Ubisoft's Forgotten Master Piece.... (The Division)

Tom Clancy's The Division is a forgotten gem, but why does nobody know about its great artistic flair? Initially overlooked in 2016, it has since emerged as a masterpiece with deep, somber, and powerful atmospheric immersion. The Division showcases Ubisoft at their best, with exceptional environmental storytelling set in the brooding, pandemic-ravaged streets of Manhattan during Christmas. Join us as we revisit this gem, explore the story of how the franchise came to be, where it went, and where it could go in the future.
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[@Mobius__]

The atmosphere in the first game was truly immaculate. Especially the Dark Zone. I've been tempted to get the second game on sale, but living in Northern Virginia means that DC in the summer is not as visually appealing as NYC in a blizzard.

[@TheCouch-Co-Op]

DC's my backyard. I like the idea. But it just didn't have the same impact as Manhattan during the Christmas season.

[@Viper-dz2kw]

@@TheCouch-Co-Opgot the three musketeers of Virginia residents with the division right here

[@MegaClogger]

Crystal City represent

[@vetrix]

MD Gang out here!

[@brendanfogel4573]

Fr imagine the new york city but with division 2s lively world

[@ludacris6212]

44 years old and just got back into "proper" gaming with an Xbox Series S a few months ago. Was torn between The Division and Breakpoint and I chose this. Got the gold edition for only £8 and I love it - gives me Army of Two vibes. If you know, you know.

[@tv7w492]

Did you end up getting break point ?

[@kroniken8938]

i know

[@hawkeyes2814]

It's so much fun to play and level up. I also got breakpoint and I play more DIV than that game. Breakpoint is a fun game as well, but its not as RPG as DIV. Its more like a tactical simulation looter shooter hybrid to me. DIV reminds me of a fantasy RPG but with guns and tactical gear.

[@ronnmozz]

If you go with a Ghost Recon, get wildlands before you get break point. But you def made the right choice, the division rules

[@hawkeyes2814]

@@ronnmozz I played wild lands before, I went with breaking point. I have wildlands on my xbox, just my xbox is dead until I can buy a new one. I am trying not to buy dupicate games for my PS5 that I already have on xbox

[@BbMaj13Sharp11]

The division is one of my favorite games of all time. I spent so much time taking in the environments and appreciating how well crafted the world was. I loved the gameplay loop and getting gear, but I loved listening to the radio in safe houses and looking for crashed drones just as much, just because the game was so beautiful and immersive.

[@caliginousmoira8565]

i really hope we get an offline mode... so i can still run around the city

[@TheCouch-Co-Op]

Everybody should play it.

[@dsacton35]

You can tell he never played the Division back in the day. For starters, the Division was not a Ubisoft game. It was made by Massive, only Massive. Ubisoft is a game marketer with the money, period.

[@brennanputz8330]

They got Alex!

[@TheCouch-Co-Op]

Do what you need to do!

[@thunderrunner666]

“Alex!” - Alex

[@caliginousmoira8565]

was dylan the other one?

[@THLOANIOUS]

I remembered one day going to the dead zone. I was young, like 11 or 12. The dead zone scared me but i pushed through. Mannn it was intense. I remembered crossing paths with a group at the night time and i rolled with them. We had hella players taking out enemies. I was a low level noob so i needed to be healed alot. The on going fires, the destruction, the gunfights, the enemies, the Rouge agents, the night along with the blizzard. All these things combined with my fear as a little squeaker. Made this game stay rent freein my head. Miss those days man frl.

[@TheCouch-Co-Op]

Those formative years of gaming are incredible.

[@caliginousmoira8565]

dark zone..... although i like your name better...

[@grassmonkeyO5]

Lmao fr

[@CardinalSn]

Time to watch one of my favorite "sit back and relax" youtubers talk about one of my favorite "sit back and relax" games.

[@TheCouch-Co-Op]

Gotta put on a cup of joe.

[@TheIrshNinjaaa]

So glad you have this channel as I’ve moved on from siege!

[@TheCouch-Co-Op]

A lot more people will from what it seems.

[@TheIrshNinjaaa]

@@TheCouch-Co-Op still watch the seige content every once in awhile. I remember you post a video that was political in some nature(I think it was for a school final or something) maybe I’m crazy, but that’s when I realized you’d make a great broader commentary channel. Really cool to see someone grow and maintain success, I hope more will follow!

[@TheCouch-Co-Op]

More videos like that someday!

[@SierraMetal-w5o]

the Division as a series should have been way bigger imo

[@TheCouch-Co-Op]

Agreed!

