Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Breakpoint

Open beta, and I have played Ghost Recon 2, Advanced Warfighter 2, Future Soldier, and Wildlands as a frame of reference. Breakpoint outright betrayed the franchise.

Ubisoft does not have to make games that complies with a list of 'what the game is known for'.

New elements are either successful or not (and we could discuss that) but Ubisoft have every right to introduce RPG elements and online operation.

So if some members of the traditional Ghost Recon player base could pay attention to the game that is before them rather than whining about it not being a different game that they would have preferred, we would all be better off.

Ubisoft have recognized a disconnect between two parts of the player base and hopes to address that.

It has some mechanics that weren't successfully implemented, but at its core it remains an enjoyable game, it may just not be the game some players wanted. That doesn't make it a bad game, it does mean it has struggled to find its audience and the complaining has done little to incentivise potential new players to try it.

what's maddening too is that the 'MMO' mechanics and 'RPG' elements started with Wildlands. Heck even the MTXs aren't new for Ubi either. It's almost like gamers have been going around for years saying 'this is fine' and then all of a sudden changed their mind.

Anyways while the inventory looter shooter aspect is frustrating...which they are apparently taking steps to fixing... and the bugs are frustrating...this game is highly enjoyable. And I don't know whether I'm core fan enough for the likes of lunatic...but pretty much all I've played and purchased since MEA has been Ubisoft games. I like em. I like them introducing RPG elements towards them. I love how they handle MP, their OWs are the best I've played in the industry, and they've even shown me that online only games don't have to be a death sentence. If that's not core I don't know what it is...

No, I don't buy this argument.

All this talk of 'core fanbase' smacks of rank entitlement.

Ubisoft decides what games they make, then it's up to consumers to buy or not as they wish. Ubisoft has to gamble that it makes a good game of course.

There's a significant portion of gamers (within the significant portion who are unhappy) that are behaving like spoiled toddlers.

Incidentally, the multiplayer was arguably the most successful part of ME3, certainly financially, and still the finest co-op multiplayer I've ever played.

Back when I first watched a Lets Play of AC: Black Flag my initial reaction was 'looks great, but man I wish there was dialogue options to control what Kenway was saying'. Granted I was pretty new to the whole RPG thing...and quite enamored...but then Odyssey came out and I found out 'hey cool they are making an AC RPG'...I picked it up and had a blast. Stellar combat, great story, solid characters, limited grind , the RP was a bit lacking but not bad for a first attempt.

I have been wanting a modern day tactical shooter/ Spec Ops RPG almost since I first discovered the term and started playing them. There hasn't been...but given Breakpoint and Wildlands I hope that we will soon get a proper RPG set in the Ghost Recon verse with actual special forces and high stakes decisions. I picked up Wildlands on a lark and enjoyed the crap out of it. And Breakpoint...while they it has its new mechanics and twists on the formulae from Wildlands...and while it has its flaws (like all games) I see nothing radically different from Wildlands to justify the blowback.

As far as the Entitlement argument is concerned...everyone is entitled to their point of view...however every single game company, every single video game ever developped, is constantly battling between keeping their core audience...but also expanding their business...so they can make money. I feel genuine distress they went too far in a couple of ways for you, but I just do not agree. Its a slightly more RPGed up version of Wildlands, hopefully they fix the Tiered loot and it can really be the game that I know it can be.

As far as MP. I tend to agree with you, traditionally I don't like MP however as long as its optional...and cooperative...I don't see the issue inherently. GR:B, believe me, is just as functional as a SP experience as Wildlands was.

Long post time given everything I was up to. Lets see where to begin?

I think I began by hunting down Ian Blake. Of course had to track down the guy with the intelligence in the area. Up first was a port in Cape North, given that the ports of the gave have been some of my favorite areas, I was actually quite looking forward to it despite the location in Cape North. I was not dissapointed. Even though there was plenty of woodland leading right up to the port there was good sightlines still, I slowly aimed and cleared out one side with the Barret and then even though I usually would go after the survivors on foot I noticed the the hill I was on literally rounded the perimeter of the property, so I moseyed on to its flank which was a lot closer yet flanked many of them and gave me much better covering fire. I was able to wipe out most of the rest of the hostiles in the area before moving in. I got the intelligence which led me to yet another area.

