After several years of absence, the Ghost Recon series returns this March, undergoing a complete transformation. From a soldier of the future to a tangible reality, and from a linear concept to an open world.Ghost Recon: Wildlands“This follows pretty much the same path that every recent Ubisoft game has taken. While on the one hand you can look forward to many hours of gameplay, on the other hand you have to start questioning whether the fixation on this one genre isn't becoming problematic.”
In the Wildlands of Bolivia
It is set to be Ubisoft's biggest open-world game to date, set amidst the vastness of Bolivia in South America, where "Wonderful prospects for incredible diversity" You lead a team of four Ghosts, equipped with everything the US military has to offer. With your team, you must weaken the influence of the infamous Santa Blanca cartel, which has become a formidable power in the underworld and thus a threat to the entire world. As part of the elite special forces unit – the Ghosts – your mission is to breach enemy lines, sow chaos, and destabilize and break the alliance between the cartel and the corrupt government.
At an exclusive Ubisoft event this week, we had the opportunity to get a sneak peek at the upcoming BETA I tried out a preview version of "Ghost Recon: Wildlands." While the cinematic presentation certainly whetted my appetite for more, after about two hours of gameplay, I was left with rather mixed feelings. Of course, a preview version doesn't reveal what the final game will ultimately offer, but it still provides a good impression of the direction the game is heading.
Options upon options
The initial setup offered seemingly endless options; from creating your character, customizing everything from their outfit to facial scars, to the loadout, which was so vast it was easy to lose track, perhaps because a large portion was already unlocked. You were equipped with a primary and secondary weapon, melee weapons, grenades, drones, and everything else a gadget enthusiast could wish for. Regarding equipment, it's very clear that the developers have moved away from the high-tech toys of the predecessor and are now focusing on things that are already relevant to our times. However, a weapon isn't just a weapon; it's more like a LEGO set. In a later mission, something with real power was urgently needed, something like a grenade launcher, which, according to the developer standing nearby, could be assembled from a regular weapon. The only problem was that the developer himself had considerable difficulty quickly finding and assembling the urgently needed weapon parts in the menu – and this in a rather precarious situation. The sheer number of options was indeed a bit overwhelming. The developers were perhaps a little too eager in this regard. On the one hand, it's certainly gratifying that they wanted to offer so much. However, if it ultimately proves to be more of a hindrance, then they've clearly missed the mark.
You shall be four comrades
Ghost Recon: Wildlands was designed as a co-op shooter and is best played online with three friends, though AI opponents are also an option. We were able to play two missions, which were quite similar in content but differed significantly in difficulty. Before each session, players could create a custom loadout, study the mission briefing, and discuss their tactics. Naturally, various approaches are possible – from offensive to stealth – and players have a free choice, which should be coordinated with their teammates. Frequently checking the map proved quite useful tactically, for example, to determine the direction of an attack, which is almost always possible thanks to the open world.
Our mission began with locating an informant (without killing them), extracting information, and learning the next location of our target. Conveniently, the area can be scouted with a drone to pre-mark targets. Rogue snipers can also be eliminated before launching a surprise attack to wipe out the surrounding groups. It's not uncommon for additional cartel reinforcements to arrive, or even dangerous enemies to drop in from a helicopter. Targets and informants also attempt to escape or are killed by the cartel itself. Teamwork and strategy are crucial here, even if the right approach sometimes only comes after several failed attempts.
What wasn't quite as appealing in the version shown was the respawn system. If you fail to be healed by a teammate, you get a hefty 60-second cooldown, which seems far too long given the rapid-fire attacks. The respawn points are also often quite far from the main action, which can be circumvented with fast travel, but this also involves an additional loading time. Overall, the vast game world seems to be a slight obstacle to team play, and you end up spending a lot of time traveling back and forth.
There's really nothing new yet.
The upcoming beta, and even the version we were shown in advance, naturally only represent a small part of what "Ghost Recon: Wildlands" will ultimately offer. Nevertheless, we find it lacking in truly fresh and new ideas. Especially when compared to Ubisoft's own games, similar or even identical elements appear again and again. The mission design speaks for itself. This raises the question of whether the development team has become too routine or simply isn't willing to try anything new. The final version will tell!
"Ghost Recon: Wildlands" stands on its own with its concept, story, and presentation. The cinematic aspect is pleasing and maintains the high standard Ubisoft has come to expect. The strategic approach, team play, and extensive selection of options are also noteworthy, although the latter can quickly become overwhelming. The open-world concept, however, warrants some criticism, as it might be a hindrance given the core team-based gameplay. Often, players have to travel considerable distances to reunite, which somewhat diminishes the tension. Furthermore, the map is crammed with numerous side missions, which frequently tempts players to stray from their intended path and is, moreover, exactly what one has come to expect from other Ubisoft games. The preview version, in its initial impression, clearly lacked truly original ideas and left a feeling of déjà vu. So let's hope that "Ghost Recon: Wildlands" doesn't fall into the typical open-world trap in March and that a linear experience would ultimately have been the better choice.
Developer: Ubisoft Paris // Publisher: Ubisoft // Release: March 07, 2017 // Website: www.ghost-recon.ubisoft.com
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