Watch Dogs

 PlayStation 4
User Score
6.7

Mixed or average reviews- based on 3903 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1,988 out of 3903
  2. Mixed: 1,104 out of 3903
  3. Negative: 811 out of 3903
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  1. JackBibb95
    May 27, 2014
    10
    Don't get why people are giving this 0/1. Maybe it didn't live up to the hype but it certainly deserves a 7.5 at least. Watch Dogs is a great game with a great city atmosphere. The driving is ok but could do with work, the story is pretty good as are the characters. the hacking is the games strong point however, and this game will keep me entertained for hours.
  2. JetonRose
    May 27, 2014
    10
    Ce jeu est vraiment incroyable ! N'héstitez pas, n'écoutez pas tous ces rageux qui sont justes deçu que leur graphisme sur pc soit tiré vers le bas par les consoles next gen
  3. jefped
    May 27, 2014
    7
    Watch_Dogs plays like Assassin's Creed. Even much of the hacking just takes the place of pickpocketing. I'm playing on an Xbox 360 and I think the graphics look great. I can't wait to explore all of this virtual Chicago. Basically if you like the AC series, you'll probably like Watch_Dogs. If you prefer a little more energy and chaos, stick to GTA V.
  4. ThatDamnWalrus
    May 27, 2014
    10
    This game is amazing, anyone who says otherwise hasnt played the game, the graphics are great, the city feels alive, and its fun to play! i give this a 10/10
  5. naomha
    May 27, 2014
    10
    I'm playing it now and I'm having wicked fun with it. While I'd say it's more along the lines of an 8.5 I'm going to give it a solid 10 because people just don't know how to give a realistic review or scale it properly.

    Most bad reviewers are quite illiterate it seems as well as being generally challenged in English vocabulary. First, don't compare it to any GTA game. It's not a GTA    I'm playing it now and I'm having wicked fun with it. While I'd say it's more along the lines of an 8.5 I'm going to give it a solid 10 because people just don't know how to give a realistic review or scale it properly.

    Most bad reviewers are quite illiterate it seems as well as being generally challenged in English vocabulary.

    First, don't compare it to any GTA game. It's not a GTA game and was never meant to be a GTA game. EVER. It is its own beast.

    I'm going to give it a quick and easy run-down.
    Graphics=9
    Story=8
    Sound design=10
    Set design=10
    Shooting mechanics=9
    Stealth mechanics=7
    Vehicle handling=6 (motorcycles handle like an 8)
    Hacking mechanics=8 (simplistic and not overly done)
    Minigames=7
    Side missions and quests=9 (I never ran out of things to do. Ever.)
    NPCs=8 (although the mini bubble of information very much connects you to some of them)
    Upgrades and perks=9 (so much to think about and upgrade you have to think carefully sometimes)
    Fun factor=15
    I had a LOT of fun with Watch Dogs and will be doing it all over again. I'll try to get every damn mission done I can and approach missions from a different angle. All in all a very fun game to hold you over for quite awhile.    … Expand
  6. Badretheus
    Jun 13, 2014
    10
    A truly open-world game, with so many choices and opportunities. The environment is very realistically active and the short biographies you get about the people you profile is both touching and hilarious.
    The story is deep and emotional, the characters are lovable and the graphics are just awesome.
    It really saddens me all the hate this is getting, it means someone is really ruining a    A truly open-world game, with so many choices and opportunities. The environment is very realistically active and the short biographies you get about the people you profile is both touching and hilarious.
    The story is deep and emotional, the characters are lovable and the graphics are just awesome.

    It really saddens me all the hate this is getting, it means someone is really ruining a triple-A game for them, at the same time, I wish I hadn't finished the game yet, or if I can repeat some of the epic missions without losing any progression. However, the side missions are satisfying.

    All in all, the game is really good, not game-of-the-year good but GTA good. And I don't like comparing it to GTA, since each had its own purpose and both have their merits.
    Play it, you won't regret it.

    Oh, the multiplayer is a nice addition an might the best I've seen in an open-world game.    … Expand
  7. Kunrya
    Jun 30, 2014
    7
    If you forget about all the hype and expectations and just focus on the game itself, it's pretty good. Is it going to go down as one of the greatest games ever? Not a chance. But, it's a good-looking game that provides hours of consistent fun with enough variations in the missions to keep you going. The main story is good and the secondary characters are intriguing enough. Unfortunately,If you forget about all the hype and expectations and just focus on the game itself, it's pretty good. Is it going to go down as one of the greatest games ever? Not a chance. But, it's a good-looking game that provides hours of consistent fun with enough variations in the missions to keep you going. The main story is good and the secondary characters are intriguing enough. Unfortunately, Aiden's persona is probably the weakest thing in the entire game. Bottom line though: It's worth playing.… Expand
  8. Hellrazer95
    Jul 16, 2014
    7
    I do not understand the hate that this game is getting, I really dont. I do however understand that this game is a fantastic sandbox action adventure game that has fun side missions and an immersive story.

    Watch Dogs has a plentiful supply of action and also has an enjoyable amount of stealth, as you can easily get out of harms way if you are not a stealth oriented person thanks to the    I do not understand the hate that this game is getting, I really dont. I do however understand that this game is a fantastic sandbox action adventure game that has fun side missions and an immersive story.

    Watch Dogs has a plentiful supply of action and also has an enjoyable amount of stealth, as you can easily get out of harms way if you are not a stealth oriented person thanks to the fluid movement and shooting mechanics. Throughout the game are random encounters with criminal activity and other side missions were you must stop the criminals either by lethal or non lethal means, this choice allows you to choose if you want to be a hated vigilante or a praised batman like vigilante. Hacking which plays a big role in the game is just as fun as blowing someones head off with a shotgun in game, hacking through your mobile phone is as easy as it is customizable, the fluid camera to camera movement allows you to see the entire battlefield and manipulate anything with a wifi connection to kill enemies and move things to better afford movement. The driving and hacking makes running from the otherwise difficult police a breeze as you can manipulate almost anything on and off the road to accompany your escape.

    There are some faults to the game though, even minor as they are they can still get on your nerves. If you go into watch dogs expecting GTA esque car driving and shooting you will be disappointed as the driving is more like the driving you get from sleeping dogs and you are not able to shoot from your car. The apparel customization while fun and colourful is beaten down by the fact that you can not preview the expensive clothing before you buy it. There is very little gun customization which is odd for a game with so many firearms in it, an example being the only way to customize your gun is to unlock the same one with a silencer of other attachment through uplay (which you must connect to if you would like to unlock any of the cool things it has.)

    The online portion of the game borders on fun and annoying as you can jump into anyones game without them knowing and chase them around stealing their money. On the other hand people can jump into your game without you knowing and steal your money, while fun at times the amount of people joining your game in a day can get really annoying.

    In short Watch Dogs is a great game that has some minor annoyances that add up to a single issue, the game could have been refined into a more seamless game earning it a 7 out of ten from me.    … Expand
  9. fallouts
    Oct 24, 2015
    8
    I feel that this game deserves more love. People were too focused on the graphics to really see the potential of this game, and now that's the past, I am finally able to see the true strengths of this game. The first act is mediocre, but after that, this game becomes very engaging with missions that offer freedom of choice and story that's very good. The gun combat is spot on and stealthI feel that this game deserves more love. People were too focused on the graphics to really see the potential of this game, and now that's the past, I am finally able to see the true strengths of this game. The first act is mediocre, but after that, this game becomes very engaging with missions that offer freedom of choice and story that's very good. The gun combat is spot on and stealth works well. I recommend this game to open world fans.… Expand
  10. ThisISmesmiling
    Jan 17, 2016
    0
    This will not be a gentle read. Watch Dogs, aside from a terrible title, fumbles in its ugly, clumsy man-hands, a terrible nonsensical narrative, underwhelming character mechanics, ridiculously outdated physics, and even after keeping my distance for over a year; going back to this game with the mentality of a last-gen mop up; I can't emphasize enough just how infuriating the pacing,This will not be a gentle read. Watch Dogs, aside from a terrible title, fumbles in its ugly, clumsy man-hands, a terrible nonsensical narrative, underwhelming character mechanics, ridiculously outdated physics, and even after keeping my distance for over a year; going back to this game with the mentality of a last-gen mop up; I can't emphasize enough just how infuriating the pacing, character, and plot development really is. It's unsatisfying when it should be clutch-critical, incredibly ridiculous when it's implied to be intimate, and lofty with a constant "head in the clouds" delivery when all the performances suggest there should be a great gravity about the situation. Its bad enough that the main character is supposed to be emotionally distraught yet through game-demanding-actions consistently falls to express that, but to force the player to become just so distraught over things like game mechanics and plot development, is not only a cheap parlor trick, it's an express ticket to "wtf review-land". If you're like me and gave this game a (cough* second *cough) chance, please, for the love of all that is holy, refrain from doing so and save whatever resource it would take you to acquire it. Money, time, pride, favors of one sort or another; just spare yourself the grief and stay away from this slog. This is literally the first game I have ever played which made me wish I could get back every single second I spent in it. Every would-be redeemable element of this game odd so strongly overshadowed by disappointment that even playing through to remind myself how it concluded was something I simply could not stomach. Worst. Game. I. Have. Ever. Played. And yes, I did play the original ME3 ending. Watch Dogs, as it sits now, is not only not worth the time. It's an insult to the industry. This makes HAZE feel understandably hyped.… Expand
  11. KOR-no123no
    May 27, 2014
    9
    Very good.
    It's so awesome!
    Graphics : good. ( Can not expect fall short, but Day-one believe the patch. )
    Fun : Top ( my subjective think )
    Sanctions : Top ( Hacking was awesome. )

