Tom Clancy's The Division™ Beta | First Look Review

(see video link below)

Here is a first peak at the highly anticipated Tom Clancy's The Division™ which is set to be released on March 8, 2016.

It is reported that some 6.4 million people played the beta. That's an incredible turnout and it shows how much excitement there is surrounding the arrival of this game.

When first announced, The Division™ generated a lot of buzz with claims that it was a true "next-gen" masterpiece. While I enjoyed playing it, I did not get the feeling that I was playing something that was quite so noteworthy. The graphics are very well done and the gameplay is quite smooth but it seems that I just didn't encounter those elements which were supposed to make this release the darling of next-generation gaming.

Perhaps I have been spoiled by recent games which have implemented the kind of stunning visuals seen in offerings such as Star Wars™ Battlefront™ which, at times, seem to immerse the player in a photograph or high definition movie. Even the aging Battlefield 4, in my humble opinion, offers a much more engaging and immersive experience than was offered by The Division's beta demonstration.

Take a first look at The Division™ by clicking on the frame above.

To be fair, it is important to remember that the beta is not the final version of the game. There may be elements that I have not yet seen or experienced. Other reviewers speak of the game being vastly more satisfying when played with friends. I stuck with the single-player mission and did not venture into the Dark Zone where, quite possibly, everyone was having all of the fun.

Although I very much enjoyed the beta and will likely get a kick out of the game when it is officially released, I was not enthralled enough to pre-order the game. There are so many great games to play and so very little time to play them. This one can wait until the full game is released and there's a chance to see some reviews and gameplay videos produced by other gamers.

In full disclosure, many people who are excited about this game also continue to rave about Destiny™. While that game, too, looked visually stunning and had smooth gameplay and wonderful mechanics, it always felt like I was playing a game that wasn't quite done yet. It seemed like something was missing and the story, itself, just kind of disappeared after only a few levels. I was never quite sure what to make of that game either.

Enjoy a round of Destiny™ by clicking on the frame above.

If The Division™ proves to be a lot like a version of Destiny™ set in the "almost real" world then I can see why playing with others might greatly enhance the game. The most fun I had playing Destiny™ was when playing with a friend. When venturing alone, I usually ended up deciding that my limited time for gaming was best spent playing something else.

I hope that this review will prove useful to people interested in knowing more about Tom Clancy's The Division™. I also hope that my comments do not upset anyone or otherwise rain on any parades. My opinions are just opinions and should never be confused with facts. I could be completely wrong and this may be the best game I'll play this year. Let me know what you think in the comment section below.

Here's to another great year!

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Pilchuck
of Skookum Valley Gaming

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Star Wars™ Battlefront™ Skywalker Hero | Graveyard of Giants

(see below for video link)

Are you curious to know what it's like to be Luke Skywalker? Have you ever wanted to fight amidst the wreckage of Imperial Starships and AT-AT Walkers on the surface of the debris strewn deserts of Jakku? Then sit back and enjoy this three and a half minute uncut hero run from the widely popular Star Wars™ Battlefront™.

The "Graveyard of Giants" map on which this video was captured represents the setting of the Battle of Jakku. This infamous battle was reported to have occurred one year and four days after the Battle of Endor and was waged between the forces of the New Republic and the Galactic Empire.

Enjoy a round of Star Wars™ Battlefront™ by clicking on the frame above.

Although the Rebels were victorious, Luke Skywalker payed the ultimate price and was killed by debris which fell from a destroyed AT-AT at the bitter end of the battle. Wait! What?! This must be footage from one of those J.J. Abrams alternate universes! It's just a game. It doesn't have to make sense. :-)

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Thanks for visiting and keep coming back!

Stay Skookum!
Pilchuck
of Skookum Valley Gaming

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Star Wars™ Battlefront™ Drop Zone - Ice Caves - Full Uncut Match!

(see below for video link)

Please enjoy this fully unedited and uncut match of Drop Zone on the Star Wars™ Battlefront™ Ice Caves map!

Drop Zone has probably been my favorite game mode on Battlefront. It is almost certainly the one that I have played most often. For me, this mode brings out the most intense close-up and in-your-face action! I get my highest scores and greatest win ratios on Drop Zone.

Next to Drop Zone, I'd have to pick Walker Assault for those times when I feel like playing on a large map with full sized teams and access to powerful vehicles. I'll be posting some Walker Assault gameplay in upcoming videos.

This video was posted so that others may get a chance to take a closer look at Star Wars™ Battlefront™ on the PlayStation 4.

It should be noted that while these games are played at full 1080p on the PS4, the built in SHAREfactory tool only records games at 720p. YouTube will further compress the video to increase streaming efficiency. All of this tends to degrade the visual experience.

Even though the compressed 720p image stream is still very good on small screens, it simply does not do justice to the visual quality of this game when viewed on larger, full HD screens.

When played on an UltraHD 4K television, this game is truly stunning (the PS4's 1080p gets upscaled on my Samsung TV). EA and Lucas Arts truly worked their endless magic into this release. It has been one of the most enjoyable games I've ever played on a console!

Something to notice is the accumulation of snow and ice that build up on my Shadow Trooper's black uniform. It starts clean on each respawn but gradually builds up a snow pack in a fashion that depends upon what is happening in the game. If the player stays alive long enough, the snow and ice will slowly melt away. This is an example of the awesome attention to detail provided by the developers. Gotta love it!

So, if you are curious as to what a full match of Drop Zone is like then sit back and enjoy the next 10 minutes of gameplay.

Enjoy a round of Star Wars™ Battlefront™ by clicking on the frame above.

I am especially fond of the firefight which takes place from about 0:50 to 1:05. Watch my character slide down the backside of a glacier and still take out the enemy!

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Thanks for visiting and keep coming back!

Stay Skookum!
Pilchuck
of Skookum Valley Gaming

► YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/c/SkookumValleyGamingTube
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