After getting hands-on with first five to six hours of Ghost Recon Breakpoint, it was quite clear how it's separating itself from its predecessor Ghost Recon Wildlands. Whether its the tone of the main story or how it handles player progression, Ubisoft recognized the shortcomings of the previous game and implemented changes to try to overcome them. In the video above, we breakdown some of those changes.
While Breakpoint has traditional leveling up via experience points you get from eliminating enemies and doing missions, it also features its own version of gear score. As you play through the game, you loot new weapons and armor pieces tied to a number that influences your overall gear score, similar to how The Division 2's handles it. However, as Ubisoft says and our early experience shows, a headshot is a headshot; in general, enemies are less of the bullet-sponge type, though high-level enemies are very deadly.
Not only does Breakpoint incorporate a few more RPG systems, it also has some survival elements. For example, you have to worry about hydration; when dehydrated, you take a hit to your overall stamina, and the running animation indicates this by giving your character a slight limp. Filling up your canteen with fresh water is critical, but dehydration won't kill you. As for other threats you need to watch out for, the opposing organization called The Wolves, headed by the main villain Cole Walker, will drop into the world to hunt you down from time to time. It works as a persistent threat that you have to be aware of, but it doesn't seem overbearing.
One of the more standout features is in how side quests put you in a more investigative role. By default, guided mode is turned off, which means you need to look at your mission log and read the given clues to find the objective. You don't get a waypoint or marked path, and instead you have evidence that tells you about the location, territory names, terrain, and what exactly you're looking for. It's a welcome twist that makes you pay more attention to your immediate environment and the open world itself.
Ghost Recon Breakpoint hits PS4, Xbox One, and PC on October 4 this year; you can get a taste of it right now as the Ghost Recon Breakpoint closed beta runs until Monday, September 9. Be sure to check out all our coverage on the game below: