|
|
|
WATCH_DOGS
review | PLAYSTATION 4
|
Publisher: Ubisoft.
Developer: Ubisoft Montreal. Released: May 2014. Genre: Open World. Other versions: PS3; XONE; X360; WIIU; PC. Posted 21st August 2026. By Shane Battams © 2026 |
|
With open world games proving a key fixture of the eighth generation, Ubisoft looked to capitalise on prior successes with Assassin’s Creed and Far Cry. While these would both see new entries in 2014, a newcomer also joined the fray in the form of Watch_Dogs. One of the PS4’s most anticipated early games, Ubisoft Montreal would provide a Chicago playground with potential for hacking, exploration, and general chaos. This effort would prove a commercial success, but drew controversy for technical woes and pre-release footage that didn’t match the quality of the final product. However, time (along with a few patches) can heal all wounds, and those who can look past some setbacks should find this open world excursion a great deal of fun.
In a Chicago which is under surveillance by the Central Operating System, a program connecting electronic devices to document every person, Aiden Pearce finds himself in trouble when a heist goes wrong, and an ensuing hit leaves his niece dead. Now, Pearce dons the persona of The Vigilante as he attempts to find those who ordered the hit on him, though he soon finds that pulling up one weed reveals many more lying in wait. The story, while familiar at points, offers intrigue and a dash of dark humour, as well as plenty of thrills. Sadly, the central protagonist, Aiden, proves a weak link. The gruff voice delivery, anti-hero actions and muddled moral quandaries all feel generic, a pastiche of better games. However, as the game introduces more likeable secondary figures and some devilish villains, things improve, and their dialogue and voice acting is generally superior.
Watch_Dogs allows players to hack their surroundings, such as traffic lights and city infrastructure, to stay ahead of the law
Instead, the real star of Watch_Dogs is the city of Chicago. Each district feels unique, as the soaring skyscrapers of The Loop contrast with the industrial district of Brandon Docks. Stacks of civilians wander the streets, with interactions playing out such as a couple arguing with each other, or musicians playing to onlookers, gifting a sense of liveliness to the world. There’s a ton of content to partake in too, which offers different types of enjoyment. Gang Hideouts and Contracts see you delve into the underbelly of the city, City Hotspots collectables let you absorb its culture, and casual activities such as drinking games and Chess offer surprising depth. The progression wheel is huge, and earning the coveted 100 percent feels like a daunting task, but always enjoyable. It’s a sizeable world without feeling overstretched, and proves a joy to explore.
Watch_Dogs offers a familiar sandbox mix of driving, shooting and stealth. Each feels sturdy, perhaps a benefit of multiple studios working on this title. Driving, whether in high-speed performance or more everyday vehicles, feels responsive and weighty. Shooting avoids the cumbersome integration of older sandbox titles, with sharp aiming and impactful weaponry producing enjoyable shootouts. Stealth isn’t the deepest, but clear lines of sight and flexible movement offer room for improvisation. Hacking adds a great spin on all of these elements, with Aiden’s abilities growing as you level up. Distractions allow you to isolate guards from each other, traffic lights can be tapped to cause pursuing cars to pile up, and you can even unlock the ability to hack guards’ grenades. Camera hacking provides a great way to scout enemies before entering an area, offering a valuable asset. All these hacks shake up a familiar formula and encourage experimentation when approaching restricted areas.
Watch_Dogs offers a familiar sandbox mix of driving, shooting and stealth. Each feels sturdy, perhaps a benefit of multiple studios working on this title. Driving, whether in high-speed performance or more everyday vehicles, feels responsive and weighty. Shooting avoids the cumbersome integration of older sandbox titles, with sharp aiming and impactful weaponry producing enjoyable shootouts. Stealth isn’t the deepest, but clear lines of sight and flexible movement offer room for improvisation. Hacking adds a great spin on all of these elements, with Aiden’s abilities growing as you level up. Distractions allow you to isolate guards from each other, traffic lights can be tapped to cause pursuing cars to pile up, and you can even unlock the ability to hack guards’ grenades. Camera hacking provides a great way to scout enemies before entering an area, offering a valuable asset. All these hacks shake up a familiar formula and encourage experimentation when approaching restricted areas.
FOCAL POINT: INVASION OF PRIVACY
|
|
Watch_Dogs provided some rather novel multiplayer activities to bolster its meaty single-player campaign. Rather than focus on direct adversarial modes (outside of traditional races that utilise the map to create courses), they see you breaching other players’ games. Invasion sees one player attempting to plant a backdoor into the map, while the other must track down and kill the invader. Tailing is more discreet, as you must follow an opponent and trace them while blending in with the world to avoid suspicion. Both offer an incredibly tense yet enjoyable side activity, which rewards experience in the solo campaign, meaning it can give you a leg-up should you feel underpowered during the story. There is also online free roaming, available for up to eight players, allowing you to cause utter havoc across Chicago, and it’s highly enjoyable.
There’s a lot to praise here, but also some noticeable issues. While story missions generally offer anarchic fun, with a later mission involving hackable traps proving a particular highlight, some missions rely on instant-fail stealth and can prove frustrating. An early prison escape is perhaps the worst offender, requiring such perfect timing that initial failure is inevitable. Some of the side activities also feel rote, such as the typical tower climbing to reveal icons on the map. Although at least this time, the idea of hacking into the world makes more sense. These are, however, only a few minor dents in an otherwise great experience.
The visuals also prove rather inconsistent at times. While main characters and the Chicago world look great, side characters look unflattering. Close-ups during certain mini-games showcase some particularly ugly NPC models. There are also issues with stuttering, with performance drops during intense moments. On the plus side, the aesthetic is great, with the black-and-white hacking always standing out. The music is great too, with both a licensed and original soundtrack offering different benefits. Tracks from Ministry, Rise Against and Curtis Mayfield provide great radio listening, with some requiring collecting via the app Songsneak. Meanwhile, the original tracks help create a great atmosphere, such as the ominous Vigilante theme, with its humming bass.
The visuals also prove rather inconsistent at times. While main characters and the Chicago world look great, side characters look unflattering. Close-ups during certain mini-games showcase some particularly ugly NPC models. There are also issues with stuttering, with performance drops during intense moments. On the plus side, the aesthetic is great, with the black-and-white hacking always standing out. The music is great too, with both a licensed and original soundtrack offering different benefits. Tracks from Ministry, Rise Against and Curtis Mayfield provide great radio listening, with some requiring collecting via the app Songsneak. Meanwhile, the original tracks help create a great atmosphere, such as the ominous Vigilante theme, with its humming bass.
|
|
Watch_Dogs certainly suffered its share of criticism at launch, but time has proven kind to this unique take on the open world genre. Its mechanical components feel sturdy, and the hacking breathes new life into this well-worn setup. The immersive Chicago playground remains a joy; a plethora of activities keeps you playing for dozens of hours, and novel multiplayer modes prove really enjoyable. While it suffers inconsistencies with its presentation and storytelling, these feel forgivable thanks to the addictive gameplay loop. If you’re open to second chances and crave sandbox mayhem, this one is worthy of a second look.
|
|
VERDICT
"Despite inconsistencies with its presentation and storytelling, Watch_Dogs melds an immersive playground, a plethora of activities, and sturdy mechanics to great effect with novel hacking abilities."
OVERALL: 8/10 |
OTHER FUN OPEN WORLD GAMES REVIEWED
Saints Row IV (2013, PlayStation 3)
|
Grand Theft Auto V (2013, PlayStation 3)
|