Ghost Recon Wildlands is still nearly nine months away, but early gameplay demonstrations, as well as the series’ reputation, have us cautiously optimistic. Its open world structure relies heavily on player choice to shape both individual missions and the future of the game’s version of Bolivia, and while you’re limited to just four Ghosts in a squad, they won’t be the only allies at your disposal.
Speaking with the UbiBlog, lead designer Dominic Butler shed some light on the Bolivian rebellion in Ghost Recon Wildlands. Though the country has been taken over by the Santa Blanca cartel, and the government has helped it establish Bolivia as the largest cocaine producer in the world, a resistance movement is fighting to regain control. But with so few resources against the cartel, it needs the Ghosts’ support. By rescuing rebels from prison cells in Infamous: Second Son fashion, you can increase their combat effectiveness.
Related: Ghost Recon Wildlands sees Bolivia controlled by the cartels
“If you can get to them, if you can free them, they’re going to take up arms against the Santa Blanca, completely systemically,” Butler says. “You don’t have to tell them what to do. They know where the enemy is. They’re going to start fighting back and it’s a way to kind of leverage one faction against another.”
This non-scripted system is far removed from the mission-based, mostly linear structure of Advanced Warfighter and Future Soldier, and it could help to freshen the series up after Future Soldier‘s fairly by-the-numbers campaign. What’s odd is that Ubisoft has, at least thus far, opted to not include a cover system. A fluid and very satisfying “cover to cover” mechanic was first introduced in Splinter Cell Conviction before being introduced to other Clancy games, including The Division, and its absence from Wildlands has been criticized in early previews.
Ghost Recon Wildlands arrives on March 7 for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC.
