Ubisoft's The Division 2 released in 2019 to critic and audience acclaim, with a solid base game to keep players occupied for hours. Since then, its endgame grind and achievements have remained satisfying in almost every way, making for high replay value. With added content and DLC, The Division 2 has become even better, making it one of the best looter shooters on the market.
Other looter shooters have had mixed receptions at launch, and many continue to be divisive after post-release content. The first Division game, too, had its own disappointing aspects, with critics saying the world was barren and boring. Others, like Destiny 2, are highly successful, but The Division 2 deserves a spot in the major leagues with Destiny, doing some things just as well - if not better.
While The Division 2 isn't perfect in all aspects, its positives greatly improve the looter shooter genre. The things it does right overshadow the few things it doesn't, and it sures the expectations its less successful predecessor set for it.
The Division 2 Keeps Things Interesting
From the start of the game, it's apparent there's little downtime in The Division 2; there's always something to do, something to upgrade, a stronghold to take, a quest to accomplish, or loot to scavenge. Unlike its predecessor, The Division 2 also has a wide variety of random events happening throughout the world, like two factions going at it, a group of settlers being attacked, or a heavy enemy causing trouble.
Looting, of course, is one of the most engaging parts of the game. Grinding for better gear in The Division 2 isn't a chore but an investment. Gathering the armor pieces and weapons to craft the perfect build is very rewarding when it results in enemy armor ripping like paper or the player's tactical drone causing the perfect distraction. Other looter shooters deliver similar feelings, but The Division 2 has a leg up in certain ways, as there are a wide variety of buffs, debuffs, and skill stat improvements that allow players to adopt different playstyles, not just a preferred weapon or class.
The Division 2's endgame is extremely rewarding, and once players hit a certain level, there are further upgrades to be had. Originally, a large part of the game emphasized World Tiers 1 through 5, the final stages of the base game. Now, with added content and DLC, players can reach level 40 along with participation in continuous seasonal events. For example, hunting down rogue agents makes up the majority of seasons nowadays. Beyond that, there are raids, extra locales like the zoo, and PvP areas like the Dark Zone. The Division 2's PvP content is fun, though it's safe to say Destiny 2 does things a bit better with its Crucible.
The Division 2 Is Complex & Accessible, Even Playing Solo
There are many things to upgrade in The Division 2, including weapons, armor, Skills (drones, turrets, etc.), specializations (crossbow, grenade launcher, etc.), stats, SHD watch, and more. At first, this might seem overwhelming to newcomers, but over time, these upgrades and stats become second nature. The stats of gear, as well as build parameters, are all on display and easy to access in the inventory menu. For instance, chest armor that coincides with boots of the same build shows players how many pieces of that set are required for certain bonuses (e.g. 3 pieces required for 20% more Skill damage).
The plot of The Division 2 is one of the better narratives in the looter shooter genre. It invites newer players into its world without becoming too expositional; the layout of story details, mixed with the organic world-building (random events, side quests, recordings, and security camera footage), makes for an easy-to-follow plot progression, whereas something like Destiny 2 necessitates watching lore videos to understand much of what's going on. And, whereas Destiny 2's worlds are more interesting from an art design perspective, they're less populated with world-building that assists the narrative.
Although online RPGs are geared more towards group play, Division 2 understands many gamers enjoy the lone wolf playstyle. There's no punishment for going it alone, and in some ways, it can be more satisfying to complete missions and strongholds as an army of one. Other looter shooters are also friendly to solo play, but there comes a point when grinding alone can become monotonous or overwhelming. Games like Destiny 2 solve this with group-based endgame activities, such as raids and dungeons. The Division 2 treats its equivalent activities like additional benefits to an already solid solo gaming experience, rather than making them a larger piece of the whole.
