Narco Road Time of Event

[supercat]

Any idea when was the event of Narco Road happened?

Was it in the during the event of Story Mode and hence the Ghost we're playing as there wasn't 'Nomad'? So far Karen hasn't called my Ghost as 'Nomad'.

Or was it after the event of Story Mode? Which is also plausible considering there's Los Sin Alma and the remaining officers are living rich considering there's no longer El Sueno.

It's bugging me out. Roflmao. 

 

[quinch1199]

Don't try to include it at all. I'm of the opinion that Narco Road is an uncompleted game that Ubisoft were working on (or rather the dev team of Narco Road was...by the way its a different Developer who made Narco Road to Wildlands I hear)...but they decided to tweak it and add it as a DLC.

It could even be what they first thought of when considering the next title in place of Wildlands! 

Its obvious that it doesn't happen in the same universe/time/reality as Wildlands at all.

 

[supercat]

Yeah, I saw the live stream, it seems the lead developer guy or something was different from the one making the main game.

I mean seriously, I've been playing for a several hours again in Narco Road since my Story Mode was finally finished two days ago and to be honest, the structure of the Story Mission in NR has been really a whack in terms of the scenario of the level. For example:

1. I was asked to tail an SB helicopter loaded with drugs, for whatever reason Eddie wanted me to, instead of at least have a pack of SB driving alongside me to 'protect' it.

Spoiler

- Suddenly the objective changed and asked me to destroy a single Unidad's SAM site, with Karen saying "before it blows the delivery heli". At this moment, I found the helicopter had disappeared from the scene and so I could take my time to recon the surroundings. I have no idea where it went and what's the point of following it.

- The next objective indicated that the chopper was stolen by Unidad. Karen asked me to find the helicopter and went to a small Unidad base. What did I do? Of course, I left my vehicle somewhere to recon the place. I was told to spy and turned out that my 'instinct' was wrong. I was supposed to follow the helicopter from a very close range to eavesdrop the conversation between two guys in the heli. A bit further closer will result in failure, while tailing from a sensible range will also result in failure. After failing for several times for stupid reason, I finally managed to get it done.

- In the middle of their conversation, another call came in saying that SB wanted their chopper back. And so I was lead to another Unidad base to retrieve the shipment and deliver it with a helicopter to their rally point up in the hill. Whetever the fuch had been going on so far, I have no idea.

2. I was invited to a pool party in Agua Verde by Eddie, one of the buchons. Started by talking to Eddie, perhaps I was tired so I didn't catch it quite clearly, but Eddie seemed to want me to go somewhere else to talk to a contact. I was wondering because by this time, I had the option to "Lead" Eddie to follow me as well as a yellow arrow icon on his soldier at the balcony.

Spoiler

- So just in case, I led Eddie and talked to his friend chilling at the balcony of the same mansion he was in. His friend said there's a undercover Unidad in this pool party and I had to find him.

- I found the undercover agent and KO-ed him. Unidad found out that the agent was down and they proceeded to raid the mansion. 

- After several waves of Unidad raid, I was tasked to bring Eddie to another mansion at Agua Verde. I had to drive against full-fledged of road blocks and Unidad vehicles parked everywhere. Some of the road blocks were destructible, some turned out to be not.

- When I was close to his mansion, Eddie said "go go go". In the heat of the moment, I was confused to go where exactly. I saw another group of Unidad with their cracked concrete block just straight ahead which the road directed towards the mansion, so I thought "Yeah, this must be destructible". And it wasn't. My car was stuck and Eddie died by explosion. In the end, I passed this mission checkpoint by flying a helicopter spawned at a Rebel rally point nearby.

- When I reached there, another 3 sets of Unidad ambushed the beach party at the mansion. After killed several SB by accident during the fight, the mission was done.

I like that the missions are longer. But the objectives and the events feel stupid and unnecessary to do.

 

[supercat]

My conclusion on the NR lore:

1. From what I'm trying to conclude from both endings in the Story Mode plus the starting brief is that Narco Road happened after the event of El Sueno. Karen is still working and the Ghost isn't Nomad (though it is understandable that Nomad and friends are still used in the promo art just to represent 'Ghosts of GRW').

