The Underground game mode in The Division needs a breath of fresh air. We discuss things that would make “Underground” better.
In the summer of 2016, “Underground” was touted as a new mode with high replayability. No run should be the same as the previous one. Every time you go underground, the areas are randomly selected and combined. Each run is meant to be unique, motivating agents to play this mode for a long time.
However, motivation did not last longer than a few weeks. Yes, the locations were and still are always “new”, but there is a lack of diverse missions. Here to rescue a hostage, there to kill an enemy. Although the rooms vary, one still feels like they have seen it all.
The “Wow!” effect is missing. The special element that makes for a unique experience. Instead, the same patterns repeat. Hardly any agent has taken the effort to reach the maximum underground rank of 40. It has been nearly a year now waiting in vain for exciting innovations in Underground.
What needs to change to make the Underground exciting again?
Ideas to Enhance Underground
This question is currently being discussed on reddit. A highly upvoted suggestion is this: An endless mode.
The idea behind it is to play as long as you can until you die. Agents are sent from one room to the next. In each room, enemies await you to be defeated. Each room is more difficult than the previous one. And, for example, every 5 rooms there are rewards.
This endless mode would leverage the “high replayability” of Underground. Some agents complain that Massive has not yet introduced such a game mode. So much untapped potential lies buried in the shared-world shooter.
Further possible innovations for Underground:
- The Underground Trader has been completely useless for months. He only sells sealed boxes that you can also buy from the special equipment vendor in the terminal. There should be (again) items that can only be acquired from certain underground ranks. Exclusive cosmetic items are also conceivable.
- All difficulty levels could become available for Underground. Currently, there are only Normal, Hard, and Challenging.
- A new Legendary mode could guarantee exotic containers.
- More variety in boss encounters: For example, weak points must be eliminated before you can deal damage to the boss.
- A development station, crafting station, and a blueprint trader should be established in the underground area.
- New, interesting weekly missions in the underground.
- Finally, the underground rank should be increased to boost the motivation of those agents who have already reached the maximum.
Whether Massive will ever bring innovations to the Underground remains to be seen. So far, the three DLC game modes Underground, Survival, and Last Stand have only been released, addressed with bug fixes, and then left to themselves.
What ideas do you have?
A mode that would fit well with Survival would be a pure battle royale mode!
