The world of the modern day magicians ascends upon us all with upcoming game Watch Dogs
and I got the chance to try out a few hours of the game, a little from the beginning and
a bit later on where I was more submerged so here's a preview of what you can expect
from Ubisoft Montreal's hackfest.
As most of you will know, Watch Dogs got itself delayed from last year and what I really wanted
to know was what happened during the time between when we were promised it and when
we will be given it.
So I asked Danny Belanger, lead game designer for ubisoft montreal.
You are Aiden Pearce and alongside the gameplay is an attempt at an emotional storyline of
which I can't give you my full opinion on because well, I didn't see it all.
What I can tell you is what this game is like in general.
Your main piece of tech is the profiler, this will help you assess the people around you
for potential hacks and as to whether they are going to cause you any hassle if you do
launch a cyber attack on them.
It will, as the name suggests, let you profile them with name, age, occupation or interest.
Some interests are a little tongue in cheek with homosexual, infertile and recently released
from mental hospital just some of the ones that popped out at me.
Although, it's worth noting your profiler is defunct in areas where you haven't taken
control of the mainframe, the CToS.
Once profiled, you'll be able to hack into anyone that offers you a little something
something in the way of cash which can be picked up later at an ATM.
You will navigate your map which will highlight objectives, campaigns, crime detected, fixer
contract, criminal convoy, gang hideout etc. but as with most open world games you can
pick and choose what you play.
But what will help Watch Dogs avoid the curse of the repetitive task that have sometimes
befallen other open world games
like this?
Watch Dogs is a reflection on modern life and with a setting of Chicago, one of the
most surveillance stricken states of America, the game shows how the technology that surrounds
us could be used in order to commit and prevent all new sorts of crime.
You can access cameras around you to assess a situation without entering the area itself.
The game has a vast skill tree which will enable manipulation of your environment such
as raising or lowering city blocks, change traffic lights to cause chaos and optimisation
of your profiler.
The skills you gain will help you in tasks such as hacking, combat, crafting and driving.
As well as the single player campaign, there is the opportunity for other players to infiltrate
your world and hack into you.
Alongside this are other multiplayer modes that Colin Graham, Ubisoft Montreal's animation
director gives an insight on But what if you don't want to play with other
people and want to get on with your own business.
I had
a go on some of the online multiplayer and it was clear I needed some tips from the top
to help me out.
The open world is vast and I'll pay a few likenesses to GTA here in that you'll need
a vehicle to get around but unlike GTA you don't have to commit, well, Grand Theft Auto
in order to get it.
Your phone has an on-demand vehicle service that will deliver you vehicles right next
to you in the game.
Handy.
Plus like GTA there's a great selection of music from Alice Cooper, to Kid Cudi to Curtis
Mayfield and a rating system based on how wanted you are by police and the appropriate
turnout of vehicles, helicopters and aggressive natures based on this to capture you.
I'm not sure the gameplay had be completely enthralled and I think Ubisoft knew that may
happen as later in the game you've got mini games such as this big metal spider you see
here.
It's weird and I was told that there's no real reason for it apart from just in case
you get bored of the normal gameplay.
There is a lot to do though and there's definitely variety but even though the people surrounding
you have been given separate profiles, they will insist on repeating the same reactions
vocally over and over again which can get annoying if you hang around near them long
enough.
I'm looking forward to having a go on the full game but for now, this is all I know
and now, you know it too.
What do you think about it?
Let me know in the comments below.
Watch Dogs is an open world hacking game full of modern day magicians manipulating Chicago
in order to commit and prevent crime.
A big part of the game is its multiplayer modes allowing others to infiltrate your world,
you infiltrating theirs and missions requiring you to play in teams.
I had a go at a preview event run by developers Ubisoft Montreal and it was clear that I needed
a few tips from the top on how to catch the hacker.
I never caught the hacker that infiltrated me and I don't want you to come to the same
demise as me.
So, here's Colin Graham, animation director for ubisoft montreal giving you some big help.
But don't worry if you don't want to play online.
Danny Belanger lead game designer gave us the lowdown on going offline and the shield.
Check out our preview of the full game by clicking the video on the screen now.