[@LT1]

3 is in development

[@devinthierault]

​@@LT1yes i hope and pray

[@FelixRaycher]

Heartland cancelled in the meantime.

[@SwagEmusEvilIncoporated]

​@@devinthierault After Outlaws is released, Div 3 is gonna be in development with Julian at the head of the project.

[@paulrusiewicz2956]

Survival was absolutely addictive I played countless hours running it on pve or pvp. The darkzone was my other go-to with my buddies. we spent entire weekends doing landmarks, taking down rogues, and going rogue. For those who didn't see it at its best being fully populated, that sucks it was something to see and enjoy. It's actually sad that someday it will be gone. I road my way through all the waves high and low. I still go back and play and actually spend time walking and reminiscing all the hours. Great video. You nailed it all perfectly, so many players just ran through the game to just do pvp they never really played the game.

[@TheCouch-Co-Op]

Thank you. Knowing Ubisoft it may be shut down one day so it's worth checking out.

[@ohnoonline]

The gameplay of The Division achieves a really strange feat in the fact that (in my opinion), a LOT of the problems I have with it almost completely vanish when I play with at least one other friend. Playing through every mission on the hardest difficulties and barely scraping by, dying over and over again until something clicked and we finally pushed through to the finish. The enemies are still bullet spongy, the world still seems to fall apart in each mission, but it never mattered when me and my boy's squadded up. Loved every second of it.

[@pr3cious193]

Yeah it gets more fun with coop

[@TheCouch-Co-Op]

Everything's better with friends! (not a bad thing)

[@maskoblackfyre]

This game is from the peak of Ubisoft world design era. New York in The Division, Egypt in AC Origins and Bolivia in GR Wildlands. Those worlds were alive like no other. They all had character beyond what Ubi is capable today. The Division holds a special place on my heart because the winter NY setting just captivated me immensely. I loved sometimes just roaming the streets and getting into trouble. Not to mention that it actually had one of the first (and to this day probably the best) "Extraction type" game modes: Survival (long before PUBG and Tarkov)

[@TheCouch-Co-Op]

100%

[@jonSLAYR]

And Watch Dogs 2 San Fran around the same time.

[@claytonfenton3207]

The Division 1 was an absolute masterpiece. The Division 2 didn't live up to the first. If you had enough friends for a full squad, the Dark Zone was some of the best fun ever.

[@novusparadium9430]

For the "MAJORTIY" of the player base they hate the dark zone and the absolute piece of shit people farming them right out the gate.

[@TheCouch-Co-Op]

Real

[@ThePhantomPhanto]

Nah, div1's only good thing was the earlier atmosphere due to the snowy set and the fresh post-pandemic apocalypse vibe. Dark Zone ended up full of cheaters, longevity sucked due to Classified Gearsets which killed build diversity and lack of endgame content. Only good things were Survival and Underground. Division 2 wiped off the table in every element, except atmosphere.

[@hguasagame384]

@@ThePhantomPhanto theres still tons of unique builds that all work! Sure some builds like nomad and predator 6 piece might seem better at first but you can make pretty much anything work!

[@ThePhantomPhanto]

@hguasagame384 we're still talking about classified gearsets. I remember the times when you could employ high-end gloves with Savage and other high-end pieces combined with gearsets.

[@TheIrshNinjaaa]

This video is gonna hurt as the nostalgia hits hard

[@sawanlingden9292]

Do many people still play the dark zone on console anymore? Been thinking about buying it again but worried ill waste my money on empty servers

[@aLikeSupreme]

@@sawanlingden9292 the game is pretty dirt cheap now. I'm sure there is still a community that play the dark zone as it is still the best endgame content.

[@MaybachGLS]

@@sawanlingden9292 i kno pc darkzone still has players till dis day, so I'm sure console will as well

[@lPEGI]

@@sawanlingden9292there’s a tiny group of players still but it’s been getting smaller and smaller. The dz is just plagued with lag switchers all the time

[@grassmonkeyO5]

@@sawanlingden9292 its dead

[@cohortConnor]

You should’ve mentioned the coop mechanic in Division. It’s takes the ranks of everyone in the party, calculates the average number, and assigns that rank to all the enemies and loot. This meant that when I (lvl 20+) was helping my friend (lvl 7), I was one-shotting everyone and they were one-shotting my friend. Also all the gear was worthless to me and my friend couldn’t use anything he picked up

[@TheCouch-Co-Op]

That was a great mechanic.

