Ghost Recon Wildlands.... Co-Op

My expectations of co-op muliplayer within Ghost Recon Wildlands were initially coloured by what I've already seen and experienced in World of Warcraft. Where WoW has a set path and people generally know what is expected in a dungeon. The many, many ways to approach a mission in GRW has lead to some interesting experiences. Not all missions can be done in a single brute force way and vice versa. But brute force seems to be the preferred way. But after headbutting a brick wall most groups seem to take a suggestion that less action was more to quickly progress and move on.

The built in comms feature is needed, works well and from what I've experienced isn't abused. There is expletive language for good and bad moments but there doesn't seem to be a Call of Duty overly verbose crowd here. So far I've not encountered a person spewing verbal diarrhoea. Fingers crossed I never do. Groups so far have been giving civil response's and thanks with some tactical coordination. That in itself is a feat for random strangers via the internet.

Having gone through the game solo once and a second playthrough at 20%, I had a lot more experience in the game than most players I encountered. Especially with regard to helicopter piloting. I'm sure that will change in time.

I had started my co-op muliplayer experience with my Mad Max lookalike (using shotguns and pistol). While I found him effective he wasn't up to the sheer madness and randomness despite his movie name. It was obvious to me that shotguns weren't making the grade 10 minutes into co-op. It wasnt' long after that I switched character (to my SMG/LMG second playthrough) to see how that would be. That second character worked really well. The LMG was king but the SMG lacked the punch and I found myself relying more on the LMG overall. After a few missions with a great group I decided to remake my 3rd character. My Mad Max changed into a more rounded group support. With an LMG (free Unidad RPK). I traded off his other shotgun for the free and powerful 'The Division' weapon.

I decided against the other free G36C I've favoured in my initial playthrough, as the rate of fire and power of the Division weapon was well needed. It's almost like an LMG but with greater accuracy. Besides I didnt' want to go all over the map solo trying to get all the weapon mods to make the G36C "perfect".

He already had the handgun with all the trimmings so that was his silenced weapon.

 
Most other players seem to go assault & sniper so this character is a good for support and fire superiority. Me likeeey.


With the change in weapons came another change as I left the Mad Max costume behind and in remembrance of a great film I decided on a new look.

 
Most players show their face, conveying more character. Showing a lot more personal expression. But I really, really like the new look. The grey man.

It's been great to see him like that in cut scenes.

With just over 8 hours of co-op play done as I write it's been fun.
To be part of a group infiltrating a base, snipers picking off targets, the group moving in, then someone is spotted, alerts go off, search lights blazing, next thing you know your hunted and there are reinforcements headed your way, with helicopters over head. The jig is up, no use in being quiet now, swing round the LMG and start blasting. I've gotten great thanks after downing choppers and exploding vehicles before they can stop and dismount.
Quick blasting action like that needs to be tactical as well, you can't just stand up and walk around like a terminator, co-op and mutual support means a lot and is rewarded in this game.

Co-op mode has it's up's and down's. People going AFK or disconnecting. People belching, farting and arguing in another language. People just being dicks. They happen. And I've left groups fast enough. But it's the other side that I remember most. Like being in a car and being driven off a mountain because the car was shot to shit and handling was gone. The guy driving was German, the guy in the back seat was Spanish. we couldn't speak a language we all understood but when that car went off the mountain, careered down, tumbled, back flipped but eventually landed on the four wheels back on the road we all laughed. It's that kind of basic shared experience that you take away most from this co-op experience. It's what brings me back to play more co-op.

I'm glad I've done a solo, complete run of the game, I'm doing it a second time for the fun, seeing it from a different angle. Co-Op is a very, very different experience. I'm a completionist and doing it solo is best in that regard. My 3rd character, his map and collectibles are all over the place with nothing in order.

I'm doing this 3rd character for the fun of co-op, if I help players great, if I get to do missions I need even better but if not then I've had fun just by being in the groups.

It also occurred to me that without thinking about it I've gone for the special reward weapons in co-op.  I usually never show off in multiplayer games. This is also the first game I can say that I've played co-op/multiplayer and really done exceptionally well. Surprisingly so compared to other players so far. Not to toot my own horn too much.

I've been surprised again at the free offerings. From playing the demo of The division I've gotten a lot of rewards unlocked. While that is good I am not a fan of the backpack on the division costume.

I also claimed the Assassins Creed Black Flag look. It's unlocked but not yet available in the game. Those seem a bit odd in their release/claim timings.

And again a surprise in another free gun that I may use in place of The Division rifle. Mmmmmmmmmm options.......