GHOST RECON: WILDLANDS
We are the Ghosts. The ones who can’t be seen… Who can’t be heard… Who can’t possibly exist. Yet somehow, still manage to haunt your dreams.
To sum up this entire review in a single sentence, Ghost Recon: Wildlands is exactly what The Division should have been. Everything from the vastly improved and far more realistic gameplay to the huge open world map feels somewhat similar to games that have come before it, but somehow…better.
Wildlands takes place in Bolivia, home of the Santa Blanca Drug Cartel. You play as Nomad, leader of a squad of highly trained and completely unnecessary team mates, who are great for blind-firing at enemies, but not much else. Your objective: Take down Santa Blanca one piece at a time.
I’ll admit, it’s not the strongest plot in the world, nor is it the most complex. But to be honest, a game like this doesn’t need a complex plot. Why would it? It’s straight forward and that means you always know what you’re doing at any given point in the game. While there are a few side-quest like things, nearly all the missions in the game strive towards the same goal, and that’s a nice change in gaming. While in some games it’s nice to get lost in the game’s world and just enjoy yourself for a bit, Wildlands lets you do that while still contributing to the story.
Speaking of getting lost, we come to the game’s map. It’s huge. The only game that I’ve come across with a similar sized map is Just Cause 3. But having a big map is just one part of the puzzle. Luckily, Wildlands’ map is diverse to no end. Each area/district often feels very different to the last one, and the inclusion of dense jungles, snow-capped mountains and expansive salt flats makes the map feel real.
Wildlands' map feels vast even when you're on foot...
A changing environment often adds to the gameplay to, as it forces you to take different approaches to missions. Sometimes you’ll have a jungle to cover your approach. Sometimes, you’ll have to scale a mountain to reach your objective. The map plays a huge part in making the missions feel less same-y, and that will always be a good thing.
Customisation, while not the most in-depth ever, if fairly good. Instead of being a solely loot-based game like The Division, Wildlands gives you the bulk of the available clothes when yous start the game. This means you won’t always be going round looking for a new jacket or pair of trousers, and instead can make your character look like you want them to from the off.
The game’s main point of customisation comes in the weaponry section. This is where The Division’s loot system makes a slight appearance. While you will unlock certain guns for completing missions, the bulk of the weapons and attachments are found by exploring the map. Don’t worry though, it’s not random, and the selection to choose from is vast.
All in all, Ghost Recon: Wildlands is a fun experience. Whether you’re playing solo or in co-op with a squad of your own, you’ll no doubt have fun, both exploring the vast and diverse map or playing the main campaign. The game’s mix of stealth, tactics and open-world freedom works wonders when the game does what you want it to, and often makes you feel unstoppable as you pick off one enemy after another without being seen. While the story is strong enough for a fairly long campaign, the ending could do with some improving and I feel like post-ending the game will have unfortunately limited re-playability. It’s far from a perfect game, but it’s a lot better than The Division and it definitely lives up to the hopes promised by the E3 reveal. I, for one, would highly recommend it.
