Watch_Dogs

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Information
Developer: Ubisoft Montreal
Publisher: Ubisoft
Director: Jonathan Morin
Producer: Dominic Guay
Programmer: Francis Boivin
Writer: Kevin Shortt
Engine: Disrupt Havok Physics
Platform: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Wii U
Release date: 27 May 2014 (Wii U set to launch winter 2014)
Genre: Action-adventure
Mode: Single-player, multiplayer
Distribution: Blu-ray Disc, Optical disc, download

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Synopsis
Watch Dogs (stylized as WATCH_DOGS) is an open world action-adventure video game developed by Ubisoft Montreal and published by Ubisoft. It was released on 27 May 2014 for Microsoft Windows, the PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360 and Xbox One, with a Wii U version planned for release in the fourth quarter of 2014. Set within a fictionalized version of Chicago, Illinois, the single-player story follows a hacker and his efforts to seek revenge after the accidental death of his niece. The open world design lets players freely roam Chicago, which includes the urban city, open countryside, and slums.
The game is played from a third-person perspective and its world is navigated on-foot or by vehicle. Players control Aiden Pearce, a highly skilled grey hat hacker who can hack into the CTOS, a centralized system which manages the hyper-connected city of Chicago. Players can choose to play either against the law, or for itas a criminal or a vigilante. An online multiplayer mode is also provided in the game, allowing up to eight players to engage in both co-operative and competitive gameplay in a recreation of the single-player setting. (Taken from Wikipedia)

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Gameplay
Watch Dogs is an 3rd person open world sandbox game set in Chicago, Illinois. Watch Dogs is similar in numerous ways to the Grand Theft Auto series so if you have played that then you will be knowing roughly give or take what to expect from Watch Dogs. The main gameplay is comprised of a linear sequence of mission that provide a narrative to the game which I will discuss later. You are free to roam around Chicago and get up to whatever you please. The main mission structure is only a small amount of what the game has to offer to anybody willing to explore Chicago. As I have already mentioned this game plays in a similar way as many of the benchmark setters in its genre. The main key difference and what makes this game more unique than some of its counter parts is the ability to hack into and take control of many electronic devices located around Chicago through some computer trickery using the city's operating system called CTOS. For example you can disrupt traffic lights, raise bridges, road blockers, listen in on peoples phone calls and utilise cameras for all your surveillance needs. This is an excellent and integral part of the game however I felt it was a bit of a double edged sword, whilst it was fun and unique at first using traffic lights to neutralize a pursuing police officer for instance was fun and exhilarating at the beginning but after a while it becomes a little too familiar. Don't get me wrong it is a fantastic element to the gameplay I just think a little more variety on what we can do with our hacking capabilities would have been nice. I regards to the main missions the variety of missions is really nice which has actually been a problem in previous Ubisoft games so it's nice that they've improved there, one minute you're tailing a suspect and the next you are trying to break your way out of a prison. The combat is nice and smooth and there are numerous weapons at your disposal as well as the ability to craft devices like grenades and more stealthy equipment like jam coms that does exactly what it says it disrupts communications. The ability to use stealth and or brute force means that there are several different ways to progress through most of the given scenarios so it keeps you entertained. A nice touch is the ability to scan people in the street this profiler as it's called will give you the ability to see information about any civilians or main characters you see this is a versatile tool that you can use to your advantage when you want to find a guard with a specific access code for example. As you play the game you unlock skill points that can be spent on improving your character in a number of different ways (combat, hacking, driving, and crafting), this skill tree means you can unlock now abilities for your character like increased focus (slow down time in combat) and better handling when driving off road amongst many others. Rest assured there is a wealth side missions and activities to be had like fixer contracts and preventing crime as well as lots of other things to keep you occupied. I think that covers everything I wanted to say, overall the gameplay on this game is superb in my opinion.

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Story
I've heard mixed reviews about the storyline on this game; predictable narrative and it being too clich are what I had heard before I bought the game. I'm going to say right now that I personally thought the story was fantastic even if it was a little cliche. You play as Aiden Pearce a hacker turned vigilante who is out for revenge and answers after a job turned bad ended up in the pursuit of him and eventually a tragedy which he feels responsible for. Aiden is compelled to try and right his wrongs so to speak and find the answers as to why people were after him in the first place and to bring those who hurt his family to justice. I think Ubisoft have done a fantastic job at creating not only an immersive story but also one that is particularly relatable (I'm sure we can all think of a time when somebody you know did something they shouldn't and there was unforeseen and unintended consequences). The story has great focus and is certainly a rollercoaster ride with many twists and turns along the way. (I won't go into too much detail as to what happens as I wouldn't want to spoil the story for anyone). You will find yourself (or at least I did) genuinely wanting certain characters to live and die based on their actions and you will want to find justice for not only yourself but your family in the hopes that it brings some closure. The story is gripping and emotionally investing and you will find yourself wanting to keep playing so you can find out what happened and the fate of the characters of which you have feelings from one end of the emotional spectrum to the other. They do a fantastic job on the side characters as well giving them each a unique more believable personality this helps again make the story so good, Iraq and Bedbug are amongst my favourites so keep an eye out for them. The ending really good and will definitely give you some closure in regards to the story one way or another. I think this story is excellent.