    But Why Do I not support Hangul....
  12. HitmanStryker
    May 27, 2014
    7
    This action game is an ambitious project. I have read a bit of reviews on it and some of it is spot on while others are complaining mostly about the graphics. I will break this down into three sections, the first will be the graphics, the second will be the game play mechanics and the final is on the game itself.

    GRAPHICS; Billed as a next-gen title, I believe that the graphics are a    This action game is an ambitious project. I have read a bit of reviews on it and some of it is spot on while others are complaining mostly about the graphics. I will break this down into three sections, the first will be the graphics, the second will be the game play mechanics and the final is on the game itself.

    GRAPHICS; Billed as a next-gen title, I believe that the graphics are a bit of a letdown, the pale in comparison to InFamous Second Son and the latest installment of Killzone Shadow Fall where the graphics were crisp and clear. The graphics on this game are comparison to GTA V. They are good for the PS3 and XB360. but are not mind blowing for XB ONE and PS4. The graphics suffer in the PS4/XBONE, especially in the day time sections where the although they look good, I found them to look just as good as a last-gen game. In some daytime section the characters look stiff and the textures are not as clear as one would expect. The shadows were muddy and the people had no expression. Now the surprising part is that on nighttime missions, the graphics shine through as if it were being played on higher setting. In my opinion the PS4 outshine all the other consoles except for PC's on the higher settings. Even on the PS4 it is a bit of a letdown. (Five out of Ten Stars).

    GAME-PLAY MECHANICS; The games has excellent game-play mechanics. The cover system is responsive, the shooting is stellar and the controls are tight, especially when driving. The only problem I had with the game play is the tiny hacking instructions which I had a hard time reading. I have a 54 inch set and found it a bit hard to read. Another problem is that once you're spotted, (as in stealth play) you must react fast or else the auto restart system kicks in and you start where you left off. The menus are good and the game can even show you yours waypoint if you en able it, this makes things much easier, since its a huge game. (Eight out of Ten Stars)

