It is never easy to see a video game that you are passionate about stumble and/or fall. The Helldivers 2 case is recent enough for its fans to understand what I’m talking about. Because even if those responsible fail us, the truth is that you never stop appreciating it. You can park it, but it’s always a shame. And it happens with whatever one feels, otherwise there wouldn’t be so many fights on the internet.
Ubisoft’s The Division 2 is one of the video games that has brought me the most joy and sorrow in equal measure. It launched in 2019, so it’s on its way to turning six years old. It’s said quickly! Many good and bad things have happened since then, although the balance has tipped quite a bit towards the negative side in recent years.
Descend without brakes towards hopelessness
The story is long, but I can summarize the last few years in The Division 2 with one word: repetition. It is true that it has received some new developments, but in general it has suffered atrocious stagnation. Battle passes and events have been repeated, the Hunting system has been exactly the same since the DLC Warlords of New York and history has taken steps whose coherence I am still not entirely clear about.
Despite everything, the most irrefutable proof of its stagnation and lack of changes is that I have been completing the Hunts and the rest of the content for two or three years without having to touch a single modifier of my character construction or build. It has remained strong and optimized, even with the changes that have come to the video game
My disappointment transformed the experience from exciting to mere routine to keep me up to date. It made me lose hope to the point of feeling its world as unknown every time I returned for a hunt: I didn’t remember specific buttons, or how my build worked, and some areas seemed new to me after so long without seeing them. And I have accumulated 1,350 hours of play!
A ray of hope in The Division 2
I feel the initial touch of hopelessness. I know it’s not pleasant, but it has a purpose: for you to clearly see the contrast with my current happiness. It is not that Massive Entertainment and Ubisoft have rescued The Division 2 of oblivion. Not at all. Things still look very grim for fans, but I’ve certainly seen a glimmer of hope with Season 2 of Year 6.
I am very happy. My desire has returned The Division 2. Massive has introduced changes as important as those that came with Warlords of New York. In case you don’t remember, one of them was introducing the SHD Watch level and points system. It’s not that it was difficult after so many stagnant years, but it is just as essential to applaud the victories as it is to point out the defeats.
The essence of the experience in The Division 2 It has not changed: same map, zones, invasion system and modes, missions, checkpoints and activities. Everything the same. However, the hunts have changed. The original hunts/searches were divided into four phases separated by several weeks, during which different events took place. It was a pain, because it took one or two months to complete.
I don’t deny that the original Hunts were exciting and something new, but they obviously became outdated. Waiting weeks between objectives was boring. While other games like Destiny 2 knew how to adapt with seasons that included weekly content, including story. To this we must add events like the Iron Banner. It was a constant flow. And although this is a thing of the past in the present Destiny 2ran for several seasons.
The Division 2 It took a while to update, but it did. Year 6 Season 2 introduces a new season system based on weekly objectives. Red Shadows is the new Hunt that will take place over 14 weeks. It includes several puzzles and objectives, which is essentially repeating existing activities. Still, it’s a breath of fresh air to the gaming experience.
And it’s not the only thing that has changed. The Battle Pass system The Division 2 It was archaic compared to the rest of the industry. It was the classic two-way game (free and paid) that is unlocked by passively gaining experience. Again, it was fine for a while… but even Fortnite (precursor to all this) was adapted a long time ago to make them more dynamic.
Massive has also updated the Battle Pass system, both in its design and operation. Additionally, the quality of rewards has improved. Free and premium rewards remain, but now it is not enough to passively gain experience. Two important blocks are added: Journey and Priority Objectives.
The Journey is nothing more than a system of missions that you must complete to obtain experience for the Battle Pass and unlock other seasonal rewards that I will discuss below. It is not a revolution. Has it since Fortnite to New World: Aeternum. In fact, it reminded me a lot of how Diablo IV has it.
Once again, Massive is late… But he is, damn it! The redesign of the Hunts is great and very successful, but this has given me life back in The Division 2. It is true that they are completed quite easily (at least the first pages), but it is still another reason to squeeze out the season. Priority Objectives are missions that grant an extra for the pass.
All these changes are very good. They are the perfect fuel for gamers like me, who really want to do things in The Division 2. However, they are of no use if the gameplay does not change something. I have already told you that the essence is exactly the same. We repeat the same activities. Luckily, Massive’s latest big change puts the cherry on top by establishing new rules of combat.
Global, Active and Passive Modifiers are added for both the character and enemies. The global game is designed to introduce new mechanics each season. In this case, three range zones are established (short, medium and long) and each one has a specific damage amplification.
Active and Passive modifiers are obtained by completing missions in the Travel system and serve to enhance our combat style, since enemies receive their own modifiers. There are a lot and I was happy to see that there are several for every play style. In fact, they are divided into combat distances.
Perhaps all this seems insufficient to you after so many years of bad decisions, lack of substantial content and blatant abandonment by Ubisoft. And you are absolutely right. This is not going to make The Division 2 take flight and magically catch up with other stronger games of the style like Destiny 2 y Warframe. That train passed a long time ago.
However, I think it is enough to give joy to all the players we love The Division 2 and that we keep our hopes in The Division…even if they are the few we have left. I prefer to celebrate it as a victory, because it has been a long time since I really felt like putting on the SHD Agent suit. Returning to a game just out of habit, to stay updated, has been something that has saddened me lately.
Ubisoft’s current situation is not good. We already know that Heartland (free-to-play) went down the drain and that Resurgence (mobile) is not going to save this franchise. The Division 3 was the only stick to hold on to until now. Season 2 of Year 6 not only shows that there is room for change and improvement, it also makes me think that there is a will on the part of those responsible to move forward. The Division 2. At least a little, until the next game arrives.
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