2. This infiltration operation is unapproved and only known by you and Karen Bowman.

3. The destruction of El Sueno's Santa Blanca blooms another smaller organisations. Los Sin Alma are most likely to be ex-Santa Blanca, while the others still hold the same old Santa Blanca brand. 

4. Santa Blanca remnants now seem to be richer thanks to the same outstanding brilliance in business, while having smaller number of workers. Hence more cut for the Buchons who are now living extravagantly.

5. The Rebels are still on patrol and the numbers seem to have been decreased, which is understandable considering the last incident in the Story Mode. Some might be retired. Some might be recruited to SB or Los Sin Alma due to change of view.

6. The Rebels don't exactly know that we are undercover. However, we are recognized as the 'gringo'/'foreigner' from USA. So most likely the Rebel's spy heard that info as well and hence their first reaction to us is not to kill on sight, considering these Rebels knew the US were working with them previously.

7. The SB have civilians as intel. So It doesn't close the possibility of these civilians to be working as double agent for Rebel and even Los Sin Alma, because money.

8. The Unidad most likely also know that there is/are undercover gringo within the SB. But the game also hinted that Unidad are also on 'grease', while also holding a principle that they are the peacekeepers and shoot on sight to anyone suspicious. Hence once again no special treatment to the 'foreigner' despite of the deal done in Story Mode.

 

[quinch1199]

For info:

https://pvplive.net/c/ghost-recon-wildlands-community-rallies-against-narco-road-dlc

To quote:

"Ubisoft stated Narco Road was always meant to be a standalone expansion, and a wholly different game experience from the base game. They didn't want to mesh Narco Road's features with the storyline of the original Wildlands."

(I was tempted to add a negative comment but we all know how I feel about NR).

 

[supercat]

LOL. Tbh, as long as the negative comment is delivered in well manner and fairness, I think we are all alright.  :3_grin:

Heck, that's what I like from this particular forum. It's small but it's more well-mannered in handling thoughts. This is the reason why I'm still hitting this forum, while lately I've started to lose interest to communicate in other forums. So don't prove me wrong on that. lmao.

I'm personally honestly kinda tired with the type of twisted complaints like "Narco Road sucks! Everything in it is not Ghost Recon! And it's also a standalone mode! Nothing carries over and shared with the main mode!" In this type of complaint, I take these group of user hates NR contents, but at the same time they want it to be in the Story Mode as well.

Or the type who wears Rose Glasses to previous game, such as "GRW isn't GR! GRFS was the real GR! Period! Full stop!" And guess what? These very same people most likely said the same thing when GRFS just got released. 

And so on...

====

As for NR, I think it's a great momentum for Ubi Paris to regain heart (although definitely some will be greedy) by giving some sort of compensation for NR mess. The compensation could be free contents like additional gun pack or clothing pack or maybe GRCredits. I actually expect for another (free) DLC after Fallen Ghosts and PvP, but I think it's a bit farfetched considering the fact that Ubisoft have shown clearly what Narco Road would be in the trailer and news. Narco Road wasn't exactly a marketing 'trap'. They could compensate for the 'wrong theme' aspect and only until that far, in this case.

 

[quinch1199]

Some of the main issues I see with NR are:

1) Not being able to use your previous characters really is a huge pain in the ass for players. I can see and understand that completely.

2) It was clearly a completely separate game that had been in development for some time but was shelved (perhaps Ubisofts reaction to Mafia 3?). Since then it was rewritten and has been offered as DLC to a game to which it genuinely has absolutely no relationship with except an obviously forced story line. It's as if there was a Watchdogs DLC attached to Assassins Creed. It really feels this way. I, and I'd hazard 90% of the complaining players, wouldn't have had any issues if Narco Road had been released as a stand alone title, maybe the first in a series. Unfortunately it just feels like a contrived bolt-on to try and excuse the cost of a season pass when the development team for Wildlands seem to be struggling with genuine DLC.