[@cohortConnor]

@@TheCouch-Co-Op it was a terrible mechanic

[@TheeYellowDart]

I played this when it first launched, I played it online with my kid during COVID when she was at her Mom's place (shared custody), and just a few months ago I decided to play the campaign all over again from the start. I love The Division. It's a compelling story; though I do wish they kept expanding the story and even locations. It had (has) a lot of potential. Nailed it with vibe, and one aspect that I never tire of is the Soundtrack. I don't just play this game, I feel it. It makes me happy and sombre at the same time. Thanks for bringing me back to this feeling.

[@TheCouch-Co-Op]

The OST is so good !

[@DjiuhTi]

I think the main reason as to why i stuck with The Division, 1 and 2 for so long is because it is my first 3rd person shooter franchise so i was never truly bothered with “bullet spongy” enemies, especially considering that I was used to playing games where enemies with big ol healthbars were normal to me

[@TheCouch-Co-Op]

Fair.

[@lapp2]

The Division was, and in some way still is, the best game I ever played. I was absolutely absorbed by the dystopian new York. I loved the mix between story, civilians, the breakdown of a system and environment. I agree with your conclusions. I wish they would have listened to the community when the issues were current. I hope to see another game of this capacity during my game life 😃 Had some hope up a couple of years ago, but it tanked and disappeared with the money.. great video

[@epicalperson]

How you describe "vibe" and how it relates to the Division reminds me of how Far Cry 2's gameplay, setting, and mechanics all served to fit the vibe of being an unlucky mercenary with malaria stuck in a civil war left for dead with no choice but to complete your mission by any means necessary. The Division would have benefitted from similar "painful" game mechanics like malaria and jamming weapons.

[@TheCouch-Co-Op]

We wouldn't mind doing a Far Cry video.

[@rickydelbosque780]

Like the survival mechanics with cold and disease timer?

[@amazanta1605]

They have that in the dlc called survival has a cold mechanism,illness and hunger

[@oniemployee3437]

I disagree. Those pills and the CONSTANT respawning enemies ruined the game for me. Every game is better without those limiters like FC2's Malaria.

[@MrSweating]

This was so well written man well done. You nailed this video

[@TheCouch-Co-Op]

Thank you!

[@Model_118]

Just started playing my third player, lvl 10 now. Just love playing through the campaign. The atmosphere is too unique.

[@gamemaster27]

I re-downloaded the game yesterday and helping others reach level 30+.. The city is huge and makes you feel so so small.. Everything is perfect about this game.. And I know, we will come back to it when we need to the most..

[@caliginousmoira8565]

until ubisoft takes it away like the crew..............

[@TheCouch-Co-Op]

It does such a good job with its immersive environments.

[@Maximus0451]

If you like the worldbuilding of The Division, you should check out World in Conflict. Made by the same developers, Massive, it’s a compelling alternate history where the Soviets invade Europe and small parts of America. A lot of the missions take place in Washington State, and it gives me chills as a native there.

[@TheCouch-Co-Op]

I'll check it out!

[@Maximus0451]

@@TheCouch-Co-Op WiC is an RTS, but it’s not difficult. You could just watch a playthrough, but actually playing it is an immersive experience.

[@KumaDormilon]

i havent forgotten, I think about it often. The blizzards in the dark zones are one of the best feelings ive experienced in gaming till this day. Never forget, what couldve been.

[@TheCouch-Co-Op]

100%

[@nato187]

It's a shame that ubisoft has some of the finest worldbuilding talent and the worst gameplay designers. I'll never understand how they consistently miss the mark, the division could've been one of the greats.

[@TheCouch-Co-Op]

Mechanics

[@mohammedrashid1910]

so true. Recently picked up Breakpoint, the world is cool but some of the gameplay design is straight up awful

[@braydencraft1496]

i cant express how much i absolutely love the division, ive been playing since launch and have sunk thousands of hours into it and havent found a game thats as fun

[@beefjerky007]

This game has had an absolute choke-hold over me the last few years. Every few months, an absolute PRIMAL desire to play The Division washes over me and I end up sinking another 100 hours into the game in the span of just a few weeks. This is one of the only games to do this to me. The game is basically perfect. The gameplay is smooth as hell, the graphics are insanely beautiful for an eight year old game, the atmosphere is better than any other game I've ever played, the music is genuine perfection, there are so many different endgame activities to sink your teeth into that it never gets boring. I could keep going, but you get the picture. The day that Ubisoft shuts the game servers down is the day that I will genuinely cry. Let's pray that that day isn't coming any time soon.

