Our author Schuhmann has once again taken a look at The Division 2 with the new DLC. He says the new missions are really fun and well made, yet it is hard to play The Division 2 again after a break.
This is my situation with The Division 2: I played The Division 2 with great enthusiasm and joy in the first three to four weeks, liberated Washington, and reached Gear Level 503 – back then it was still possible.
I didn’t build a great setup and didn’t deal with builds and game mechanics. I just took the items I thought “That’s fine” and had a great time replaying the missions and shooting around. I enjoyed the atmosphere of The Division 2.
However, I barely logged in during the last few months: I lacked new content after the “Tidal Basin” update. I briefly went through the secret missions, but they weren’t anything special.
The real new content has now come with the first free DLC.
I was determined to play The Division 2 again with Update 5 and Episode 1.
Amazing new missions in a picturesque setting
This is how I like the new update: I have now played the two new story missions that came with Episode 1. In my opinion, both are on par with the main missions: really good.
They are fast, varied missions in a picturesque setting. Massive has once again managed to tell a story through the environment. I found the idyllic house by the lake with the boat dock as a battleground cool – just like the zoo. You sense the dramas that took place here when the virus struck.
Like Rambo in Easy Mode through the new missions
A bittersweet drop for me was that I had to play both missions on “Story” difficulty the first time, even though I was used to harder content. This created little tension.
We rushed through the first mission with a makeshift three-person team and through the second mission with a two-person team, and played more like mini-Rambos.
However, the tactical approach and using cover is what makes The Division 2 appealing to me.
I don’t understand the loot anymore
This is why I find it so hard to get back into The Division 2: What I’m currently missing in The Division 2 is the appeal of finding better items.
Although I already had three of the four new items in the DLC in my inventory after an hour of gameplay, I didn’t use any of them:
- I play LMG, but the Stoner seemed unattractive in damage value
- The exotic gloves work for a different playstyle than the one I’m used to
- I wasn’t interested in the Carbine rifle at all
Otherwise, I didn’t exchange any items.
In any case, loot in The Division 2 seems confusing after being away for a while. You receive so many items near the max level and actually should sit down and take a closer look at the loot after each instance.
To do this, you have to answer four questions:
- What stats do I actually want for my build?
- What stats can actually be on the individual gear piece?
- How strong is the individual value on the item now within its parameters?
- Is the new item really better than what I’m wearing – also regarding set bonuses that change and mods?
Answering these four questions doesn’t seem very inviting to me when you’ve been away from the game for a while. I also considered switching to the gear set “True Patriot,” but it seems to become attractive only with five pieces.
In other games, it is usually enough to just look at DPS or gear score to decide whether an item is an upgrade. In The Division 2, there are no such simple indicators.
The Division 2 has rejected the increase of gear score a few months ago, maybe now is the time to bring it.
Or it needs a revision of the loot system so that you don’t need an Excel sheet to see if an item is really good and advances the build.
I’m sure for min-maxers, who are neck-deep in The Division 2, this is not a problem. They know exactly which items they are looking for and still need for their ideal build. I truly wish them the fun.
However, The Division 2 makes it really hard for me to get back in and continue from where I left off in April.
