Game:

Watch Dogs (2014)

Category:

Review

Duration: 4:36

118 views

3

Watch Dogs, or Watch_Dogs, is Ubisoft's attempt at creating a new AAA I.P for the next generation. The last time they did such a thing, we got the original Assassin's Creed - a game with a lot going for it, but with huge room for improvement in inevitable sequels. Watch Dogs emits the same aura as that troubled first entry. It has interesting gameplay and hours of content, but its sparks never turn into a fire.
You'll spend your time in the game on missions utilizing a combination of shooting, stealth, and the advertised hacking mechanics. When these elements cooperate to the players wishes, they feel like a well-crafted package. However, the game often takes away the player's ability to choose their own style. Many missions force the player to utilize only one of the three mechanics. When the elements are separated and made to stand on their own, their flaws are revealed.
For example, the action relies on an awkward cover system, bullet sponge enemies, and a couple escort missions thrown in for no reason. Hacking missions range from going down a tedious train of surveillance cameras and an easy puzzle which quickly wears out its welcome. Stealth missions are the best of the bunch as they often allow for the use of hackable objects in the environment to form distractions and easy take-downs. However, detection is an instant failure as there is no way to lose your enemy unlike what you would expect from a more competent stealth game.
While not on a mission, you can drive around a Chicago inspired city called Chicago. Driving is easy and enjoyable thanks to a wide assortment of vehicles, each with their own handling. Finding your favorite vehicle comes quickly and can always be found again because of a gracious "car on demand" function.
The hacking mechanics make their presence known in the driving and chase sequences of the game. You can raise bridges, change traffic lights, and even blow up steam pipes. It's very satisfying to see an enemy car slam into some obstacles. However, even here there is trouble. Helicopters will follow you to the end of the Earth. You can disable them, but the driving camera is unable to look up at them. You have to exit the vehicle, disable the helicopter, and then get back into your vehicle to escape. Smoooooth.
The map is large and full of side content such as stopping a criminal convoy, busting a gang hideout, and intervening in random crimes. They're all competent distractions but have their quirks. Crime intervention is particularly troubled. Every so often a radius will appear on the map showing where a crime will take place. Using facial recognition and magic, you can identify a criminal out of the crowd and wait for him to do his dastardly deed before pouncing on him. Unfortunately, you're just as likely to run to close to him before identifying him. This will spook the criminal into not doing the crime at all. The mission will then fail because preventing crime is frowned upon while brutality is not.
The best side-content comes in the form of "Digital Trips" accessed from the characters smart phone. There are four unique mini-games with drastic differences from the regular game. In one, you'll be jumping from flower to flower while another will have you driving through waves of demons. All of these games have had a surprising amount of thought put into them. The Spider-Tank for instance has its own upgrade tree and spider power. I'd go as far as saying they're more fun than the actual game.
In addition to this enticing single player content is a throwaway multiplayer component. Imagine if you were minding your own business playing video games ... when, all of a sudden, some jerk sneaks into your room, stands around for five minutes, and punches you in the face on his way out. You have just imagined the Watch Dogs multiplayer.
There is also a story in Watch Dogs that tries to connect all of this content together. It only brushes past a potentially unique story of political intrigue in an always connected world and instead presents you with a story you've heard many times before.


"Aden Pierce is a vigilante on a quest for vengeance
Where he'll find a man from his past who'll become the enemy of his future
And the mafia
Because Chicago."

Overall, Watch Dogs is a solid game with a good foundation for its oncoming storm of sequels. If it follows in the footsteps of Assassin's Creed games like Ubisoft expects it to, the second entry in the series should be quite the game -- but for now, there is better stuff elsewhere.

*** out of *****

Other Statistics