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[Stafford]

I had a lot of fun with WD2, despite it's trash characters, story and driving mechanics. Ubi just can't seem to get driving mechanics right in their three Watch_Dogs games.

But I can't deny how impressed I was while just walking around in that game and seeing just how many different behaviours NPCs had. They probably were scripted and not dynamic like RDR2 or something, but to me it definitely rivaled GTA V, because NPCs in that game honestly don't do all that terribly much.

But while exploring SF in WD2 I saw a couple getting married in the park, I saw women washing a car, I saw a dude playing his guitar, a street performer dancing, or a mime, or a person acting like a statue or a bush (like those pranks), people playing or sitting with their dog. I saw a woman yelling at a dude, proceeding to kick his car and then walking off, and I can go on. It was like seeing NPCs doing new shit after turning a corner, quite fucking cool.

I feel this isn't talked about enough and this aspect truly is underrated of that game. I really hoped Legion would have this too, but nah, it wasn't even close. Not even with Ubi's other games. But again, not sure if this can be considered dynamic or scripted but it did make that game world damned cool.

And that's why I don't think the two GTA VI trailers are too good to be true when it comes to seeing all these NPCs having unique behaviour. They very likely will react way more realistic to you than any other game though. Even though that wasn't bad in WD2 either.

 

[Little Chicken]

Agreed, I preferred it and WD1 over GTAV for this very reason. WD1 & 2 just feel much more 'alive', for lack of a better term. The npc behavior and player interactivity with them really lends itself to grounding the player more in that world.

 

[BennyBlanco]

I actually liked this game a lot despite the terrible writing and characters. I should reinstall this junk.

 

[rodrigolfp]

And on foot controls. If Rockstar doesn't learn now for GTA VI...

 

[Stafford]

Agreed, I preferred it and WD1 over GTAV for this very reason. WD1 & 2 just feel much more 'alive', for lack of a better term. The npc behavior and player interactivity with them really lends itself to grounding the player more in that world.

Yep, it's the only aspect I find better than GTA V.

I actually liked this game a lot despite the terrible writing and characters. I should reinstall this junk.

Yep! Same here. The story, characters and driving just want good at all, but I did end up really enjoying the game. The parcour felt good and the hacking and gadgets is always fun.

 

[R6Rider]

WD2 is legit one of my favorite sandbox games. The online was tons of fun too.

 

[Topher]

I thought it was a really fun game. Too bad Legion was such a turd

 

[The Cockatrice]

Watch Dogs 2 is one of the best open world games. Its crazy how Ubisoft pushed the tech forward but most ppl ignored them because of their history. That game was probably one of the first to add random npc interacts, ray marched fog that I don't think any game uses even Today and much more. I loved the music even the silly characters.

 

[Gaiff]

The irony is the thing they got absolutely wrong is the main characters.

 

[Feel Like I'm On 42]

Wish Ubi would patch both WD1 and WD2!

I'd even buy a wd1 remaster

 

[FoxMcChief]

And on foot controls. If Rockstar doesn't learn now for GTA VI...

Red Dead Redemption has incredible on foot controls. Very realistic.

 

[simpatico]

Nobody in history has wasted more high quality gameplay systems and assets than Ubisoft.

 

[kevboard]

Red Dead Redemption has incredible on foot controls. Very realistic.

realistic isn't a good thing lol

 

[awwr999999]

Agreed, I preferred it and WD1 over GTAV for this very reason. WD1 & 2 just feel much more 'alive', for lack of a better term. The npc behavior and player interactivity with them really lends itself to grounding the player more in that world.

GTA San Andreas still beats every other Rockstar game for best NPCs.

 

[rodrigolfp]

Red Dead Redemption has incredible on foot controls. Very realistic.

The first one, yeah, maybe.

 

[Solarstrike]

Great series. WD2 is a riot. Still trying to get into the third one but tbh, the heavy voice accents are an immersion breaker, smh. No disrespect to European GAF'ers but wow the voices are thick. Great presentation though, an underrated game. WD 1 one of the few games I 100%. Would love a Remaster/Remake

 

[Stafford]

And on foot controls. If Rockstar doesn't learn now for GTA VI...

That's something that has never bothered me. I actually like the weighty feel of movement in V and RDR2.

GTA San Andreas still beats every other Rockstar game for best NPCs.

Nah, that can't be right. You mean SA NPCs are better than RDR2 and V? I probably misunderstand you here.