    GAME; This game is huge, it is an ambitious project with a lot of missions, side stories, online components and other side games that will make this game a high replay value. It will take you a good twenty hours just to complete the main campaign, which does not include collectibles, trophies, audio files, music, side games ranging from slots to a racing zombie type game. If you thrown in the online component and you'll instantly add hundreds of hours in an living breathing city that changes constantly. Other than some repetitive dialogue abd you can enjoy this games for months to come. (Nine out of Ten Stars).    … Expand
  13. bad_sid
    May 27, 2014
    8
    Вполне себе сносная игра. ГТА стиль со слегка измененной механикой, до шедевра слегка не дотягивает, но интересно поиграть вполне себе стоит. Потраченных денег стоит однозначно.
  14. AKKnolmayer295
    May 27, 2014
    9
    Watch Dogs is a great game that has some great ideas like being able to hack into people's personal lives and even hack cameras to gain better vantage points. While the driving can be a little finicky at times, there is still plenty to enjoy with this game. Since there aren't many games for the new systems I would definitely recommend picking this one up.
  15. maxdot101
    May 28, 2014
    10
    this game is awesome, a lot of cool and fun side missions, this game is like gta 5 and also so different. I love playing it and recommend it to everyone who thinks on buying it-
  16. ForeverFalling
    Oct 1, 2014
    8
    A fun, if slightly forgettable experience. Did not live up to its hype but is still worth checking out. The hacking mechanic is quite superb and the gameplay overall is great. Just a shame that the story does not really leave a lasting impression.
  17. simon7109
    May 29, 2014
    10
    It's a really great game. I don't understand why so many people hate it. Especially on consoles. I play it on PS4 and I have no issues with it. I can understand why PC players complain because the PC port is sh*t, but why do the console players?
    Yes, the game isn't perfect, but it's really great, there are a lot of things to do and it looks great.
    The problem is, people's expectations    It's a really great game. I don't understand why so many people hate it. Especially on consoles. I play it on PS4 and I have no issues with it. I can understand why PC players complain because the PC port is sh*t, but why do the console players?
    Yes, the game isn't perfect, but it's really great, there are a lot of things to do and it looks great.
    The problem is, people's expectations was too high. Everybody should've know that it won't be a world breaking game, it's an usual Ubisoft game. Who played Ubisoft games before should've know what to expect.
    I have 10-12 hours in the game, and most of the time I just wandering around in Chicago and profiling people, stop crimes etc. I did 6 main missions because there are so much content in this.
    I really reccomend this game to anyone who like sandbox games and know what to expect from Ubisoft.
    I hope there will be a Watch_Dogs 2 sometime with even more stuff in it. I will definetly buy it day 1.    … Expand
  18. Ignite
    May 27, 2014
    10
    Best game ever don't get any other game this is the best. It is better than gta v and everything else. Just look at the gameplays on YouTube they look awesome and imagine if you had it (the best thing ever)
  19. VidsRule
    Jun 3, 2014
    10
    Police chases in gta5 consist of driving from the cops as fast as possible. Police chases in watch dogs consist of setting off steam pipes, causing traffic jams with traffic lights, causing rising bridges, road blockers, opening garage doors for short cuts, and others. All done with a press of a button. Like a combination of the games split/second and ridge racer.

    This is just one    Police chases in gta5 consist of driving from the cops as fast as possible. Police chases in watch dogs consist of setting off steam pipes, causing traffic jams with traffic lights, causing rising bridges, road blockers, opening garage doors for short cuts, and others. All done with a press of a button. Like a combination of the games split/second and ridge racer.

    This is just one example. How about the great stealth mechanics? Hacking citizens/citizen profiling? Massive skill tree? Huge arcade minigames at the push of a button? Not to mention great graphics and sound.

    I've played it for a week and I'm already calling it one of the best games ever made; I can't put it down. Calling it 'just gta5' is so uninformed that it makes me wonder if the people saying it have ever even played a single videogame at all (however, gta5 is a great game in it's own right). This will be remembered as one of the best games this generation.    … Expand
  20. ownprocess
    Jun 2, 2014
    10
    As many have said, I don't understand any of the overly negative reviews. I've been having great fun with this on PS4. The graphics & lighting are great, the gameplay is intuitive with some of the best gun play and the driving once you get used to it is also a blast. Loads to do in the game. Personally wouldn't score this anything less than a 9.
  21. DaniVR99
    May 28, 2014
    8
    I am just loving it. It looks and runs great on PS4, it is a cross-gen game, but it looks like a totally new next gen experience. The map is as big as GTA IV, and it feels alive. The driving is a bit odd at the beggining, but now I love it because I have got to master it. Also, tons of side stuff to do in Chicago. It really is an impressive game!
  22. Bazquial
    May 28, 2014
    10
    Let me start off: idiots saying "I play on PC" review the right version lmao. This is for PS4 not PC :) Anyway...The game is fantastic. I love the online play! Decryption is awesome :D
  23. Bassmonkey_Mike
    May 29, 2014
    10
    Having played this now for over 8 hours, I can honestly say I can't see where all the negative 'gamer' reviews are coming from!??!! Initial impressions weren't all that, but once you get used to how it plays, it's brilliant. Critics have definitely got this one bang on. Graphics are good, combat & hacking are slick, driving is tight once you get used to the fact that it's not arcadeyHaving played this now for over 8 hours, I can honestly say I can't see where all the negative 'gamer' reviews are coming from!??!! Initial impressions weren't all that, but once you get used to how it plays, it's brilliant. Critics have definitely got this one bang on. Graphics are good, combat & hacking are slick, driving is tight once you get used to the fact that it's not arcadey like GTA V. There's tons of side stuff to get on with, in fact it's been distracting me from the main campaign it's that good. I'm loving it so far, I'd give it 8.5 after a solid days playing, but beefed it up to 10 to make up for the lludicrous 0 score trolling.… Expand
  24. Jalcons
    May 29, 2014
    10
    Seriously? So many terrible scores for this game. I'm going to start describing the most important aspects I've seen of this HUGE game:

