The Division 2 E3 Preview
Chances are if you didn’t give The Division a go during its original release, you likely didn’t get to experience the vast number of changes and updates the game underwent over time. Ubisoft has undoubtedly learned much from The Division’s overall journey, and it remains evident that The Division 2 is an improvement, a giant one.
While The Division took place in New York City, The Division 2 takes place in Washington D.C. In my co-operative hands-on demo, I had the option of choosing between a few specializations: Survivalist, Sharpshooter, and Demolitionist. Of course, I had to choose the Sharpshooter, which is based around the signature weapon of a .50 caliber sniper. In operating as a team, my role in combat situations placed me in elevated positions, taking out targets as I see fit.
I was right at home with The Division 2’s controls. Besides being intuitive and reactive, the gameplay was simply fun and has the now familiar Ubisoft-feel to it. With a variety of weapon types, specializations, and tactical options, I truly felt that the character I ultimately choose to create will be mine. In the demo, we experienced preparing for fights, the combat itself, and of course, the loot.
The Division 2 seems built with cooperative gameplay being the focus. It was a blast playing with others. If playing solo, I am uncertain whether or not my time would have been enjoyed just as much. However, whether or not solo play is less fun than cooperative play remains to be seen, though cooperative play during this session was highly enjoyable.
The map we played was large and a challenge. Not to mention, the enemies were unpredictable and difficult to take down. I found the game encouraged communication to go along with a level of strategy, which is something I enjoyed much more than I thought I would. There is definitely a level depth unlike any other multiplayer game at E3. Not even Destiny 2: Forsaken required any chatting with my teammates or strategy. Don’t get me wrong, Destiny 2 fans should be happy but The Division 2 has it beat in terms of its overall package. Sure, Call of Duty Black Ops IIII and Battlefield V are both fun but let’s face it, they remain mindless run and gunners. The Division 2’s combat and loot system appear deep, and the smart AI made for an experience that felt incredibly satisfying.
Overall, The Division 2 left a lasting impression that will likely result in me playing the game when it releases. It was also announced during Ubisoft’s E3 Press Conference that free DLC and raids will be a part of the game, allowing players to experience end-game content in larger than usual groups.
The Division 2 is set to release on March 15, 2019, for the PC, PS4 & Xbox One.
