Let's focus on the characters. I like these kids in DedSec. I have little to no clue what they're talking about half the time but I think they're alright. Before starting the game I had a preconceived notion of being presented with a group of people who, for a lack of a better term, sucked. I played Watch_Dogs and the protagonist, Aiden, was one of the major detractors of the game. Marcus "Retr0" Holloway is the "hero" of the story and boy is he an upgrade. He cracks jokes, he's a smart ass without sounding too much like a dick and he's not on an "all or nothing" revenge rampage. I have a small gripe, he is a fantastic hypocrite. One side mission sees you condemning and punishing the actions of an online player who has been "SWATing" other players. (If you haven't heard the term, give it a Google, it's such a stupid thing to do) You complete the mission, said player suitably punished. Well done you, Mr Moral. Then you play any mission where you have to get past some guys. What's this upgrade you can get? Report a false crime against someone, have police take them away at gunpoint? How useful. Oh, I see what the issue is here, but Marcus doesn't seem to. Admittedly this is a mechanic you don't need to use. So like I said, "a small gripe".
The rest of the DedSec gang all have their little quirks and personalities that make them that much better to engage with. Josh is quiet and reserved when you first meet him but later he opens up and shows he is fiercely passionate about his work and loyal to his friends. Sitara is the PR expert for their DedSec group. She sees the operation as her own and her reactions to both its failures and successes are genuine and heartfelt. Horatio is the calm, level-headed one who manages to keep everyone together and focused when the shit hits the fan. Until Marcus shows up it seems pretty clear Horatio was the team leader. Now finally, and the best is indeed saved for last, we have Wrench. Loud, rude, sarcastic. I love him. He always has a comeback and will have your back in any fight that comes your way. One of his best features is the mask he always wears that he has programmed to emote how he's feeling.
This isn't an epic revenge story this time around. The plot touches on subjects like our reliance on modern technology and how information we give to the Internet can be there for anyone with the skills (or skillz) to take it and abuse it. As you progress through the game you are seen to both fight against and exploit these themes depending on the narrative. Each mission can feel like it's own self-contained story. This can make Watch_Dogs 2 feel a little schizophrenic at times, not really sure what message it's trying to convey. At a certain point late in the game, you are presented with a situation (without spoilers) that seems to just happen. You're left to deal with the aftermath of a mission then the game carries on as normal. Given the events that happen, it kind of felt like the developers realised they needed to raise the stakes emotionally but didn't quite know how to seal the deal. I enjoyed the ride I was taken on however and if a Watch_Dogs 3 were to happen I would be more than happy to see where they take it.
Can you imagine walking into an area you didn't belong, an office building for instance, and without so much as a count to three you're being shot at? In broad daylight. I'm not sure if this was Ubisoft's statement on gun control in America as it is but the A.I. needs to take a chill pill. I understand if you wander into gang turf thinking you'll have a wee rummage and getting blown away. But both police and security firms do the same thing! They have paperwork and a whole assortment of laws they've generally agreed to follow. It is easy in this game to sneak and get a lay of the land though, just deploy your drone or RC car and remotely hack from the comfort of your laptop half a block away. Or phone in a gang hit squad and create a little chaos. (I generally went for the latter) The heat of battle can get a little tense and on more of than one occasion I would send out my drone or RC car instead of opening the weapon wheel. Aside from that though, it all handles pretty well for all the mechanics that get thrown at you.
This isn't an epic revenge story this time around. The plot touches on subjects like our reliance on modern technology and how information we give to the Internet can be there for anyone with the skills (or skillz) to take it and abuse it. As you progress through the game you are seen to both fight against and exploit these themes depending on the narrative. Each mission can feel like it's own self-contained story. This can make Watch_Dogs 2 feel a little schizophrenic at times, not really sure what message it's trying to convey. At a certain point late in the game, you are presented with a situation (without spoilers) that seems to just happen. You're left to deal with the aftermath of a mission then the game carries on as normal. Given the events that happen, it kind of felt like the developers realised they needed to raise the stakes emotionally but didn't quite know how to seal the deal. I enjoyed the ride I was taken on however and if a Watch_Dogs 3 were to happen I would be more than happy to see where they take it.
Can you imagine walking into an area you didn't belong, an office building for instance, and without so much as a count to three you're being shot at? In broad daylight. I'm not sure if this was Ubisoft's statement on gun control in America as it is but the A.I. needs to take a chill pill. I understand if you wander into gang turf thinking you'll have a wee rummage and getting blown away. But both police and security firms do the same thing! They have paperwork and a whole assortment of laws they've generally agreed to follow. It is easy in this game to sneak and get a lay of the land though, just deploy your drone or RC car and remotely hack from the comfort of your laptop half a block away. Or phone in a gang hit squad and create a little chaos. (I generally went for the latter) The heat of battle can get a little tense and on more of than one occasion I would send out my drone or RC car instead of opening the weapon wheel. Aside from that though, it all handles pretty well for all the mechanics that get thrown at you.
Would I recommend this game to a friend? (And if you've read this far, consider yourself a friend) Yes. Yes, I would. I enjoyed the story, the characters were both relatable and likeable. Some of the technical jargon went over my head but at the end of the day, I had fun hacking my way through a semi-fictional San Fransico. I even had fun with the multiplayer. It's not too intrusive and only pops up occasionally purely as a fun distraction from the usual mayhem. This has been my review, do with it what you will.
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