it does create a gloomy end-of-days atmosphere, so here's the short version: A deadly virus has spread via banknotes, killing a large part of the New York population. Because containment attempts have failed, the epidemic has spread to Washington D.C. As always in such game scenarios, various hostile factions have formed within a very short space of time and are fighting for supremacy in the devastated metropolises. You are part of the special unit The Division and try to restore law and order.
More of everything
"Tom Clancy's The Division 2" is a co-op shooter. You can go out with up to three friends (up to seven in raids). This is where the game really comes into its own. Various skills such as drones, turrets or shields can be equipped. These in turn can be equipped with various specialisations. For example, a drone can rain bombs down on enemies or heal allies. The interplay between the various skills is essential, especially in the raids. I find it a bit of a shame that many have the same specialisations (healing, damage, etc.).
On the way to the current level cap of 30, there are plenty of tasks available to you. The main quests are the most interesting activities and take you to extremely varied locations. Impressive: The American History Museum or the Air & Space Museum, both of which are based on real museums. There is also much more to do than in the first part. On the one hand, you can help settlements build up by supplying them with resources or completing smaller tasks for them. There is also something to do at almost every turn in Washington. Sometimes you free hostages, sometimes you prevent an execution and other times you secure fat loot from a supply drop.
Perfecting the loot loop
The heart of the game is clearly the loot. At regular intervals - which are guaranteed to have been precisely defined by some game psychologist - you will be rewarded with a brand new, shiny assault rifle or a new knee pad. Maybe even a fancy cap or a new colour for your rucksack. Seriously now. From the design of the loot boxes, with their orange glow, to the satisfying "zummm" sound effect when you open them, to the regularity with which you find something, Ubisoft has done a great job. This is how a loot shooter should be.
The modification of weapons and equipment has also been simplified. You only have to craft a specific mod once. After that, it can be equipped on all compatible weapons. However, there is still no clear comparison option between the weapons. That doesn't bother me too much. I just try out more weapons this way. You can also unlock a firing range in your base to test new weapons.
The player vs. player variant Darkzone is also available again. This is where the most nerve-wracking moments take place. The loot you find there can only be extracted using a helicopter, as it is contaminated. As soon as you call the helicopter, all nearby enemies will be informed. And they almost always want to steal your loot. Unlike in the previous game, only particularly valuable weapons and pieces of equipment are contaminated. You can transport the rest out of the zone as normal.
In the dark zone, you will also come across locked crates again. With the right key, which drops from enemies, you can unlock them. Or - and this is new - you can simply pick the lock. However, you then become a "Rogue" for a short time. This means that the other players will see you on the map and can collect a bounty for you. Just don't make the same mistake as me on your escape and run for the exit. As long as you're a Rogue, the turrets will pester you in greeting - not with questions, but with bullets.
Audiovisual fireworks
The sound design of "The Division 2" is first class. You are constantly accompanied by slightly unsettling background noises or music. It often gets really dark in the sewers or other underground levels. The excellent "Snow Drop" engine conjures up impressive lighting effects on the screen. Unfortunately, the ingenious snow effects from the predecessor are missing. Instead, there is dense fog and rain showers. The wealth of detail in the world is sheer madness. Every office building, every side street and every underground car park is modelled down to the smallest detail. I can hardly get enough of it.
Without having seen the endgame, my impression of level 20 is absolutely fantastic. Ubisoft has learnt clear lessons from the first part. Almost every aspect of the game has been reworked and improved. Simon and I will give you a brief overview in our Let's Play, in which we will demonstrate the resurrection function in particular - purely for testing purposes, of course.
Join in!
Our squad still has room for two more agents. If you're up for it, come to our Discord channel. Then we can invite you for a round.
"The Division 2" is available for PC, PS4 and Xbox One. We played the PC version that Ubisoft provided us with.
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The competition has ended.
Philipp Rüegg
Senior Editor
Philipp.Rueegg@digitecgalaxus.chBeing the game and gadget geek that I am, working at digitec and Galaxus makes me feel like a kid in a candy shop – but it does take its toll on my wallet. I enjoy tinkering with my PC in Tim Taylor fashion and talking about games on my podcast http://www.onemorelevel.ch. To satisfy my need for speed, I get on my full suspension mountain bike and set out to find some nice trails. My thirst for culture is quenched by deep conversations over a couple of cold ones at the mostly frustrating games of FC Winterthur.
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