    -Graphics: Ok, Most negative scores I've seen are guys complaining about the graphics, saying things like: "This game is not even close to the E3 version bla bla bla *sniff sniff sniff*" I went to youtube and watch some of these E3 videos and well,    Seriously? So many terrible scores for this game. I'm going to start describing the most important aspects I've seen of this HUGE game:

    -Graphics: Ok, Most negative scores I've seen are guys complaining about the graphics, saying things like: "This game is not even close to the E3 version bla bla bla *sniff sniff sniff*" I went to youtube and watch some of these E3 videos and well, yeah, they are right, graphics are way better (And by way better I mean less jagged lines and smoother shadows, I can't notice any real big difference worth mentioning, yeah call me blind or whatever get over it).
    Overall running WAtch Dogs in a 1080p tv looks great and runs great.

    -A.I.: I take my hat here and applaude Ubisoft. Seriously I mean, cops are so fu(k!ng agressive, pursuits take so much time and require that you use everything at your disposal to get rid of them. Chasing criminals is another great aspect worth mentioning because when you are running to catch them it is not a "run straight pursuit", for example, when they get to a place where its possible to climb they will, change their direction,etc. Also people react very good to your behavior, get too close and they'll say that you are making them uncomfortable. Take your gun out and they'll call the cops. So many other things I could mention but don't think they could fit in here.

    -Gameplay: This section has its pros and only a few cons (In my humble opinion). First I want to point our how good the game react to the control, I mean is so smooth that really catches you. Aiden movements and animations are great and discreet like the hacker he is. Collisions with people and other objects are great too. Overall, I think that the way Chicago is depicted here as a WHOLE is amaizing.
    Driving is my only complaint, its not bad but, somehow it feels like hard at the beggining. It only takes some time and practice to get used to. (By the way, when you drive a car or anything, you can put the camera inside car and see your hand and steering wheel, I mean, how COOL is that :D).

    -Length: Chicago is your playground, use it, make it your B!TCH. I bought the day one edition and have almost 10 hours registered. There is some much stuff to do in this game, 10 hours and I've only completed the first quest of chapter one, I tend to get distracted causing accidents, hacking other players, chasing criminals, being a criminal (Armed robbery lol)...and the list goes on. Go online and the length grows indefinitely: Races, 1vs1 Hacking, team hacking, etc.

    -Sound: Last but not least, the sound. In one word AMAIZING. The music selection is great, from Rock to blues or jazz for those rainy days in Chicago. Once I hacked a Camera and laughed like a maniac listening the conversation of two guys (Apparently one of them got FRIENDZONED).

    I give this game 10, it has its unpolished aspects like every other game but the way this game traps you is simply amaizing. Been a long time since I felt so eager to sit down in my couch and play a game. I thank Ubisoft for this.    … Expand
  25. hemmo1986
    May 28, 2014
    8
    I've been reading a lot of the user reviews and cant believe people are scoring this game so badly.

    While the game does have a some bad aspects, it does however have more good than bad. Brilliant environment and weather effects, NPC's look and act great, so many side missions to do. While it doesn't quite live up to GTA V, i think this game has its own personality and i think    I've been reading a lot of the user reviews and cant believe people are scoring this game so badly.

    While the game does have a some bad aspects, it does however have more good than bad.
    Brilliant environment and weather effects, NPC's look and act great, so many side missions to do.

    While it doesn't quite live up to GTA V, i think this game has its own personality and i think ubisoft was trying to create a game that's different to GTA.

    I dont think its fair to completely compare the two as GTA has its own satire and is a different breed altogether.

