Watch Dogs 2 Review: The new protagonist sets the right tone

Watch dogs 2 manages to completely redefine itself while still building on its predecessor in every single way. If the first installment of the game painted a serious picture with its grim plot, the young, enthusiastic -- and even cocky at times -- Marcus Holloway of the DedSec crew sets a completely different tone. It's a breath of fresh air after the somber Aiden Piece. It's obvious that developer Ubisoft wants you to have fun while playing the game and not take it too seriously. 

The Characters

The supporting characters in Watch Dogs 2 are extremely likable. Without giving anything away, one in particular named Wrench, has a serious obsession with technology. So much so, that he’s always wearing a mask with LEDs that light up in accordance to his dialogue and mood. 

I would have liked to see more character development, as the often yet brief moments of interaction with Marcus felt like there was a lot more to unfold. Unfortunately, Watch Dogs 2 doesn’t delve too much into the relationships within DedSec, or even highlight the camaraderie expected in a tight–knit hacker group.

Gameplay

For the most part, gameplay is extremely stable and glitch-free. However, when I first started playing the game, I was able to trick the system by exploiting a glitch that let me use the RC helicopter as a platform for my RC car. I was able to reach new areas -- that would otherwise be impossible -- by simply jumping on the RC helicopter and then jumping over the obstacle. Ubisoft has recently fixed the exploit with a patch, but that didn't stop me from completing a portion of the game without having to get the higher jump upgrade for my RC car. 

If you're hoping to do the same gravity-defying acrobatics present in Assassin’s Creed then you may be a little disappointed. There are some obstacles in Watch Dogs 2 that seem climbable but aren't. Thankfully, the animation on Marcus when he does climb stuff is incredibly satisfying, and looks really cool.

Like most Ubisoft games, the map is cluttered with icons for side quests for you to complete. In case you're feeling a bit lost, the game does a good job of letting you know why you need to tackle quests. And if you forget what exactly the mission is about, there is a small description that you can read in the in-game DedSec app before you track it. 

In addition, this time around, you can customise your character with different outfits, although it’s limited to six parameters: Shoes, hats, bags, T-shirts, pants, and masks. 

Multiplayer

Multiplayer in Watch Dogs 2 is extremely enjoyable especially the co-op missions. I had a blast with one of my buddies - we completed a few missions and generally wrecked a whole bunch of stuff. We even honed our skills and attempted to survive for a full 30 minutes (successfully)  with a full Wanted Meter, while cops descended on our position. If you have a friend to tag along, Watch Dogs 2 is way more fun.

One negative of the multiplayer is that the co-op mode is limited to special missions for the mode.I would have liked to have been able to tackle the storyline with a buddy, perhaps with incremental difficulty. But, as it stands, multiplayer does provide a fair bit of variety. For instance, with the Hack the Hacker PVP mission, one player has to hack another player's data and then escape while the other player has to find the hacker and kill him. With the including of the RC helicopter, you get a bird's eye view, making it extremely easy to find someone that is stealing your data. If you want to win these missions as the hacker, make sure you have a fast car readied for a quick escape.

Conclusion

I had a blast on my playthrough of Watch Dogs 2, and it had me chuckling throughout the entirety of the game. Despite a few flaws, it was still an enjoyable experience that I would recommend to any gamer looking for a third person game with a good storyline and co-op features.

What we liked: Tons of side quests, new protagonist, supporting characters
What we didn't like: Unclimbable obstacles

Available on: PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC

Reviewed on PlayStation 4