For example the 2nd DLC is likely to also be unlinked with the main game. Whilst it appears the story line, setting and overall theme looks to be far greater linked to the core game of Wildlands I can't see (but understandably so in this case) you being allowed to carry your fully upgraded character over to PvP. The DLC will be 4v4 Arena PvP. Each character will have capped stats etc...

...just EXACTLY like Last Stand in The Division but with fewer players and a smaller Arena. 

What DLC is ALWAYS asked for however...

...Expanded core gameplay.

Additional maps that are seemlessly added to the core game, more missions, different variations of missions etc I have to ask, wish I could ask the developers....why this seems such an impossible dream?!?

It was asked of The Division...hell! There are areas in the Manhattan map that are FULLY BUILT BUT STILL NOT UNLOCKED..and honestly I don't think they ever will be! 

The aircraft carrier...before release/just after release you could glitch yourself into there, walk around...it has NPC's and everything. Where's that Expansion DLC?? Will it ever come? Frankly I don't now believe it ever will. For some reason its more cost effective/easier to just bolt on new game modes in completely different instances (i.e. not live-linked to the existing game even if they may use the same map or areas of that map - such as Survival mode or Last Stand). 

At least The Division gives you more world tiers, harder enemies. Let's be honest the HVT's are EXACTLY the type of DLC players want...add that to expanding the map to maybe fully around Central Park and booom.... a DLC worthy of the title.

"Back in the day" a DLC gave you more map area to play, more missions etc...what happened to that type of DLC? Why is it apparently so hard for developers to actually give what the majority of players want and expect?

 

[supercat]

Lol. Mafia3 is 100x way more serious than Narco Road, man. 

I think, just a thought, that this design could be very much affected by corporate overlords who have seen how goofiness and rainbow color contents as addition DO sell as what have been proven by other shooter games. 

Sure this is Ubisoft, but I honestly can't imagine how could a group of people with vision of making a game about special ops in a bloody cartel world (and actually made it) suddenly come up and approved whatever delivered in Narco Road without having a imaginary gun pointed at their heads.

 

[DeadSockPuppet]

I still haven't played NR yet, but I'll just remember to view it as a stand-alone game and try not to get salty.  The thing that confuses me the most is Ubisoft is fighting off an active takeover attempt by Vivendi and they keep alienating their base customers, can't be good for them. 

 

[supercat]

I still haven't played NR yet, but I'll just remember to view it as a stand-alone game and try not to get salty.  The thing that confuses me the most is Ubisoft is fighting off an active takeover attempt by Vivendi and they keep alienating their base customers, can't be good for them. 

Tbh, Vivendi won't make it better (and I read they already bought some part of Ubi).

Shareholders plant money and expect money back - multiplied. These overlords aren't gamer, nor they care about gamer.

If candy colored cars and lollipop guns are proven to sell more than a dark and serious tactical shooter, then they want the people they fed with money to follow the more $$$ path.

Edit: nevermind on the rest. I kinda got carried away. lol 

 

[Oh. daesu]

Usually increasing your profitability encourages your current shareholders to stick with you and not sell to the other guys. If you can increase your profitability by making gamers happy or not...

 

[DeadSockPuppet]

Usually increasing your profitability encourages your current shareholders to stick with you and not sell to the other guys. If you can increase your profitability by making gamers happy or not...

This is exactly why I don't understand the move my Ubi to make stuff that upsets their core.  If they stop buying it makes the investors other than Vivendi sell and the takeover could go much faster.  I think the last thing I read was that Vivendi owned like 30% of Ubi and that they were flirting the line that if they pass they'd be required by French law to make the bid or a hostile takeover of  Ubi.  

 

[supercat]

Because the investors also affect the design choice. They definitely have seen the potential from goofy stuff doing in big shooter games that used to be serious, such as, Call of Duty, GTA Online, etc. Now if the GRW dev can't prove with numbers that their core target audience will give more potential than the guys who like goofy stuff, why would the investors want to agree for a lower potential come back than the one that they've known and been proven for years? Would you still fund my hot and spicy restaurant when you've known that sweet and sour dishes sell way better in our town?

