Washington DC: A Hostile Wasteland
The Division 2 is an intense tactical third-person shooter that tasks players with liberating and rebuilding Washington DC after it has been decimated by an engineered virus called ‘Green Poison.’ You are a member of the Strategic Homeland Division, tasked with restoring order and combating the numerous factions and threats that have taken up residence in the now war-torn city.
Developed by Ubisoft, The Division 2 has all the hallmarks the company has become famous for. Most prominently is the expansive, and beautifully designed open world. The game features RPG elements, a compelling narrative, and a host of exciting multiplayer modes.
Unwrapping The RPG Mechanics
The Division 2 breaks away from other third-person shooters with the inclusion of intricate RPG mechanics. The game features a leveling system that slowly unlocks new perks and abilities. Players can also find new weapons throughout the open-world. Looting is one of the most satisfying parts of any RPG, and The Division 2.
Weapons in The Division 2 are split up into a few categories.
- Rifles
- Assault Rifles
- Submachine Guns
- Light Machine Guns
- Marksman Rifles
- Shotguns
- Sidearms
Beyond this, every weapon also has a rarity attached to it. The higher the rarity, the stronger a weapon. But, as the name suggests, rarer weapons are harder to come by. The rarity levels in the game are:
- Worn
- Standard
- Specialized
- Superior
- High-End
- Exotic
Higher rarity weapons can be found by simply exploring the world, but your best chance of finding them is by completing main missions, bounties, stronghold missions, or venturing into Dark Zones.
All the gear you find is fully customizable as well. In your inventory screen you can attach a range of modifications and change the appearance of your weapons too. As you progress through the main game you will unlock a host of new modifications such as silencers, muzzles, grips, scopes, magazine attachments, and so much more.
Exciting Multiplayer Formats
The Division 2 boasts a varied selection of multiplayer modes. The most prevalent one is the ability to play the main game with your friends at any time. The consistently online nature of the main game means you and your friends can drop in and help each other out at a moment’s notice.
But for those who prefer going up against their friends, rather than working with them, there are a number of PvP modes included in the game as well. PvP combat is significantly more challenging than the standard PvE combat, so much so that a lot of people resort to using division 2 aimbot hacks to gain an edge over their competition.
Dark Zones and Going Rogue
Dark Zones are the areas of the normal open world where players can engage in PvP. If you have ever played Runescape, think of the Dark Zones as the Wilderness. Dark Zones have their own challenges and tasks that reward the player with special loot. Making them a great way to beef up your character. But the threat of other players is always present. So you need to make sure you’re prepared.
One of the most interesting parts of the Dark Zones is the Rogue Status mechanic. If any player does anything that goes against the interests of the SHD, such as causing other players grief, they will be marked as a rogue. There are varying levels of rogue status that a player can achieve, depending on the consistency and severity of their transgressions.
The Rogue Status functions much like a bounty system. Non-rogue players are encouraged to hunt and eliminate anyone marked with Rogue Status. Doing so will yield rewards and xp.
Conflict Mode
Conflict mode is more akin to the traditional shooter PvP systems. Conflict uses special maps that aren’t featured in the main game. These maps are more like arenas than open worlds. There are two main modes in conflict.
Skirmish is the first mode. This is a classic team deathmatch mode. You can face random players, or host a private skirmish with your friends. Domination is an objective focused mode where you are tasked with capturing and holding different locations in the arena.
Endgame Content: Raids
A game like The Division 2 lives and dies on its endgame content. If you don’t know, Endgame content is the term given to gameplay mechanics and features that extend beyond the main story of a game.
In The Division 2, Raids are the ultimate endgame experience. They put players through their toughest challenge yet. Each raid is carried out by a team of 8 players, split into 2 smaller units of 4. Players have to fight through a series of increasingly difficult enemies until they reach the Raid Boss, a formidable foe that requires perfect planning, tactical coordination, and skillful playing to overcome.
The Raid’s were added as post launch content. As of the time of writing, there are only two raids in the game. Operation Dark Hours and Operation Iron Horse. And what is even more surprising is that less than 3,000 PC players have actually conquered any of the raids so far. A true testament to just how difficult they are to beat.