[@killznskilz8165]

So true same here this the only game I come back to every couple months or so I wish division 3 is as good as this one and bring back strafing in dz’s

[@TheCouch-Co-Op]

Real

[@QUANTUM_FLUX]

The atmosphere in this game was literally perfect. Especially when in the dark zone. Some of my favorite gaming memories of all time happened in the DZ right after the game launched. It wasn't balanced, but it sure was chaotic and fun as hell. There was nothing better than going into the DZ with some buddies and seeing a blizzard come down while everyone fights over loot. Still the best snow effects in any game ever. If I could go back and experience it again I would.

[@TheCouch-Co-Op]

The Dark Zone is so foreboding and cool.

[@ianculp1779]

I tried out The Division after Covid once it was free, and the world building blew me away. Especially after Covid. Different factions struggling for power while all being different flavors of evil felt (as you said) very video-gamey, but the way the game delivered these malicous actions left me wanting to avenge the victims. Taking a moment from the gunplay to look at a murder scene and imagine what went down leaves a major impact on the world created. Especially later into the game when you move from Cleaners "We're burning out the plague" to the Rikers torturing captures police in horrifying ways both physically and mentally. Yes, every enemy becomes a bullet sponge. Yes, it was Ubisoft's way to justify a looter shooter. And Yes, it gor annoying when you have to empty 9 LMG magazines into Big Johnny and he's still walking towards you. But if you can look past the obvious and enjoy the setting, it feels like delivering retribution one 7.62 at a time. ALSO: now that we're post Covid, the game becomes an intriguing "What-if" situation that highlights the malicous nature of some people when push comes to shove. The Divison 2, while not as applicable, can also be considered as a "What-if" to the riots in DC 2021. In a weird sense, it feels like these games are predicting US events. Or, maybe it's making bets on what seems plausible and would make an engaging story. Simplification: World building very good. Evil groups very bad. Enemies too bullet spongy but more patriotic retribution per magazine. Imagine if it were real life.

[@TheCouch-Co-Op]

Yes it's crazy how on point it was.

[@SickUserName]

It was never free

[@ianculp1779]

@SickUserName You're right, it may have been in the Xbox gold bundle. To the teen who didn't know what plans we had, it was free.

[@bigscarysoup8046]

I fondly remember playing this game in high school over winter break and you've perfectly summarized everything I felt during that time. The vibe was perfect. This video is definitely going on the fridge

[@TheCouch-Co-Op]

Thanks!

[@jonzmoviebar7580]

The lobby was my favorite place to pause and take a nap before the next run, hearing the radio and people walking in and out doing weird stuffs

[@AccessingONI]

This is one of the best co-ops to play with friends and family, ran through The Division very recently with my girlfriend and her usualy palette is typically Sims 4 and Animal Crossing. The game is great right now with a small community supporting its multiplayer on Discord.

[@TheCouch-Co-Op]

Yes it's cool how it's still kicking!

[@gettingby365]

I feel like the bullet sponge mechanic is an answer to a catch-22 problem. If they had gone with a more realistic method we would have been faced with either a zerg-like volume of bad guys (which is also immersion breaking "Welp I've just offed the population of a whole NYC borough. On to the next mission") or a much reduced number of encounters. I'm not saying I know the right answer cause I don't. I'm just saying that I can see that there would be issues with some alternative design choices. P.S. it's just as silly for a medieval game to have you wack a baddie with a sword a bunch of times as it is for the modern shooter games.

[@TheCouch-Co-Op]

Fair enough.

[@nosalis]

I always thought one way you could tackle this is with accuracy, when you start , your accuracy will be quite terrible, so you only hit the guys 1 bullet out of 10, and as you get better you beasically start hitting 10 out of 10 , but yeah, even this will have it's problems :) I persoanlly didn't mind it , I took it as " this is RPG where instead of sword, you use guns" and after that I was fine with the concept

[@Sincethe80sGaming]

The Division is one of my favorite games, of course Division 2 is algo great, but there's something the first game had that the second one lacks of, the way NY looks and the atmosphere of the game, story and everything else makes it a great experience even nowadays I enjoy playing it, hopefully it does not die too soon and also the ambience music from the first game is unique!

[@TheCouch-Co-Op]

That's the most commonly cited difference between the two games and it's such a real statement.