    People giving this game such dismal scores either are kidding themselves or are GTA fanboys.    … Expand
  26. SLagMding
    May 27, 2014
    10
    Watch Dogs is a pretty decent game overall. But there is always the good and the bad. Especially the graphics controversy, but aside the bad stuff lets face the good side. The city of Chicago is really lively. The interaction between NPCS are what got me into the game. And the hacking might not be realistic, but realism isn't everything, at least its fun. Its not like Arma or anything.Watch Dogs is a pretty decent game overall. But there is always the good and the bad. Especially the graphics controversy, but aside the bad stuff lets face the good side. The city of Chicago is really lively. The interaction between NPCS are what got me into the game. And the hacking might not be realistic, but realism isn't everything, at least its fun. Its not like Arma or anything.

    One more thing I want to point out is some of the reviewers on Metacritic that somehow gave the game a 0. Like really, whats the point. Making fake reviews like that. Ubisoft spent 4 years making the game, and is that all they got? A zero? Its not like its a horrible game, its pretty decent. I don't care if you hate the game, but don't try to fool everyone by making fake reviews. Therefore I think Ubisoft deserve something better. To make up for the fake zero reviews I will the a score of 10.    … Expand
  27. Slade_6
    May 28, 2014
    9
    I love this game! i admit that i do not like the Driving especially after having played GTA V... but only because GTA set such high standards for driving. but every other feature of the game in my opinion is about 10x better than GTA. in fact i think that its exactly what GTA needed. the phone feature is great and the fluidity is perfect.. if u were to mix GTA with watchdogs then it wouldI love this game! i admit that i do not like the Driving especially after having played GTA V... but only because GTA set such high standards for driving. but every other feature of the game in my opinion is about 10x better than GTA. in fact i think that its exactly what GTA needed. the phone feature is great and the fluidity is perfect.. if u were to mix GTA with watchdogs then it would be such a good game that people would have a really hard time in school and studying. to conclude Watch dogs is a great game and um giving it a 9 because the only thing it is missing is better driving. more like GTA V driving.… Expand
  28. Tha_Real_KiD
    May 29, 2014
    10
    THIS GAME IS AMAZING!!!! I've been playing nonstop for hours and I am still having fun. For all the people who keep giving the game a 0/10.PLAY THE DAMN GAME ALL THE WAY BEFORE RATING AND BE PATIENT WITH UBISOFT!!! I'm sure Ubisoft is trying their hardest to fix any problems that we may be having. It's not like they could see the future and see the problems that would come with the damnTHIS GAME IS AMAZING!!!! I've been playing nonstop for hours and I am still having fun. For all the people who keep giving the game a 0/10.PLAY THE DAMN GAME ALL THE WAY BEFORE RATING AND BE PATIENT WITH UBISOFT!!! I'm sure Ubisoft is trying their hardest to fix any problems that we may be having. It's not like they could see the future and see the problems that would come with the damn game so stop complaining like little children. Anyway, the game is probably my favorite game out now under Infamous. And for people who say the story sucks compared to GTA, I'd rather play this story 300 times than listen to the cheesiness of the so called "better" storyline of GTA. With that said.. GET THIS GAME!… Expand
  29. acblogreview
    May 30, 2014
    8
    It's very hard to live up to the hype. Many forms of media suffer this curse but Watch Dogs comes through relatively unscathed. Albeit the footage at E3 2012 doesn't represent the vast majority of gamers experience, however is it truly a bad game because it didn't live to up what was effectively an airbrushed advert.
    Many games nowadays suffer from over hype, even being unfinished. Many    It's very hard to live up to the hype. Many forms of media suffer this curse but Watch Dogs comes through relatively unscathed. Albeit the footage at E3 2012 doesn't represent the vast majority of gamers experience, however is it truly a bad game because it didn't live to up what was effectively an airbrushed advert.
    Many games nowadays suffer from over hype, even being unfinished. Many people say it delivers little to what it promised, but one only needs to look at it's very similar 'rival' GTA V which was plagued with launch problems both offline and notably online. Yet it's still people's favourites. Without GTA V Watch Dogs would have been more accepted but people's desire to see things crash and burn covers their vision and makes them blind to what really matters.
    What Watch Dogs delivers is an enjoyable 40+ hour game with plenty of content ready for your enjoyment. If you decide to take the time out of the main mission there are many activities to embroil yourself in, including many online modes (which were all active from day one).
    The driving is clunky, the online may take a long time to connect, the graphics on your average computer you bought from PC World aren't as good as the graphics represented at E3 2012 but all in all does that really matter. Most games have bad driving unless they aren't GTA V.
    Watch Dogs has a lot of people using the 'as long as you enjoy it' card. Which is true, but it is a decent game. One that could perhaps do with a few updates. But if GTA V can launch half finished and succeed so can Watch Dogs.
    This review may not have convinced people but hopefully it will at least certify some people's thoughts. Don't believe everything you read, but if you do read a lot.    … Expand
  30. BigBiggo
    May 29, 2014
    8
    If you love open-world games then this is a must buy. People should not have expected WD to outclass GTA V. Rockstar have had over a decade to perfect the formula and it's going to be a while before somebody takes the crown from them. WD is not as refined as GTA V but can be just as detailed and engrossing.