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Multiplayer
The multiplayer aspect is not as good as the campaign in my eyes but nevertheless is still definitely worth playing as it is very fun. The online consists of numerous modes in which you can drop in and out of somebody's game. I will briefly discuss what each mode entails.
Online Hacking
Your job is to and install a backdoor so you can access another players data. When you enter this game mode you are put into somebody else's game and you no longer appear as Aiden instead you look like a random civilian. You need to stay within range and install the backdoor to 100%. The difficulty is that the other player is informed of your presence and you need to make sure they can't find you as they are given a small area to search with their profiler. This game mode is really good as you need to blend in and try and hide while they try and find you, it is also amusing to see the other player run right by you whilst trying to find you.
Online Profiling
This is very similar to online hacking as you need to profile the person to 100% instead of installing a backdoor. I find it is good on this one to get a car and try and blend in with traffic whenever possible.
Online Decryption
This is similar to a team deathmatch in a way with one little difference, you need to acquire or defend a downloaded file and stop it falling into the enemies hands (or the opposite if you are on the opposing team). I personally prefer the other modes but if you prefer playing with more people, then this might be for you.
Online Racing
Racing is exactly what is says, you race against other people online, I personally didn't like this one too much as I feel it was inferior to the other game modes.
Free Roam
This is pretty self explanatory you can free roam around Chicago with a number of different players, you can have a lot of fun on this game mode and it is well worth a play. (Not available on old-gen consoles.)

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Graphics
I have read quite a few negative reviews about the graphics I don't think that they are entirely justified. The graphics are not as good as I was anticipating but they are still good the colours are vivid during the day and more bleak and dull at night. they have done a good job with the animations and player details but perhaps a little more work at touching up the cutscenes would have been nice. I played on the xbox one so that is what I will be basing my judgements I imagine it will look worse on the older generation of consoles. The water looked nice and they have done a fantastic job recreating the feel of the city. The lighting is good (particularly when the sun is shining in your face when driving) and the shadows are really good at setting an ambience/tone at certain points. The reflections also need work as they are obviously wrong at some points even though they look good (you may see a building in the reflection of your car window when there isn't one they have just overlaid instead of making it be realistic) Overall the graphics are good but not as good as I would've first anticipated they still look really nice though. I will add some screenshots below.

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Controls
The controls on this game are fine. There are a few options you can tweak if you feel like it but I found the defaults were more than satisfactory. The button layout is fine and you will have no problem controlling your character in any situation. The biggest complaint most people have is the driving physics, some people think that it is too arcade like and not easy to control. Personally I had no real issues and you will get to grips with it within 10-20 minutes of driving around I would imagine. Sure the driving is better on GTA 5 but it is still good on this. If you have ever played Sleeping Dogs then I would compare it to that. Don't worry about it though the controls are very good in my opinion.

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System Requirements
Recommended System Requirements
Operating System Windows Vista (SP2), Windows 7 (SP1), Windows 8 and 8.1
Note that Watch Dogs only supports 64 bit OSs.
Processor (CPU) 3.5 GHz Intel Core i7 3700, 4.0 GHz AMD FX-8350
System Memory, 8GB RAM
Video Card (GPU) nVidia GeForce GT600-series, AMD Radeon HD7000-series
Hard Drive Space, 25 GB
Sound Card Surround Sound 5.1
DirectX Version, DirectX 11
Broadband connection required for multiplayer mode

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Ratings
Gameplay - 10/10
Story- 9/10
Multiplayer-8/10
Graphics - 8/10
Controls - 9/10
Overall - 9/10

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Conclusion
In conclusion Watch Dogs is a fantastic sandbox game with a wealth of things to do to keep yourself entertained. The story and gameplay are its highlights but the other things it has to offer are well worth checking out. The game is not without its flaws but taking everything into account it is still a fantastic game that you should definitely check out if you like these types of games. It isn't better than GTA 5 but then again I don't think anyone truly believed it would be as R* make incredible games.
Hope you enjoyed this review.