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<\/p>\nThe Tom Clancy's series of games has been of mixed quality; over the years, there have been some installments I personally enjoyed and others I didn't. Wildlands was one of the most fun and satisfying games I've ever played, especially since I shared it with a friend in co-op.<\/p>\n
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Lots of action, freedom of approach, and fun gameplay; all the ingredients for a quality game. But now it's time to move on, and Ubisoft, which is developing the sequel to Wildlands, Breakpoint, knows this well. During E3 in Los Angeles, I had the opportunity to embark on a cooperative mission with four companions.<\/p>\n
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We won't focus on Breakpoint's premise or plot in this preview because that's not the point at all. Our group of four field operatives has other things to worry about. Our demo opens with Fury, Nomad, Fixit, and Vasily atop a hill, not far from a compound containing a hostage we must free. Before we set off, however, one of the game's developers, who accompanies us in the demo as team leader, introduces us to a new gameplay mechanic: the bivouac. Each time we decide to bivouac, we can manage different aspects of our character and significantly change our tactical approach to the next mission. There are three customization elements. The first is preparations, temporary buffs we can apply to our avatar based on how we want to approach the next challenge. Among the preparations we find the meal (+10% wound resistance), hydration (+20% fatigue resistance), tech review (+10% to our dronoe's range), stretching (+10% stamina), weapon review (+5% accuracy) and resources (+5% XP multiplier). We can select two preparations at a time and the buffs last about 30 minutes, so we'll have to make the most of these bonuses in the short time available.<\/p>\n
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During the bivouac, we can also change our character's tactics: assault, sharpshooter, and panther. The final game should also include a medic, but it wasn't included in this demo. Each character archetype has special powers that, if we're even slightly observant, we can use to our advantage. For example, we'll find a smoke grenade or a drone jammer, which is extremely useful for avoiding detection during a reckless raid. Weapons also change based on tactics, favoring a sniper rifle over a shotgun based on personal preference and the mission's needs. Finally, there's a crafting menu where we can create consumables such as bandages and syringes for healing. In Breakpoint, using a classic medic kit isn't enough to heal ourselves: we'll first need to use bandages to bind serious wounds (and regain an otherwise unavailable health slot) and then use a syringe to actually recover health. If our character is injured in battle, we'll absolutely have to disengage for a moment to heal, otherwise we'll see him limping noticeably and complaining of pain. This is a step towards realism, but it will need to be handled with caution throughout the game's campaign! Finally, once the party is ready, we can choose the time of day or night to begin the mission, again based on the situation and personal preference.<\/p>\n
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\nWe choose to attack the compound at dusk, taking advantage of the setting sun to be less visible but without having to resort to night vision goggles. The buildings are quite close to our position, but there's a relatively busy forest road between us and the objective. The team's goal is to go unnoticed, but given our general inexperience with the game, we quickly end up in a firefight with a couple of patrols. Nothing we can't handle, but obviously, we're off to a bad start! Having finally reached the mission area, after navigating the undergrowth, it's time for some reconnaissance. Each agent is equipped with a drone capable of reporting any enemies they recognize on the ground\u2014a familiar mechanic from Wildlands. We spot several soldiers on the ground, including some heavies and a couple with rocket launchers, as well as a couple of heavily armed four-wheeled drones. There are multiple access routes: we can enter through the main door, take a long detour around the compound, or cut the security fence with the help of one of our operatives. We choose the latter option and, after identifying a relatively safe area, enter the base. Our primary concern is eliminating soldiers in high places, and initially we manage to time our attacks to silently eliminate the major threats.<\/p>\n
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Unfortunately, as expected, one of us is spotted by the enemy and the general alarm goes off. A rather chaotic firefight ensues, with each enemy converging on our position, unleashing an impressive volume of fire. A couple of us fall to the ground but are promptly dragged back into the fray by our comrades. After a few tense minutes of frantic running behind cover and carrying a bag of lead, calm returns to the field. It seems there's no one dangerous left on the ground... except us, of course. With the threats eliminated, we can go and retrieve Madera, the woman held prisoner in the camp. We find her inside a modern and elegant building, where she's working against her will on military technology. We briefly discuss this with the woman and have the choice between destroying the base or fleeing: we choose the former and in no time, we plant three explosive charges in the three main laboratories. It's time to leave the area, but a new group of soldiers, armed with lethal machine gun drones, stands between us and freedom. Madera is injured, and one of us has to carry her to a nearby helicopter while the rest of the team clears out any obstacles. We manage to escape, completing the mission.<\/p>\n
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\nWe liked Ghost Recon Breakpoints. It's very similar to its predecessor, but with some changes that make the approach more tactical. Taking the time to analyze the objective, perhaps even before choosing your tactics at the bivouac, seems to be an effective strategy for approaching the game. Obviously, we've only seen a small portion of the title and can't assess the length of the campaign or the variety of weapons and powers available in the final game. Technically, the game didn't particularly wow us, but it's still undoubtedly beautiful to look at. Wildlands fans can rest assured, Breakpoint seems to be heading in the right direction to offer a great new installment.<\/p>\n