 

[TGO]

WD1 was the same, I remember when it came out I followed an NPC and the fucker was actually going about their lives, they even stop at a News Stand and had a convo until finally going into a building.

 

[Stafford]

Wish Ubi would patch both WD1 and WD2!

I'd even buy a wd1 remaster

I really wish so too. At least it got a PS4 Pro patch, but One X never received one. That version is stuck on a horrible resolution, tons of jaggies and shit framerate, a shame.

WD1 was the same, I remember when it came out I followed an NPC and the fucker was actually going about their lives, they even stop at a News Stand and had a convo until finally going into a building.

Even 1? Wow, I had no idea. I never did explore much in that game. This is the kind of stuff you'd normally only expect from Rockstar.

 

[Durin]

Watch Dogs 2 is one of the best open world games. Its crazy how Ubisoft pushed the tech forward but most ppl ignored them because of their history. That game was probably one of the first to add random npc interacts, ray marched fog that I don't think any game uses even Today and much more. I loved the music even the silly characters.

I mean in the PS4 days they did get plenty of people talking about how they pushed graphics. Even The Division 1 got props for how good Snowdrop looked, only a bit neutered because their initial trailers pushed graphics the final games couldn't quite hit.

 

[Alebrije]

The Division two obviosly is not WD2 regarding NPCs behavior but I can swear that while exploring the city so saw a dog chasing a racoon or another animal...but its very rare to see.

Those events make the Game feel more realistic, but most developers don't care about them because are. not part of the core gameplay.

 

[TGO]

Even 1? Wow, I had no idea. I never did explore much in that game. This is the kind of stuff you'd normally only expect from Rockstar.

Yep, They really should return to the first and fulfill the original vision they had for it, I think the tech is finally here.
And I know some PC guys with mod think they achieved it....but they haven't, not even close.

 

[Mahavastu]

What I back then thought was funny was that you if needed to get away with some gang you could call the police and pretend they did something bad.
And then the police came to capture the gang which shot back, and then the police called for backup, then the gang called their friends...
the fight could last like 5 minutes or so... just controlled by the AI

 

[rodrigolfp]

Yep, They really should return to the first and fulfill the original vision they had for it, I think the tech is finally here.
And I know some PC guys with mod think they achieved it....but they haven't, not even close.

Tech was already here. Parity with consoles happened.

 

[FoxMcChief]

realistic isn't a good thing lol

RDR2 was my game of the generation. I think it's pacing and open world are the best ever done in a video game.

 

[kevboard]

RDR2 was my game of the generation. I think it's pacing and open world are the best ever done in a video game.

it was the biggest disappointment of the generation to me, as the controls were awful, the gunplay even worse than Rockstar's previous outings, and the mission design was embarrassingly bad

 

[R6Rider]

Tech was already here. Parity with consoles happened.

LMAO no matter the thread you can't help yourself.

 

[rodrigolfp]

LMAO no matter the thread you can't help yourself.

Explain stuff like the hidden dynamic shadows setting and mods getting close to the initial trailer, then.

 

[Unknown?]

I just liked putting wanted levels on random people and watching the cops ambush them. XD

 

[Stafford]

What I really loved as well were some of the interiors that iirc you could still access outside of missions, like the Google esque building, they made their own version of Silicon Valley in the game and I loved exploring around there.

I find interiors we can access super important and I truly hope Rockstar sees it that way as well with VI.

 

[Bulletbrain]

GTA5/RDR2: Wait, why can't I do that? The game should let me do that for sure!

WD2/PS2 GTA trilogy: Wait, I can actually do that?? That's awesome.

Main reason why I finished WD2 but to this day haven't finished GTA5 or RDR2. Systems based gameplay. Freedom to experiment and achieve objectives through use or abuse of systems.

I suspect the same for GTA6, despite the insane graphics...

 

[awwr999999]

Nah, that can't be right. You mean SA NPCs are better than RDR2 and V? I probably misunderstand you here.

How much time have you spent just roaming in San Andreas on PS2?
NPCs do a range of things that Rockstar's never done since in any of their other games.
The NPC behavior I'm talking about is different in Xbox or PC ports of the game.

 

[Stafford]

How much time have you spent just roaming in San Andreas on PS2?
NPCs do a range of things that Rockstar's never done since in any of their other games.
The NPC behavior I'm talking about is different in Xbox or PC ports of the game.

I was quite young when I played through SA. I must have forgotten the NPC behaviour. So they dumbed down the NPC behaviour in the Xbox and PC ports, and also the remasters?