[@dannybryant6898]

I really think Ubisoft didn't think the game would be as big of a hit as it was when it first released. But once they saw it did well, they just put efforts into the 2nd one. It just suffered the same fate as most great games that have sequels honestly

[@The_Schizoid_Man]

I love the division 1 and 2. Currently I just started a new campaign in 1. Yes, on one hand the sponge breaks immersion. I think 2 handled immersion in the gunplay much better. On the other hand, the way both 1 and 2 plays makes you really get into this unique groove is something I haven't found in other shooters. Gunfights are long and drawn out on the harder difficulties or in the dark zone, and it feels like playing a game of chess with guns. It's a game of positioning correctly and avoiding flanks. The game's combat is actually at its strongest when it is the spongiest and hardest difficulty because it brings out a gunfight chess dance that is addictive. You're bobbing and weaving, you're dancing, you auto run to a cover, cancel the animation, do a roll behind the cover. You plink at the enemies, but that barely brings them down. They are flanking you, and flanks are so scary when it takes 2 mags to kill them. The division's gunplay is truly a game, not an interactive movie. And I have learned to forgive the sponge and appreciate the sponge, and embrace the sponge. The game was made for the sponge, in the best way. PS: not to shit on "interactive movie" types of gunplay at all. I am a huge fan of Max Payne 3. Don't get me wrong at all. I'm only just trying to show love and appreciation to what both divisions were trying to do gunplay wise, and found both to have very enjoyable gunplay.

[@laughter4380]

The potential of this game breaks my heart because when announced I was all in on this game during its release and was amazed with the survival add on and seamless dark zones

[@monterxz]

First I've played the second one and then I played the original during covid for the first time. Imagine playing the game, then taking a break to go out for a smoke, and seeing empty streets covered in snow with no footprints at all, but it's in real life - it was atmospheric. I haven't replayed it since because I know I won't get the same feelings again.

[@xBLUExSUMMERSx]

Dark zone in the first division is still one of the coolest experiences I’ve had in a game. The standoffs at the extracts were intense at times

[@brandonpotts54]

Wonderful game. I have one and two. The feeling of moving through the snow-covered city is amazing. Gun play gets better as you start pick up better gear.

[@ichigosson]

The people that complained about the visual downgrade are insanely whiny it was a slightly noticeable difference, still one of the best looking games to come out that year

[@TheCouch-Co-Op]

Agreed

[@R0xXx78]

This is still my favorite game to play every winter, and there is nothing better in a summer evening to play the Division 2 ❤

[@Byzkit]

I started playing this game slightly after is released, buddy of mine got me into it. I was fully immersed in it, to say the least. I skipped all of the cut scenes, I'm not big on all of the talking and just want to play the game. Glad I did because I didn't miss a thing from all of their senseless yapping. Loved playing the missions, especially when the incursions came out. Even when the game was completely broken, we all stuck around and made the best of it. A lot of us would love if Ubisoft would come back to the game, or just at least give us a GE so farming for gear wouldn't be such a chore. Div2 didn't have the same immersiveness that Div1 had, no matter how hard we tried to get into it. Thanks for making a great video for a game that I've loved playing and will continue to play until they completely just let it go

[@hunterking6033]

If I could've convinced my friends to stick around, I'd have never stopped playing either game. The atmosphere of the first game was perfect. I don't think I've ever been so immersed in a setting. The game feels best when you're maxed out going through low level areas where a headshot is a one shot. If it was geared in more of a tactical skooter direction, I'd have been an addict.

[@hunterparke9059]

I was one of those who pre-ordered the deluxe edition when it became available for this game- I was a lot younger back then but I that landscape still sticks in my mind til this day. That was one of the few games I even bothered to complete after the og halo series wrapped up and I even played it into the end game which is rare for me. The game was something special, definetly not for everyone and definitely flawed in a few ways, but for me it was perfect. Bullet sponges and all. The dark zone was always a thrill and so too were the end game missions with strangers who always had voice chat on, which was rare for these sorts of games at that time. Streamers like LikeButter were all I watched in school when I had nothing else to do because this game just gripped me like nothing has since. I recently picked up the second installment in the game series and it captures a lot of the same energy in an area I’m much more familiar with, adding to the eeriness of the setting even more for me. Thank you for releasing/producing this video and sending me back to the memory of this game, it was one hell of a ride.

[@aghostyboi3075]

The gunplay of wildlands with the atmosphere of the division would be epic.

[@shoto42]

The Division series is a gem in my eyes, I remember playing the first one back in 2019 with my bud and just being amazed at the environment and just walking around enjoying the vibe that you were describing. Even though I didn’t make it far into the first games, I grinded the hell out of D2 with the bud from before and we loved the game so much, it brought on a lot of the greatest inside jokes that are still talked about to this day. D2 definitely did a lot of things better than D1 but the vibe of D1 is just better than D2. I hope they actually make a proper D3.

[@TheCouch-Co-Op]

I think they will!

