The Division

If you like shooting things this game is great. The mechanics, the graphics and the sound all stack up in a Christmas winter environment. Beautiful to look at and enough stuff to keep you playing for months.

The Division started out badly with very little to do but as time progressed it got great and fun with the addition of the Dlcs.

Ubisoft decided to jump on the loot-shooter-bandwagon but they had no idea how to brand the game so a Tom Clancy stamp it is. The game is thus as identity-deprived as one would expect, yet i have to acknowledge the exceptional production value. The Winter-Wonderland meets DMZ look is always worth a second glance yet the same can't be said about the actually shooter gameplay. The combo of knee-high walls, bullet sponge enemies and grinding isn't the most fun of formulas. Going through the motions has thus never looked better and i soon started to ask myself why i wasn't playing Destiny or Borderlands instead. I will admit that i have interest to see the From Software-esque Dark Zone concept explored further and a sequel could pull an Assassins Creed and fire on full cylinder next time but i will wait until that day to give this, admitted successful, franchise another go. The game is best enjoyed with a dedicated team, which can be a double edged sword. 6,5/10

Being an Ubisoft game the graphics are mesmerizing because of its careful attention to city details and rich snowy environment.

However, being an Ubisoft game it also has its problems with content quality. Story seems unimpressive, nothing much to remember. It feels like it is there just so the game can be advertised to have a campaign. Your character doesn't say anything, it looks more like you're controlling an NPC. A proper character that cares about city's inhabitants would be enough, unfortunately we have to spend 40ish hours with this faceless robot.

Difficulty is only measured in length of health bars and the quantity of enemy spawns. Gadgets and special weapons, which I hoped the gameplay was primary about, are used only for the 1/10 of combat time, the rest of the shootout feels like a boring gun fight against damage sponge enemies.

It's a game that mainly focuses on exploring the city and finding various loots.

The Division may at first glance look like your typical cover system third-person shooter, but it has many RPG aspects that give it the edge. Tons of skills to use, weapons, armor, this game in terms of customization is exquisite. Shamefully, the game has several balance problems that remind me of other games of this style such as Horizon Zero Dawn or Patapon 3 (not as bad thankfully), where the recommended level of the mission is often false, and they blow you up despite exceeding it by far, the abusive grinding, or some enemies, even if they arent bosses, sometimes turn into bullet sponges, even enemies that don't seem to have any protection are inexplicably tough, and you have to shoot them like 50 rifle magazines down on their heads, while you could die with two or three shoots.

Apart from the balancing problems, I also have to present my complaints to the Dark Zone mode, which although it is very fun, it becomes a grinding mess to get the best equipment, besides that at a narrative level it does not make any sense. Why in an apocalypse would people stay in an area to fight for weapons and armor just to want to be stronger?

Despite all the criticism, The Division is a very addictive game, and that is why I give it a pretty high score, along with the great customization value, they give hours and hours of replayability. I was close to giving it a 6, but it was fun enough to give it a 7.