    The hacking aspects work really well and do not feel like they have been tacked    If you love open-world games then this is a must buy. People should not have expected WD to outclass GTA V. Rockstar have had over a decade to perfect the formula and it's going to be a while before somebody takes the crown from them. WD is not as refined as GTA V but can be just as detailed and engrossing.

    The hacking aspects work really well and do not feel like they have been tacked on. Gunfights (on realistic difficulty) are unforgiving and just one misstep results in death, planning (and surveying the environment with your hacking abilities) is the key to survival. The car handling is really sluggish and takes some getting used to but you can live with it. Collateral damage is frowned upon which is a nice change as it forces you to act more like an actual vigilante and protector rather than half good-guy, half spree killer. The police are like wild dogs and will hunt you without restraint if you are caught doing something you shouldn't be which again forces you to plan your actions accordingly.

    The sound design is not as rich as it could have been and is my main complaint. The city itself is a bit too 'quiet' and the level of noise pollution could have been ramped up. There is a pseudo-radio triggered when driving around which occasionally broadcasts news clips relevant to in-game events. Sadly, these news tidbits are completely forgettable. The music selection is absolute dick. There are around thirty songs and you can acquire more in-game by hacking them from the phones of NPCs, unfortunately most of the songs are just rubbish. To the best of my knowledge all the bands/artists are Chicago affiliates e.g. Elmore James and there is a modest amount of Chicago Blues in the roster along with a few nice 70s ballads. The amount of rap on the soundtrack is criminal. I have no problem with rap but the stuff on here is just no good and there is so much of it! The 'rock' selection is comprised of awful whine-core and even the inclusion of Smashing Pumpkins does not ease the pain as their contribution is dire. It is representative of modern radio I guess, loads of stations but nowhere worth getting off. Clearly though Ubi just went cheap on the music licensing and opted to go for an affordable set of songs instead of a set of good ones. The online invasion mode built into the SP can be thrilling/infuriating and changes the dynamic of the game in a unique and engrossing way.

    Facial animations are very bland and the daytime portions of the game are graphically the most boring. Most days are overcast so the colours are often drab. Evening/nighttime and during thunderstorms the game looks best.

    I have to deduct two points for the abysmal bargain-bin song selection (it really does cheapen the experience) and lacklustre sound design.    … Expand
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Awards & Rankings

37
#37 Best PS4 Game of 2014
4
#4 Most Discussed PS4 Game of 2014
9
#9 Most Shared PS4 Game of 2014

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
80

Generally favorable reviews - based on 80 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 64 out of 80
  2. Mixed: 16 out of 80
  3. Negative: 0 out of 80
  1. Softpedia
    Aug 6, 2014
    85
    Watch Dogs is a fun open world experience. However, the repetitive chases and the formulaic gameplay tend to get tedious and boring after a while. As such, you might want to enjoy the different multiplayer experiences and take frequent breaks to just roam around the city.
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  2. CD-Action
    Jul 25, 2014
    70
    It’s a bold first step on the new terrain for Ubisoft. The game is enjoyable, offers some interesting mechanics and lasts for long enough, but is bland as a whole. The characters lack personalities, the city could use more distinctness and the story is instantly forgettable. [07/2014, p.46]
  3. SpazioGames
    Jul 18, 2014
    85
    Overall, it is almost without a doubt the best platformer that has popped up on the current generation of consoles and is a bedrock on which Ubisoft could build a brand to remember.
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