[@Razalkarp]

When the pandemic happened in real life, I kept thinking about this game. I was like, "When it gets to the Division levels, then I'll worry if I'm not in one of the many body bags lining the streets." First game I ever felt like actually grinding. I even bought TD2...

[@jonathankozenko]

Honestly I play this game every December, but I only do the Campaign, and I fear that one day the servers will shut down and there will be no patch to allow me to play it fully offline. On that note, between the Empty New York setting, the thick Christmas decor, the silent ambiance and the AMAZING snowfall particle animation, this game could make a perfect Blueprint for a Parasite Eve remake!

[@jonascoeman]

Long forgotten to me are the hours of game time I sinked into this game. But four maxed out characters should indicate something. Logging on with the lads and running DZ rogue for evenings on end, or going for an easy sunday morning noob tease. Learning and grinding incursions for the latest maxed out meta gear. Just so we could be annoying in the DZ again, and again, and again... Survival resulting in the most thrilling gameplay I've ever experienced. Running out of meds, your heart beating out of your chest while your teammate succeeds in the last second to bring you back around and extract. And as you mention multiple times, the atmosphere drenching this game in moody and gritty scenery. I've not gotten to play any game more compelling and entertaining than this one. But flavor is a personal thing as they say. Damn good memories is what still remain. So thank you for this reminder. It got me in the feels❤

[@SemiStableM]

Great video about The Division. This is exactly how I feel about it. Love those environments!

[@mrchiledonut]

The music, the setting/atmosphere, and solid third-person gameplay, as well as collectibles that I enjoyed collecting, all make The Division one of my favorite games. Two took some time to get into, but after a few patches (like neutral lighting, FOV slider, etc.) and doing the black tusk missions, I got into two just as much as the first. My biggest gripe with them is how repetitive some of it can get as you 100 percent the map. It's typical of these types of games, but I don't enjoy doing some of those objectives as much as other things, like main missions or just exploring. Still, the first game is a great late fall-to-winter game to go back to, and the second is a great late spring-to-summer game. I like just walking through the streets in the game taking in the ambiance, often evading combat. I still think they look great, but ray-traced reflections would be nice in these games.

[@sjspiegel5552]

I've played The Division from day one. Loved it from the start. The good and the bad, I took it all because the world felt real to me. Spent 1500 hours in it. I did the same for the sequel, same amount of time. It has better gameplay overall, but storywise and especially on the world building side, there's not much to compare. The first one had something magical. I keep hoping for the 3rd one, but knowing Ubisoft, I doubt that franchise will ever manage to reach its full potential. Which is a bit sad, in my opinion.

[@Ozgur72]

Still playing the end game with friends.

[@TheCouch-Co-Op]

That's so real.

[@ghost2934t]

I think it's a wonderful franchise that has so much potential. There are a lot of things we didn't do in the first game that we could think about. I think there's a lot to do beyond just keeping The Division online. But I can't talk too much about it now. However, the company does not intend to abandon fans of the first part any time soon: the servers will not be removed. in 2024 the game is also still pretty I think that if Ubisoft decides to release one last big update with a DLC the game can be even more realistic

[@sonicmayhym]

the dark zone intensity was some of my all time gaming memories. We are talking about all out server battles and hour plus manhunts above ground and below..thru contamination events.just absolute carnage and the proximity chat toxicity was absolutely unsettling. Never be another game like it..div 2 became a different thing and did not capture things like the first game did..and survival was a true experience and still is...

[@sixmonthgaze135]

Can’t wait to see your take on the division franchise as they’re some of my favorite games flaws and all (except uni is making it hard with the seasons model) And your thoughts of when you finally get into the 2nd game

[@TheCouch-Co-Op]

I'd love to pick up the 2nd game. Hopefully The Division 3 turns out to be good.

[@Jorrathebest]

Last Man Battalion - security you can count on!

[@TheCouch-Co-Op]

Those guys were sus

[@ThatKidCj23]

I’m glad I got too play it when it was thriving. I’ll never forget my first time in the dark zone. Super fun game.

[@pimprowdy1]

Ubisoft be putting out some great titles and just letting them die.

[@dex_ii]

I’ve been playing the division again for a couple months. The final state of the game is amazing imo and the atmosphere is unmatched. It’s really one of a kind.

[@TheCouch-Co-Op]

Agreed

[@iwishihadgoodinternet7766]

I was totally addicted to this on ps4 way back.

[@TheCouch-Co-Op]

It was a great time.

