The Division 2: Battle for Brooklyn Review – No Sleep Till Brooklyn

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In 2016, I last assessed downloadable content for the Tom Clancy’s The Division series, specifically Underground. Frankly, it was a challenging period – the end-game fell short of expectations, enemy dominance was too overwhelming, the Dark Zone was problematic, and so on. At $15, Underground wasn’t even a temporary solution for fresh content; instead, it introduced an activity that wasn’t rewarding and subsequently adjusted the G36C, my favorite weapon, due to its overperformance.

Approximately nine years have passed since we encountered “The Division 2” and “Battle for Brooklyn“. This is the first paid DLC following the release of “Warlords of New York” in 2023, which garnered a mix of reactions, slightly leaning towards the negative from fans. With numerous betrayals, unexpected turns in the plot, secretive conspiracies, and new modes such as Countdown and The Summit under our belts, I find myself returning to where it all started. The sense of nostalgia isn’t quite complete without standing in line behind other Agents, but storming the police station, accompanied by that familiar music, stirred up some old memories.

The goals and tasks remain largely unchanged, with only four fresh Control Points added. While the initial three didn’t offer anything particularly novel, the third one introduced an intriguing element – a rocket launcher turret operated by a generator that needs to be taken out.

For seasoned fans, the remainder of this journey will likely feel quite recognizable. If you’re aware of what awaits and enjoy the exciting moments it offers, then you’ll find it acceptable. However, if you’re hoping for a completely fresh and groundbreaking experience, it might be wise to adjust your expectations slightly.

The adventure in the DLC initiates when a distress signal emanates from Brooklyn, where you engage the Cleaners in combat to save Dr. Jessica Kandel, who reappears from the previous installment. As events unfold, it becomes clear that this organization has nefarious intentions, specifically involving a novel form of damage known as Purple Flame. Along the way, you encounter and attempt to rescue several other characters, reunite with Theo Parnell, follow orders from irate Melanie Hoskins, and clash not only with the Rykers but also the Black Tusk, who are pursuing their own malevolent agenda.

In certain conversations and scenes, the dialogue feels inconsistent, and it seems the facial expressions for Mel and Theo are not always convincing, making things less intense. Despite being a powerful character who never stops fighting, the developers at Massive Entertainment clearly work to create dramatic moments. I must admit that the Refinery mission, which ends in a shocking ambush on The Bridge during the DLC, is thrilling. While it doesn’t result in long-term repercussions, it’s an exciting sequence of events.

In this new installment, you’ll find fewer fresh story missions compared to previous ones, but don’t let that fool you; despite the limited size of Brooklyn as a whole, with its newly introduced locations, it remains an intriguing place to explore, filled with containers to ransack for Electronics, Water, and various trinkets which can be traded for all sorts of things.

Even though The Division 2 is over six years old, Massive continues to impress with some of the most visually stunning post-viral outbreak settings. From extensive graffiti and dilapidated structures to intricate details like deer and stray dogs wandering the streets, piles of trash bags, and numerous bodies, the level of detail is truly captivating.

Beyond the eco-narrative and storytelling, interacting with the talk logs (although not all are particularly memorable), participating in side activities such as combating patrols, disrupting propaganda broadcasts, or confronting Elite Enemy Territories, continues to be delightful, as it was originally. However, there’s not much novelty when it comes to objectives or tasks. The four new Control Points are decent, but the promised innovative features were not immediately apparent until the third one, which featured a rocket launcher turret powered by a generator that needed to be destroyed – a mechanic that also appears in certain story missions.

For quite some time now, it’s been well-known that the PC version of The Division 2 has encountered frequent crashes. Even though it appeared more stable during my last play session, these issues resurfaced and became intolerable again, with the game crashing anywhere from five to ten minutes after startup to as long as half an hour into gameplay.

In a nutshell, the Cleaner battles, despite the addition of seasonal and hostile modifiers, can seem repetitive, yet they continue to deliver that satisfying shooting experience. The Purple Flame, a mechanic we’ve seen before, is now more prevalent among enemies. It’s an interesting feature as it gradually depletes your maximum armor unless you use an armor repair kit. This isn’t a groundbreaking change, which seems to be Massive’s intention, whether positively or negatively viewed. Essentially, it’s just another layer of complexity that might not matter much on easier settings, and even on harder difficulties, its impact is relatively minimal.

The same recurring theme influences the primary storyline, but fortunately not every mission follows suit. For instance, discovering four pressure valves within a time constraint at the Refinery might seem repetitive, but the fight against the boss and numerous adversaries amidst dense smoke adds to the ambiance. The pursuit of the Rat Queen and ensuing combat are quite intense, while the final mission delivers an impressively grand finale. Despite the shocking “revelations,” I find myself indifferent, yet they contribute to the ongoing narrative. Overall, the storyline seems more like a temporary solution than a significant advancement.

In the latest update of Battle for Brooklyn, there’s fresh equipment to pursue! One set is the Measured Assembly Gear Set that I previously avoided because I was playing alone. It seems like it would be beneficial for teams using Smart Cover, which has come back into play. However, it didn’t change my preference for the Crusader Shield and Attack Drone combo as a frontliner. The Imminence Armaments Brand Set, which enhances threat level and Pistol Damage, might match that strategy, although I didn’t collect enough items to fully test it out.

One issue that really stands out with the DLC and the update overall is the instability. It’s well-known that The Division 2 has had significant crashing problems on PC for quite some time now. Even though it appeared to be better during my last play session, the crashes returned at an intolerable level, happening anywhere from five to ten minutes after starting the game up to half an hour in. I’ve tried numerous fixes – checking game files, deleting the shader cache, activating Exploit Protection in Windows, disabling latency and enabling Nvidia’s Fast Sync, among other things. Despite these efforts, the issue improved temporarily but has since reoccurred frequently. This can be frustrating, especially given the mission length, even if you can restart at certain checkpoints. It’s important to note that this isn’t an option in the open world, so good luck!

As they say, you might always be able to revisit a place, but truly coming home is something that can’t be fully recaptured. Though Brooklyn may not hold the same charm for me as it does for others, I must admit it could have used a touch more magic to make my homecoming feel truly special.

Although I find “Battle for Brooklyn” rather safe in terms of its safety, it still provides a good deal of content considering its cost. It seems wise to stay true to what’s proven successful instead of experimenting with a new approach that might not succeed. The gameplay, aesthetics (with a few exceptions), and sound design all remain strong points. If you’re a fan seeking fresh content to play either solo or with others, along with the latest season, it certainly delivers.

Despite the advancements made by “The Division 2” through its seasons and free updates, I had hoped for a bit more from “Battle for Brooklyn”, not just in terms of additional story missions. It’s said that you can always revisit but never truly return home, and while I don’t hold Brooklyn in such high esteem, it could have offered a touch more to evoke the sense of a heartfelt homecoming. As it currently stands, this DLC is a strong offering, neither overstaying its welcome nor trying to be something it isn’t.

This game was reviewed on PC.

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2025-06-02 17:12