The Mystery of The Division
Only time will tell if Ubisoft’s marketing of The Division will turn out to be another way of tricking people into buying something they don’t know about. Ever since this once-exciting title was announced, the lack of specific information and proper gameplay mechanics passed from teasing curiosity to being plainly annoying.
Would someone really risk pre-ordering a game like this? The game looks slightly interesting and the posthuomous Tom Clancy’s reputation is a very powerful addition. Nevertheless, Ubisoft is no longer worth of trust. The fact is that nobody knows what The Division is exactly. It could be somewhere between DayZ and Destiny, and we’d be fooled until the very last day.
Moreover, the game’s genre and gameplay style aren’t the only things unknown here. As it is, the odds that it will be broken at the time of release are so high it’s scary. If the general recommendation is to wait until professional reviews have been issued for every Ubisoft game, it’s even more important for The Division. A situation as sad as possible for a title that could possibly be a game-changer.
The Next Far Cry Game
Besides more artistic releases such as Child of Light and Valiant Hearts, Ubisoft’s best game during 2014 was Far Cry 4. Its mix of great visuals with an already proven gameplay, added to the mess the other games turned out to be, made this Himalayan adventure stand out. Was it really good though?
Far Cry 4 is a lot of fun. It’s a game made up with the unfailable elements gaming industry has taken advantage of for decades: shooting, exploration, missions, great graphics. Yet even though it hurts many fans it must be said: it’s another Far Cry 3. There are so many similarities that making comparisons isn’t even worth the effort.
What should be expected from this series then? Ubisoft has given some select fans a few options concerning themes and settings; some of which are actually cool. Twinfinite even thought about other great options. The Far Cry series is a lot about setting and atmosphere (as Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon’s success clearly proved), however, it’s not enough.
After a while, Far Cry games need new mechanics and features. Even if they end up working in a similar way, there has to be a change. Everlasting repetition is bound to get fans bored. It won’t matter how much neon lighting or fictional elements are added, the result will be a monotonous and forgettable series.
Assassin’s Creed vs the World
There was a time in which Assassin’s Creed games were great and innovative. In addition to being fun, they had a somewhat interesting story and very amazing mechanics. Somewhere along the road, Ubisoft lost its way and things got messed up.
The important thing nowadays is how Assassin’s Creed is a synonym for a series of disconnected and lately broken games. Many times the story was left aside, and game mechanics were repeated time after time until they became routine. There’s no denying that there are some exceptions to the rule, such as Black Flag; nonetheless, the Assassin’s Creed series seems to be going nowhere and really fast. Unity’s incredibly broken release really damaged the series credibility as well as weakened its fans’ patience.
Assassin’s Creed has become one of Ubisoft’s war horses, and instead of taking it easy and making the most out of each delivery titles have been piled up as fast as possible. Just like with fast food, people eventually get tired of things that taste all the same.
Watch Dogs Two?
Good old innocent Watch Dogs was Ubisoft’s decent attempt at a new type of game. Well, sort of. The open world formula and the hacking mechanics promised weren’t as good as they turned out to be. Additionally, there was that whole graphics downgrade issue that infuriated the whole gaming community.
Yet, the thing that harmed this game the most was the way in which Ubisoft attempted to compare it to GTA V. What better way to show flaws (especially in a whole new IP) than putting it against an already established and successful series? This was even worse when players figured out how many bugs and problems Watch Dogs actually had.
Watch Dogs is supposed to become a franchise on its own and it definitely has the potential to succeed. The Bad Blood DLC is a clear proof of how Ubisoft can improve Watch Dogs. Currently, the only way the next Watch Dogs will become a success is if Ubisoft isn’t… well, Ubisoft. A decent sequel needs, at least,  a good story, fewer bugs and an evolution of the gameplay mechanics.
Ubisoft Montreal’s Little Jewels
As mentioned before, Ubisoft’s most cherished games during 2014 were their most artistic and indie efforts: Child of Light and Valiant Hearts. Two titles that, despite feeling a bit experimental, were real jewels. They had stories, they had soul, and most of all they worked exactly the way they were supposed to.
It’s pretty obvious that Ubisoft Montreal should keep these kinds of games coming. Not only because it helps to save the company’s reputation, but also because it’s a true addition to the industry. The whole conception of these games seems to go in an exact opposite direction when compared to the rest of Ubisoft’s portfolio. Eventually, someone should notice that’s the way to go.
You don’t need to be a genius to know that when it comes to income indie titles have nothing to say next to the bigger releases. If Ubisoft keeps letting their customers down, however, these will be the only games that actually sell. Not a very lucrative future, that’s for sure.