[@Ghost_Text]

I couldnt put my finger on it, but yeah. Ubi dialogue seems to overemphasize what the objective is rather than have a character naturally react to their environment and let the visuals do part of the talking. Nothing wrong with having a formula in design its just they seem to lay their formula bare and obvious.

[@TheCouch-Co-Op]

In the biz it's called "window dressing," or overacting. They just gotta let it breathe a little bit.

[@hanzplezable7991]

Remember when I bought the second episode as my introduction to the series? Money spent well. Ton of fun for 10€, beautiful music, stunning graphics

[@TheCouch-Co-Op]

real

[@AyooTheoo]

I still think about this game from time to time. It was absolutely a blast to play on release and months after. I believe update after update is what killed the game. Going into the dark zone with a squad was a blast just looting or taking down rogues. Even becoming a rogue and see how long you could last. Man it was a great game.

[@EQOAnostalgia]

I still play from time to time. Mostly to just run a few Survival matches in PvE and soak up that amazing atmosphere. It's old enough now to be one of my nostalgic havens lol. I remember getting my hands on the demo, thinking it was solid but ended up waiting like 4 months to buy. It was rough going for a while but the DLC was amazing, and the piers update was incredible, and then they dropped it like it was hot for 2. Not the same atmosphere, i like 2 but dang, i really miss the unique feels of NYC in the snow with that post apocalyptic Christmas vibe lol.

[@OrkhanMammadoff]

The best game to play during New Year holidays :)This is the game i play every year starting in November in completing in January)) The atmosphere is one the best in this game.

[@michi4741]

started it on monday again after a long pause, sooo nostalgia

[@vphxl6020]

Beautiful video, especially how you describe the atmosphere and environment. Great job!

[@TheCouch-Co-Op]

Thank you! My favorite parts of the game.

[@Richardino117]

I still play the game and is not dead!!!! Ubisoft recently updated the game and division 2 is getting more and more content

[@mattyeye8176]

The dark Zone was amazing. First of its kind. I dont think the bugs and hackers ruined it at all. The uneasy environment. Going Manhunt with your squad and running/fighting 16 other players all while having proximity chat. It was amazing. Division 2 dropped the ball on this. The dark zone in Div2 was just a let down in comparison. The Div1 DZ for anyone who actually played it for what it is. A PvPvE zone. Enjoyed it as far as I know. Some of my favorite game interactions happened in the DZ. It really let people just be who they wanted. The sneaky solo, a helpful rogue to others, a rogue agent, etc. It really let you actually be your character the way you wanted to be IMO.

[@scotthodgins7975]

I feel that you miss the one thing that makes Div1 and 2 stand out above 90% of the games out there. The Story. In Div 1 not only are you trying to rebuild New York to a livable level, but you are also trying to find out what happened, who dunnit, and can it be stopped. In Div 2 the story is what holds the game together. All the comms, the holo's, the items tell a kind of soap opera of peoples lives. THAT is what attracted me to the entire series. The visuals and the game play were great, but i need something more than pretty pictures and big booms/pew pews to keep me coming back and that is where Tom Clancy's storyline idea hits in spades.

[@s6za755]

Division one by far the best division Game

[@TheCouch-Co-Op]

Yessir!

[@Ohiostategenerationx]

I miss playing it. I had a badass defence build with the full bullwark shield and apartment gun.

[@1124spawn]

Great Vid G! hope the algo takes this one also

[@TheCouch-Co-Op]

Me too

[@jwaximus1113]

People on the outside don’t know that this game and its sequel has a true loving dedicated fan base who all know the ins and outs of how both games work. I used to not enjoy the games because I never understood how it worked. There’s builds and components that all play a part. It’s not as easy as oh this gear looks nice

[@derekroberts4526]

April the year of release also had HUGE issues with hackers in the dark zone and that killed it off even more

[@matthew4031]

Nothing ever came close to the atmosphere this game provided. I might miss this game the most.

[@jack727dave5]

The world of the Division was hands down the best one I’ve even experienced. Between small stuff like the recordings of daily life as everything fell apart to the factions which due to their motivations I could never truly bring myself to fully hate.

[@TheCouch-Co-Op]

Pretty much

[@plumconch836]

Div 1 was amazing for its time, and whiles its still so unique, unfortunately its not aged well. If you moved on to Div 2 its game mechanics and general character movement and realism is far better. The atmosphere in Div 2 is good, but doesn't compete with Div 1. Im a day 1 player of both and still main Div 2, Ive been back and played Div 1 from time to time but its best left as nostalgia.

[@TheCouch-Co-Op]

Pretty much.

