2019-05-01+Official+PlayStation+Magazine+-+UK+Edition

095

REVIEW

creating subversive locations.
Be it a battle through the
historical exhibits of a museum
(one minute you’re capping
dudes against a backdrop of Old
West saloon doors and cacti,
the next visions of Vietnam
set the shooty scene) or the
claustrophobic confines of a
TV studio, these more linear
environments exhibit real flair.

SAY NOTHING
As much as these key sections
do a commendable job at visual
storytelling, in a wider context
The Division 2 struggles with
narrative. Despite its overtly
political setting and the current
climate, this is a game with
nothing to say. If you were
hoping for some statement on
the current US administration
or societal issues in general,
you’re barking up the wrong
apolitical tree. Though it takes
place seven months after
the original, there’s little to
connect The Division 2 with its
predecessor. Next to The Last

VERDICT

Above Pop a
mobile shield to
protect yourself
from deadly
armoured
brutes.

Right There’ a
“Welcome to
Jurassic Park”
vibe when
opening up a
Dark Zone.

Above Cutscenes are poorly lit, but atleasttheshootingexcels.

THE OPM BREAKDOWN

Though fugly and unrefined, a

clutch of decent missions and

ever-engaging shootouts mean

The Division 2 is just about

worth signing up for. Only

just. Dave Meikleham

Of Us, this open-world effort’s

doomsday tale is the most

uninventive of also-rans.

While it’s not the friendliest

of experiences thanks to

things like the muddled UI,

workmanlike engine, and

mildly confusing busywork

(improving aspects of your base

by donating armour and other

resources can reward new gun

parts) the core of the game is

undeniably fun. Certainly, The

Division 2 is no Anthem, which

is a very good thing.

There’s certainly a lot of

promise here; a fact hammered

home by the expanded high-

level Dark Zones and new PvP

Conflict maps. Right now it’s

too divided to truly conquer,

but give it time.

7% Stomping

mud all over the

Oval Office’s nice

carpet. Our bad.

9% Hurriedly

moving so the

Hyenas don’t

get you.

17%Fiddling

aboutwithgloves

andshinpads...

becausestats.

24%Shooting

folkinside

surprisingly

varied in-door

environments.

WHAT YOU DO IN... THE DIVISION 2

29%

Dying on the

streets. Those

roaming Hyenas

are bloody

rotters.

14% Searching

one of three Dark

Zones for

high-end loot.

MULTIPLAYER

The Division 2’s PvP

component is called

Conflict and spans three

custom maps and two

modes. As for modes,

Skirmish is a team

deathmatch where both

sides try to whittle the

opposition’s lives down,

and Domination is a king

of the hill-style fight.

THE FIRSTFIVEHOURS...

1 Ten minutes in and you’ve had your first battle on the White House

lawn. The Donald would not be amused. 2 Your recruit attempts to

rescue Agent Espinoza. Hyena murder ensues. 3 An early(ish) highlight

involves storming a studio and pulling propaganda from the airwaves.

4 A few hours in you’ll no doubt hanker for some PvP Conflict. Don’t die.

5 ExploreyourfirstDarkZone.Enjoythathigh-endbooty,soldier.

1 2 3 4 5

IS IT BETTER THAN?

YES

Ubi’s effort is more

compelling than

BioWare’s soulless

mech, though not

as spectacular.

NO NO

Bungie’s peerless

arsenal gives Destiny

2 the edge over

Massive’s duller, less

flashy soldiers.

Far more personable

and with more

imaginative loot,

Gearbox’s shooter is

simply more likeable.

It worksondayone,whichis tobeapplauded

for a GAAS of this scale. There’s masses of

content here too, from multiple Dark Zones to

well-crafted multiplayer. If this sequel could have

polished the story as much as the plethora of content it

could have scored higher. As it stands, it’s a great

grounding for more to come. Ian Dean

SECOND OPINION DIVISION AND CONQUER