This one was some of those Wiiiidddddeeee Oppeeennn Sppppacccess that I was hoping for. It was up in Silent Mountain and there was a bit of a facility that had an underground portion, but there was a helicopter pad on the top end. This was right on the edge it seems of what the game was able to render, when I went in with a drone it popped in but when I looked in my rifle scope, I couldn't see him, moseying about for a little bit I finally was able to get at him and he was able to render...568 meters away...one meter beyond my current record. I aligned my sights and fired, it took the guy in one shot killing him...the shot that sent me to level 10 in Sharpshooter was my longest shot ever. Which also gave me access to the Scorpion Scout...which Willy B over on Yotube claimed was the best sniper ever...as a DMR. It probably needs specific perks though because when I used it no two shots would even come close to having the same trajectory which is...very frustrating for a sniper. So I quickly abandoned it and moved in on foot to clear out the underground area.

Eventually I tracked down Ian to his base which was a fun little sprawling facility, more intel to see exactly where he was though and he was in this little two story building at one corner of the base. Which he called me by name and I was able to subdue him and get the biometric information I needed. Back to Christina I bumped into Maddux and we all mused on the nature of Transhumanism.

Afterwards I just focused on doing faction missions. I wanted to get the trophy done where you complete eight in a day. I did so. Though then I failed one because of the game doing complete and utter bull crap again. *ahem*.

Then this did lead to one of my new favorite conversations in the entire game. I got to talk to Rowan, the master of the PVP Ghost War Experience, about his military experience...which turned into a conversation about his. And some much beloved military factoids and things came out. Rowan was with the 10th Mountain Div (based in Colorado) and then you could tell him YOUR unit you were with before being with the Ghosts. And there was a lot of them actually but you could first of all answer him 'sorry secret squirell shit' which was hilarious, but my Nomad chose to answer Delta Force...which answers one of my headcanons...and then Nomad mentioned 'yeah I spent some time in The Unit', which does tend to apparently confirm that 'the Unit' is actually an unofficial nickname for Delta Force, and the name of the show loosely based on Delta Force. Just such a tickled pink conversation. I actually went back and replayed the whole thing so I could get video of it because the first time someone actually invited to play with them...

Which will probably be the last time I play with randos. No gurantees but we did not have any team cohesion he wasn't using comms so I couldn't and so we couldn't coordinate...and then he was doing a mission in a helicopter which made me die twice...so I left and he tried inviting me again! I mean maybe I shouldn't have just sat there in the gunner seat bored and helpless and just sniped on foot while he lobbed rockets in...but meh.

Went back to more faction missions which is pretty much where I left off.

So yeah my first spoilered comment but it is worth it...




Anyways the other thing on my mind is that all of these announcements has indicated I could be spending a great deal of time. With both announcements on them removing the tiered loot and them adding in Ai squad...well that probably deserves a PT each considering I would love to start this character over without having to deal with the tiered loot. And I want to deal with a female Nomad for her squad. Oh and it would be fun to consider considering I have been a Panther/ Sharpshooter with 'Foley' and wnat to give Field Medic a whirl it would be interesting if I start the famle on Assault and male er a run and gunner eating lead bricks all tank topped up yet has her scars. Should be fun.

The SP experience in Breakpoint is fantastic.

Here's my problem:

I've only played solo.

So I'm not experiencing the whole game, but I haven't really felt the need to team up, I'm enjoying dismantling each base at my own pace...

My problem is really a matter of patience I guess. Lol. I'm a sniper and I prefer sniping, but snipers are a support class. So I'm just sitting up on my perch minding my own business... and they are cowering from me like the dogs they are. I could really use a teammate or two to go down and flush em out. Sadly that requires comms which the rando I was playing with once didn't believe in those...

On the flip side maybe going through these missions fast is a bad idea considering I'm waiting for the AI teamates and tiered loot fixes so I can start over.

You should get down there for cqc, lure them into your kill zone just  get that adrenaline pumping!

Hacked into a PMC network. The alert and following shootout alerted a radio patrol that kept calling in reinforcements. I had like 7 or 8 vehicle patrols, about six walking patrols. Flashbang ftw! I am surprised sentinel don't just give up.

So that was fun.

Did more faction missions...well a faction mission...to get the next battle reward up. It was to destroy a super computer and it took me to the same area where Ian Blake was hiding in his base. First time out I got way too cocky when I got there I was all like 'I know where everyone is'and someone shotgunned me in the back. Second attempt though went much more smoothly...sniped everyone in my way and cleared a path to the computer...blew it up..scampered.

Around that time the nightly maintneance started...well this nightly maintneance...apparently they are making small changes to the game. I puttered around for a bit. Took on a Behemouth in order to get at the M4 blueprint.

And went on to the Arrow testing ground...and well I was running outof time so bit run and gun...didn't work...and boy does the M4 suck...that thing has the recoil of a country mule! Ugh.