In a climate dominated by shooters like Battlefield and Call of Duty, I love it when a tactical affair like Ready or Not comes along. It reminds me of the old SWAT games from back in the day, of which the third was my favourite. Yet I didn’t jump straight into Ready or Not, instead Miles reviewed the base game over here. Now on its third DLC, Boiling Point, we were offered the chance to review it.
Continuing on from the high pressure and over-stretched situations the Los Sueños Police Department face, Boiling Point is aptly named. Tensions are high, resources are stretched and scarce, but our LSPD officers must do their duty once again. Featuring new missions, new weapons and customisation options, the latest expansion promises more of that intense, high-stakes police work we expect.
Sadly, Miles has resigned from active duty and let this rookie take up the mantle. Is it clear to go ahead, or should it be stacked and taken out of duty? Will I rise to the challenge, or burn up in the intense heat? Let’s gear up and find out.
High Stakes
As is tradition with Ready or Not DLC, Boiling Point is another three mission pack with an overall theme to it. This one is a terror attack on the Los Sueños pier, with a toxic gas undercurrent that spirals out into a much larger intrigue. The new missions are:
- No Good Deed – a mission on the LS pier, featuring fairground rides and a haunted house that carefully need to be navigated to avoid being flanked, whilst encountering the new terrorist threat.
- All Gods Burn – a very Division-themed mission, that sees LSPD enter and reclaim a bank under attack, whilst trying to establish the new threat’s motives.
- A New America – the final push to uncover the truth, as City Hall is captured and the terrorists try to finalise their plan. Oh, and stop a bomb threat.
As is Ready or Not’s usual style, missions are played out mostly organically as one progresses through a level. Boiling Point is no different, offering an overview in the briefing room, before deployment and off we go. Which is good as I haven’t played much of the base game, so I don’t feel like I’m in over my head. Taken as vertical slices, these DLC’s are separate mini-campaigns, if you will.
Though it should be pointed out that one cannot access this in the Commander/story path until the main game is complete. However, they can be played via Quick Play from the main menu.
New Toys
As with new DLC and new playgrounds to tackle, Boiling Point offers new gear and customisation options for D Platoon. There’s a new rifle in the RTWC-6.5 rifle, one that offers less recoil which is handy in tight spaces. Sidearms get the S2011, a semi-automatic handgun that focuses on precision, and the G18-C, a fully automatic handgun. Why we need a full auto handgun I’ll never know, but it’s fun nonetheless.
In regards to less offensive equipment, there’s a new flashbang designed for tighter spaces. As in, it doesn’t blind everyone in a ten mile radius. Shields can know deflect some melee attacks from enemies, but what specifically is more trial and error, I found out.
Improvements have to been made to current weaponry too, in that some weapons can equip both optical zooms and canted sights, for easy switching between standard and zoomed ADS (aim down sights). There are new vanity items too, but as the game is first person it largely went over my head. Probably more to benefit showing off to your friends in multiplayer, I suppose.
There was also been a wealth of QOL improvements, including some 200 bug fixes, as well as being able to launch Quick Play from the main menu. As someone who didn’t play at launch, or even on Early Access, it means nought to me. Yet I’d imagine if you’ve followed this, then it’ll be quality of life improvements indeed.
It’s Hot
To summarise, Ready or Not: Boiling Point is, in my limited opinion, great. Perhaps I’m not the best person to review a DLC without playing the main game, but here we are. Ready or Not now has its hooks in me. It’s actually got me invested in starting a new Commander mode (which is quite hard, by the way). I’m getting nostalgic for the glory days of Rainbow Six Vegas, before Siege sold it out.
As I mentioned earlier, the overall narrative angle of Boiling Point gives me The Division vibes. The gas attacks adding a mass-fear element over small-scale robberies is a fitting final (for now) DLC for the scale of Ready or Not. As I said, it makes me want to tackle the whole game now, in order, to see it through like a diligent officer.
It’s still as hard as I’d read about, even on Casual, but it’s never said it wouldn’t be. We knew this on the way to release. But after coming off the back of a massive Battlefield 6 binge, I’m enjoying something more grounded and tactical. Is it kicking my ass? Absolutely, but I took an oath to serve and protect, and I’ll do so however many restarts it takes.
Ready or Not: Boiling Point is available now, either separately or via Season Pass on your chosen format.
Developer: VOID Interactive
Publisher: VOID Interactive