Watch Dogs 2 Review: A Better Version And Fun Approach

By Christian Pilares
Watch Dogs 2
Watch Dogs 2 is a better game than the first one. Ubisoft/ Wikipedia

With Watch Dogs 2 Ubisoft has taken a very bold step. They gambled in building a game around characters that are not very likable. Most people would say that they are not very fond of hackers, but it seems that Ubisoft is seeing that gamble paying off, because the game is quite likable.

A Fun Approach

There are several reasons why players would like the game even with the problem of using hackers as the main characters in the story. First, the game is comedic in some ways. Another important point is that Ubisoft used a light approach that makes the game very entertaining. Its virtual San Francisco also makes for an amazing playground. While it's not on the same level as the virtual world you get with Grand Theft Auto V, it is still quite something.

A Better Version

The original version of the game which was released in 2014 failed to live up to its promise. While on paper the idea for the game was quite exciting; a city where everything can be hacked, it just didn't translate well into the actual game.

The complaints about the first Watch Dogs were plentiful and they included poor vehicle handling, too much vehicular missions, and gameplay that was generally boring. This time around, Ubisoft has listened to what players are saying and made some changes with the new version. Though some say that the vehicle handling is still not that good.

Players now get to play Marcus Holloway, a character who's way too cool to be taken for a hacker. Marcus joins a group of hackers known as DedSec. The main problem with the characters is that they seem to be what a game developer's idea of what hackers should be. They don't show much of the negative tendencies that characterize real-life hackers.

Marcus has a nice set of skills which is backed up by some tech toys. He can free-run over obstacles. He also has a melee attack with a pool ball. His tech toys include a quadcopter and a radio-controlled jumper. He can also get guns and grenades, which means that there are plenty of playing styles that are available to players.

The main missions or "operations" are done in multiple stages with side missions cropping out of nowhere and with numerous other activities that needs to be done. As the game is played, new mechanisms will come up.

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