[@Chris-pw5ce]

Yes, we all know the problems with Div1 and Div2. They're still good games to play to this day. I'm hoping Div3 will shock us all in a good way that will redeem Ubisoft.

[@bradey1679]

Over 2300 hours on Xbox and I just passed 1000 on PC. There has never been a game like the division. There will never be another game like the division (in my eyes anyway)

[@dmalak4509]

Absolutely agree with what you said and I started with the second game first. A buddy of mine at the end of 2019 asked me if I really like D2. I said yes and he then stated I would probably like the 1st one. He gifted the deluxe/gold edition and ever since December 28 of 2019, I’ve been a D1 fan. It’s immensely better than the sequel and truly a great game.

[@TheCouch-Co-Op]

Real

[@ice559]

I know the division is dead but sill I play it to this day I don’t know how many game hours I have but I have been playing this game scene 2018 (I think) but I have been playing this game for a few years now and I sill find it fun I just wish they would add small updates like first person,remastered gun sounds,remastered reloads and a lot more idc if they game is dead but it will always be my favorite and I sill play it till this day (I play on PS4)

[@TheCouch-Co-Op]

I agree

[@d.dge.]

Hearing gregor outside of his main channel was a shock

[@TheCouch-Co-Op]

not gregor

[@zukeirl]

@@TheCouch-Co-Opyou’re lying people keep calling you G and you respond this is a LIE

[@FictionCautious]

Give Ubisoft a brilliant idea and it will bury it the quickest. Ubisoft apparently doesn't like developing games, quite the opposite. Gameplay-development-wise, they seem to still live in 1998(PS1). Loved the environment and the atmosphere. Looks like the environment guys worked overtime to compensate for the lack of game-design.

[@MKPwrz]

One of the greatest environmental storytelling games ever made. Nails the atmosphere falls short in the gameplay but personally I still enjoyed it. As a rpg player i didnt feel the disconnect with the bullet sponginess, i stab a guy 100 times or i have shoot him with 200bullets it felt the same to me but i totally understood it especially it being a Tom Clancy IP

[@Casomyro1983]

One OF my 'I wish I could forget this game just to play it one more time totally unknown'

[@a..m9459]

I remember the first time I went to the dark zone I was scared to death like I was really there , the atmosphere in this game was something else . it's truly one of a kind

[@TheCouch-Co-Op]

The Dark Zone is so well done.

[@Echolaliaxu]

It hurts to see you not referring to Hunt: Showdown when you're talking about extraction shooters. Best one in the market by a mile, conveys its "western soulslike" world through item and hunter descriptions and its design of the map, has the best sound design I've ever experienced in any shooter. It is also getting an incredible update akin to a second installment that will change everything at least a little bit on the 15th of August, which is how they're implementing the things they could not due to low budget beforehand. That's where I will conclude today's Hunt propaganda, great video btw!

[@TheCouch-Co-Op]

Wouldn't be a bad idea to try a hunt showdown video!

[@dabush6380]

Played all of Division, never touched Division 2. The world really made the game, the "HC" survival was by far the best time.

[@Chaosbecomesus]

Although I will give it to you you made me laugh a few times which makes me think that this channel is probably pretty good and you got a new subscriber now lol

[@archie5780]

I loved this game so much. I played the hell out of Division 1 and 2. Shame they just left it and didnt work on it some more.

[@dpoultski2499]

I just started playing this. Purchased it a long time ago.

[@Noneoftheabove783]

Ubisoft drove this series to the ground with constant bugs, nerfs and lack of a solid endgame in the beginning. Great concept, truly awful developers

[@elusive_mg_gaming]

Lack of Endgame ? You have no idea obviously

[@TheCouch-Co-Op]

Real

[@Leostunzz]

This is still my favorite game of all time

[@zain1smith]

I played it with my buddies years ago who are now are busy with their daily lives. Good memory

[@TheCouch-Co-Op]

Great memories to have.

[@WarDaddey]

It's really sad that such an atmospheric and ingenious game like the division has been forgotten btw do people still play the survival mode ?

[@ryanbesco8067]

Survival Mode in The Division 1 is the most underrated thing in gaming. It is the best version of BRs.

[@ozstriker4075]

The single player style of gameplay here reminds me a little of Freedom Fighters on OGXB/PS2 which I loved. Is this still worth picking up in 2024 to play on ps4/ps5?

[@cedric1808]

Subscribed. I restared a playthrough recently and.... yes, all of it

[@gavancorrigan8813]

I came to Division very late and that made the DZ a total no-go zone. I was a loot farmer for the bigger boys