Secondly, all we can do is to vote with our wallet. This means, all of us who bought the Season Pass from Gold Edition or Digital Store or purchased Narco Road individually, have practically voted YES to Narco Road, regardless how angry we are right now, ESPECIALLY when they have released a trailer and showed a snip bit of Narco Road.

So, yes, congrats to all of us, we have stabbed our own ass. Now those gentlemen in suits are laughing. They have proven that they're right that the goofy stuff does sell in shooter games.

Sorry if it sounds a bit blunt. I'm kinda worked up over these stuff. It's really sad. No offense meant.

 

[quinch1199]

I still haven't played NR yet, but I'll just remember to view it as a stand-alone game and try not to get salty.  The thing that confuses me the most is Ubisoft is fighting off an active takeover attempt by Vivendi and they keep alienating their base customers, can't be good for them. 

No. Its not like any high ranking members of Ubisoft have been caught conducting Insider Trading at all...*cough*severalonlyafewmonthsago*cough*

Poor game performance = falling share price = potential to pick up cheaper shares ahead of a buy-out = buy-out = rising share price = you can cash in if you knew ahead of time.

..y'know, kinda, if I was a high ranking person or group of people in a company and there was a buy out that I felt couldn't be stopped...I could, if I was said group of high executives, manipulate our companies product to be of poor quality in the months ahead of said buy out to force the price down so I could buy cheaper shares....

...not that I know anything of course. 

*innocent whistling*

 

[supercat]

Just finished Narco Road. Nice and serious plot twist ending with a resolve.

I would like to give feedback to ubi. But I think it's pointless, considering my feedback will be the good old Narco Road complaint in regards of the theme.

 

[DeadSockPuppet]

Secondly, all we can do is to vote with our wallet. This means, all of us who bought the Season Pass from Gold Edition or Digital Store or purchased Narco Road individually, have practically voted YES to Narco Road, regardless how angry we are right now, ESPECIALLY when they have released a trailer and showed a snip bit of Narco Road.

Yeah, I bought gold because it was only $80 on Amazon Prime when you added in the 20% Prime discount.  I only paid $20 for the Season Pass, but it sounds like that may be $20 too much.  

They definitely have seen the potential from goofy stuff doing in big shooter games that used to be serious, such as, Call of Duty, GTA Online, etc.

GTA is goofy to begin with, so flashy crap and gaudy stuff it expected and enjoyable.  This kind of crap (in addition to burnout) are why I stopped playing COD.  It felt more realistic in the MW/BLOPS days, but Battlefiled put it to shame and it's just getting more and more arcade-y by the day (COD WWII possibly excluded).

 

[supercat]

Ending of Narco Road. Just sharing in case someone can't stand playing it, but at least wanna know what's going on with it.

Spoiler

El Zamuro, the informant of Santa Blanca, who helped you through the three Buchons, was the only reliable source of yours. He eventually opened himself and said he was tired of Santa Blanca business and would give up El Invisible and his PDA as long as you can ensure his safety and his application of US citizenship. After you made your way out of Unidad prison in Flor de Oro, you finally made a deal and said your farewell to him. He gave you El Invisible's hideout which was located in the underground tunnel of Unidad base camp where both him and the PDA most likely would be at. The result turned out to be right, you found the PDA. However, the tunnel was rigged and the bombs were set off, so you had to fight for your way out of the tunnel and catch up with El Invisible outside who was trying to run away and fight you with an attack chopper.

After your confirmed kill, you were back to the HQ with Karen, waiting for the PDA to be decrypted. After a while, the decryption succeeded - and so did El Invisible's virus in hacking the CIA system. El Zamuro, the guy who was so close to you and granted safety and US citizenship, turned out to be the actual El Invisible. The Ghost just got Ghosted. You accomplished his disappearance within the states of America.

Post-ending Resolve

Spoiler

Time-frame unknown. El Invisible's whereabout in the US was finally discovered. You were deployed in a foggy sunset of Arizona and found his shack. El Zamuro welcomed your visit and stood up. Armed with D-50 pistol, he pulled out his gun and you pulled out yours. Shot fired. He's dead. For sure.