Watch Dogs 2 rages against the machine in style

Ubisoft’s “Watch Dogs” franchise is all about the manipulation of technology by fundamentally opposed forces. One uses it to gain dominion over the powerless, the other to liberate those shackled by its control. 

Though no less committed to the cause of tearing down a corrupt system, the hackers of “Watch Dogs 2” are of a different breed. They’re younger, more idealistic, and no strangers to partying. The main protagonist, Marcus Holloway, is nothing like the original’s dour Aiden Pearce. But there’s more to this game than its likeable hero; “Watch Dogs 2” introduces a more colorful world, new gadgets to play with, and a plethora of enjoyable missions.

One with everything

The central Operating System (ctOS) has spread to San Francisco, connecting all its citizens to every electronic device dependent on a computer. But the ctOS is far from perfect. It falsely accuses hacker Marcus Holloway of a high-profile crime, which convinces him that other innocents can likewise be harmed by the technology. Desiring true change, he joins a secret society of hacktivists called DedSec. Together, they dedicate themselves to tearing down Blume – the corrupt organization that’s using the ctOS to take advantage of vulnerable people.

The original “Watch Dog’s” tale of vengeance restricted the experience to a grim narrow path. In contrast, “Watch Dogs 2’s” much looser premise allows it to explore a variety of tones and themes. Yes, there’s still room for seriousness. But “Watch Dogs 2” also embraces the lighthearted and ridiculous. Marcus and his gang are fueled not only by the fiery indignation of youth, but so too by their boundless energy and readiness to have a good time. So expect childish pranks, silly stunts, and even a naïve sort of optimism most often associated with the young.

The San Francisco Bay Area, in which the game is set, reflects this plurality of tones. It’s vibrant and full of personality, boasting beautiful commercial and residential zones, graffiti-covered architecture, peaceful parks, and wonderful beaches. But it also has a dark underside – one populated by gangs, power-hungry corporations, seedy neighborhoods, and a creepy cult.

Like any true open-world game, you, as Marcus, are free to explore the entire map from the outset. You can steal vehicles and drive from one location to another, parkour your way across rooftops, buy accessories from shops, take selfies at landmarks, and go kart racing. You can even pet dogs. And if you’re caught committing a crime, the police will hound you until you’ve either vanished or been captured.

What sets “Watch Dogs 2” apart from other open-world titles is, of course, the hacking.

Life hacks

Hacking allows you to interact with the world in a multitude of ways, from eavesdropping on private phone calls, to messing with traffic lights to cause road accidents, to causing a massive system crash that shuts down city infrastructure for a limited time.

Your quest to dismantle Blume will often have you infiltrating heavily guarded areas. By hacking cameras, you can learn about enemy patrols and the interior configuration of a building without ever having to set foot inside said building. Even better, you can sit your posterior down in a safe spot, then have your remote-controlled drones do the legwork for you.

One drone resembles a two-wheeled hoverboard. It’s compact enough to fit into vents, which makes it the perfect stealth asset. It even has a robot arm that can interface with computers for more intimate hacking. The other is a quadcopter, an aerial drone that’s an excellent choice if you need a bird’s eye view of a region. Later in the game, you can even equip them with bombs or zappers.

The drones are an incredible addition to the series, as they open up an entirely new range of stealth options for you. Indeed, it’s possible to complete a mission without killing anyone, thanks to these trusty robots and a host of other useful tools.

You can’t always avoid conflict, however, whether direct or indirect. Thankfully, you have skills that allow you to incapacitate or even kill targets. For example, you can cause an electrical panel to crackle, luring nearby enemies to it. Once they’re close enough, you can short circuit said panel to electrocute and stun them. If you’re looking for a more permanent solution to your problems, however, you can always just make gadgets explode in a fiery, deadly blast.

My favorite trick is hacking someone’s phone to fool cops into thinking s/he’s a wanted criminal, or gangs that s/he’s a member of a rival group. This results in either policemen or hoodlums swarming the location and attacking your hapless target. It makes for a superb diversion.

There’s also a hacking mini-game that has you rotating discs to create paths between nodes. These are generally quite amusing – until the game hikes up the challenge and slaps on a time limit. Then they become lessons in panic and frustration.

If stealth and trickery aren’t your thing, you can always kill ‘em dead with “Watch Dogs 2’s” vast arsenal of firearms. The game’s cover shooting is nothing stellar, however, and I found myself purposely avoiding direct confrontations because it’s simply more gratifying to surmount obstacles using a combination of aggressive hacktivism and robots.

Playing as a gun-toting mass murderer is also at odds with the story’s portrayal of Marcus. Marcus and DedSec are loveable goofballs and not exactly coldblooded killers; they’re only dangerous to the abusive systems espoused by evil corporate overlords. Of all the tonal shifts in “Watch Dogs 2,” the back and forth between the player-controlled murdering maniac and the good-natured Marcus of the cinematics is the only one that’s jarring.

Stranger than fiction

What do Tom Cruise, Martin Shkreli, and Google have in common? They’re all parodied in “Watch Dogs 2.”

“Watch Dogs 2” shines when it comes to mission design – not only because of the well-crafted levels that allow for a variety of playstyles, but also because a number of them revolve around hilarious reflections of reality’s stranger aspects. One mission has you dealing with a celebrity connected to a religious a cult – a cult whose inner sanctum you then break into. The game’s cheeky take on Silicon Valley comes in the form of Nudle, a tech giant whose headquarters figures in another awesome mission. And then there’s that annoying pisspot who raises the price of a life-saving drug, whose life in turn you get to ruin in yet another mission. Ah, sweet revenge.

These missions are as varied as they are entertaining, and you can replay them any time you want.

There are smaller, quicker missions, the most exciting of which are brought about by “Watch Dogs 2’s” multiplayer mode. This mode can be turned on and off any time and is seamless with single player. It not only allows you to meet other players and complete missions with them, it also lets you participate in invasions and bounty hunts. The former allows a player to “invade” another’s world to hack their system. The latter is initiated when a player wreaks too much havoc in their world, prompting the police to summon other players to help catch and kill the culprit. 

Rage against the machine

As an improvement over its predecessor in almost every way, “Watch Dogs 2” is a fine example of a great sequel.

Mediocre shooting and occasionally irritating hacking mini-game aside, “Watch Dogs 2’s” endearing characters, lively world, and brilliant missions make it a worthwhile experience. Add to this the ability to approach any situation in fun and inventive ways – thanks to a pair of magnificent drones and a diverse repertoire of exciting hacking skills – and you’ve got another quality title from the folks at Ubisoft. — TJD, GMA News

Rating – 8.5/10

Platforms: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One