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Tom Clancy's The Division (PS4) Review
Developer: Massive Entertainment
Publisher: Ubisoft
Genre: Third-Person Shooter / Action RPG / Online Multiplayer
Release: 2016
Tom Clancy's The Division is an ambitious combination of third-person cover shooting, open-world exploration and RPG progression. Set in a devastated New York City following a catastrophic viral outbreak, it places you in the role of a Division agent tasked with restoring order and uncovering what happened.
What makes The Division particularly interesting is the way it combines traditional shooter mechanics with loot, character builds and online cooperation. Its campaign can be played alone, but the game is at its best with other players. The atmospheric recreation of Manhattan, satisfying cover combat and unique Dark Zone make it one of the more distinctive shooters of the PS4 generation.
Gameplay & Mechanics
The foundation of The Division is third-person, cover-based shooting. Players move between cover positions, lean around obstacles, suppress enemies and use abilities to gain an advantage.
Unlike a conventional military shooter, enemies have health levels and equipment tiers. Powerful enemies can absorb considerable amounts of damage, while better weapons allow your agent to tackle increasingly difficult opponents.
The RPG mechanics are deeply integrated into the shooting.
Weapons and equipment come with different statistics, while your character's skills and talents can be customised around particular playstyles.
Strengths:
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Excellent cover-based shooting.
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Satisfying weapon handling.
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Deep loot and equipment system.
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Extensive character customisation.
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Interesting skills and abilities.
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Strong cooperative mechanics.
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Good balance between shooting and RPG progression.
Weaknesses:
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Bullet-sponge enemies can become frustrating.
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Combat can become repetitive.
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Loot management can be time-consuming.
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Enemy AI is sometimes predictable.
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Some missions rely on similar objectives.
The basic combat is straightforward but satisfying. The game becomes considerably more interesting once players begin combining skills, equipment and different weapon types to create specialised builds.
Final Verdict
Tom Clancy's The Division is an ambitious and highly enjoyable hybrid of third-person shooter and action RPG. Its cover-based combat is satisfying, its progression system is addictive and its recreation of a snow-covered Manhattan is one of the game's greatest accomplishments.
The Dark Zone is particularly impressive. Its combination of PvE and PvP creates situations that conventional multiplayer modes simply cannot reproduce. Every extraction can become a tense battle, and the possibility of betrayal makes even routine encounters unpredictable.
The biggest weaknesses are repetition and the relatively unremarkable story. Many side missions eventually start to feel interchangeable, while the RPG health system can make certain enemies feel more like damage sponges than believable opponents.
Nevertheless, The Division works exceptionally well as a cooperative experience. Playing alongside friends, developing complementary builds and exploring Manhattan together brings out the best in the game.
For PS4 players looking for a shooter with substantial RPG progression, exploration and cooperative gameplay, The Division remains a strong recommendation.
Score: 8.5/10
