Watch_Dogs universe phenomenon
In the Hacking universe created by the Ubisoft brand, we find a story of rebellious code masters who stand against an oppressive system. They use their skills to hack government software, wreak havoc, and stop crime. Watch Dogs: Legion, as the third installment in the series, should take this well-known mechanic to an even higher level. Let's take a look at the phenomenon of this world shortly before the premiere of the last part.
Interest in the topic of hacking has not waned for many years. In pop culture, this theme developed most strongly in the late 90s, when the turn of the century was inexorably approaching, and with it the fear of the millennium bug grew. Mankind was afraid of information chaos caused by errors in computer software, which allegedly could have problems with interpreting dates - while the data for the year was recorded in two digits, so the system would interpret the year 2001 in the same way as in 1901. The spiral of fear was spun by IT companies, which willingly advertised special, proprietary modifications of existing systems, and all kinds of anti-virus programs designed to protect a defenseless user from hacker attacks. After all, the temporary instability of the global network had to take advantage of the programmers from under the dark star, who became the heroes of many works of culture.
It's no surprise, then, that the gaming industry is so eager to explore the topic of hacking, and the most prominent example of using this issue is Ubisoft's "Watch Dogs" product. The first game in the series premiered in 2014, with the next game in the hands of players two years later.
Sandbox full of technology
Both Watch Dogs XNUMX and XNUMX are set in an open world that the player can explore from a third-person perspective (TPS). Many reviewers saw the similarity of Ubisoft's game with the cult Grand Theft Auto series, which is being developed by the American studio Rockstar Games. This comparison does not surprise me - the gameplay mechanics in both these games are very similar, with the difference that in the products of the French developer, interaction with the world is largely carried out by hacking the central operating system, that is, ctOS.
Thanks to the skills of the characters, the player has almost unlimited access to the global network, local infrastructure and phones of passers-by. The amount of information it processes is enormous. The gameplay mechanics are extremely extensive: in addition to following the main storyline, you can immerse yourself in completing side quests. By looking at the cells of people who pass us, we can detect criminal activity, stop fraud, or simply take advantage of surveillance opportunities. We receive information about the world around us from digital resources.
A very interesting element of the gameplay in Watch Dogs is the ability to maneuver between hacking operating systems and forceful or even armed conflict resolution.
Dark romance vs hack
The first part of "Watch Dogs" is a story full of serious plots, which takes place in Chicago. Aiden Pearce, due to his vicious hacking activities and revealing the dishonesty of government officials, became the target of attacks by mega-corporations. As a result of an attempt to simulate a car accident, his niece dies and the main character decides to declare war on the perpetrators. Using his abilities, he makes life difficult for the employees of the administration and, together with independent figures, tries to expose the leaky system of the corrupt state apparatus.
In addition to completing tasks within the sad main story, the player has a number of side missions at the disposal of the player, which consist in collecting information or various types of collectibles. Also hidden on the map are many locations that offer interesting activities - some of them become available after passing a certain stage in the game. Some goals can be achieved in a variety of ways: by sneaking behind the city guards, distracting them, disturbing the light at a nearby intersection, causing confusion, or simply attacking them with a large arsenal of weapons that opens up.
What the Watch Dogs mechanic has in common with GTA is the theme of the protagonist acting under the influence of a drug. Trevor Phillips has classic psychoactive drugs at his disposal, while Aiden can try a tech drug. The result of such actions in both cases is hallucinations and experiencing bizarre, dangerous adventures, ending with awakening in an unknown part of the city.
In the case of the first part of the hacker game, the mechanics of driving a car were implemented quite poorly. Players have complained about the lack of realism in the physics and reactions of vehicles and the damage models of these vehicles. So frustrating that there were a lot of chase-related tasks in the game.
Watch Dogs 2 had a slightly more colorful storyline and played with hacker conventions more freely. Set in San Francisco, this time players take on the role of Marcus Holloway, an ex-criminal member of a hacker gang called Dedsec. The goal is to fight the Central Operating System (ctOS) again, but the dark thread of revenge is gone, it's just (or just as much!) fun.
The gameplay in the second part was enriched with new elements. To monitor an unknown location, we can use a drone or a jumper, a remotely controlled vehicle that allows us to hack individual devices from a distance. We can also decide how to complete a task much more often. In addition, the drive mechanism and movement dynamics of all character models have been greatly improved. It is worth noting here that the title "Watch Dogs 2" was designed with the latest generation of gaming platforms in mind.
Watch Dogs: Legion - Player Expectations
Ubisoft authorities' announcements ahead of the premiere of the latest part of the hacker series, scheduled for late October, are optimistic. This time the action will take place in London, terrorized by the corporate mafia.
The plot, which takes place in the near future, will surprise us with its dynamism and freedom of decision-making. The creators promise a number of improvements and unusual mechanics: it is up to us to decide who will be part of the "resistance" (and we will choose from all the inhabitants of the city) and in what style to conduct our crusade against the sinister system. We can also expect a really extensive map and city infrastructure.
Assumptions about the direct influence of minor decisions on the development of the plot seem very promising. The characters we play as may die and not return to our list, and artificial intelligence must constantly adapt to our strategy - and therefore surprise us with non-obvious reactions of NPCs.
If you decide to pre-order the game, you will get access to the Golden King Pack, which will allow you to unlock the unique look of your heroes. This expansion will include two skins and a unique item:
- This head is restless mask
- Skin of the gun “Sisters of the Snake”,
- Upholstery for luxury car.
More information about your favorite computer games and games without electricity can be found on the AvtoTachki Pasje website. Online magazine in the passion for games section.
