The AI enemies in The Division 2 are quite well done, according to our author Sven. However, one thing about the enemy behavior annoys him massively.
Currently, I prefer to spend my limited playtime almost exclusively in the virtual Washington D.C. Because The Division 2 has completely captivated me despite initial skepticism.
The missions are varied, the story is exciting, and the game world is breathtaking – especially, if you’ve been to Washington already.
After just over 40 hours, I still enjoy every single minute in the game. Especially the battles are captivating and have won me over.
This is what I love about the battles in The Division 2
The battles against the AI enemies are among my biggest highlights so far.
At first, I find the battles truly spectacular. The sound ambiance is fantastic and adapts to the respective environment. With the right headset or sound system, you feel right in the middle of it.
At night (and depending on the environment), you fight in dark back streets and have to infer the enemies from the muzzle flash and various harsh insults.
Explosions look particularly stylish and reveal the positions of other enemies. Everything runs excitingly and tactically.
During the day, you get to enjoy cool effects like shattering car windows, punctured tires, or splashing mud and fleeing animals. Every little firefight creates a nearly cinematic atmosphere for me.
Additionally, there is the behavior of the enemy AI. Every fight is challenging and can always take an unexpected turn. Each enemy faction behaves differently with its individual enemy types, employs different tactics, or weaponry.
If you’re not careful, you can perish just as quickly against the wild and loosely organized Hyenas as against the elite Black Tusk.
The enemies flank, attempt brutal frontal assaults when the opportunity arises, or want to overwhelm you with their numbers. However, they also retreat in crisis, reorganize, or hold their position until reinforcements arrive.
There are also tactical nuances, such as the modular armor system of the enemies. Heavily armored foes can take a lot of damage.
Yet their armor can be cracked at various points, opening weak spots through which even a Terminator-like minigun carrier can be put down in just a few moments.
Rarely have I found it so satisfying, varied, and challenging to fight against AI opponents. In my view, The Division 2 has truly created something great – especially for a looter shooter.
I can overlook that I sometimes have to empty a whole magazine into a nearly unprotected enemy.
One thing annoys me greatly about the AI
However, there is one aspect of the behavior of the computer-controlled enemies that annoys me deeply: The otherwise very credible AI always knows exactly when I aim at them.
You have certainly been in a similar situation: You find yourself in a fierce firefight with a group of enemies. One of them tries to flank you in order to attack you from the side afterward. Naturally, you want to prevent this and take care of exactly that guy.
You aim at him and pull the trigger. After a few shots, he takes cover. You wait with your weapon aimed and steadily aim at the position where his head should appear soon.
And what happens then? Usually nothing at all! At least on the enemy’s side. And it doesn’t matter how long you wait.
This enemy now puts you to a test of patience, which he or his buddies in 99% of cases decide in their favor. Because he stays down until you switch targets, reload, or must take cover yourself as you come under fire from his friends.
Sometimes I have waited more than a minute with my weapon aimed, just to give the enemy the rest. But nothing happened.
What annoys me is not even the “going into cover and staying there” itself. I mean, who wouldn’t hide behind cover and stay there when facing an elite agent?
But the fact that the AI employs this almost psychic and absolutely annoying mechanic until I, out of frustration, lower my weapon or must do so compulsorily, drives me up the wall every time.
How does this guy, who is probably soiling himself, know exactly when I turn my gaze away from him?! And this is by no means an isolated case, but rather the rule.
So far, that is truly the only aspect of The Division 2 that really bothers me negatively and where I hope for a change in the future.
Because this simply doesn’t fit the overall picture of the otherwise well-implemented behavior of enemy units and ruins the fun in certain situations.
Have you ever been in such a situation and have you also noticed this mechanic? Are there other things that drive you up the wall in The Division 2?
