The use of computer-run industrial control systems has grown exponentially over the last decade and change. Such infrastructures help cities and nations around the world manage power plants, surveillance, and countless other integral functions. But as sci-fi media has long predicted, interconnected supercomputers can facilitate just as many problems as they solve. In 2010, 100,000 Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition, or SCADA, networks were discovered to have been targeted with the sophisticated Stuxnet virus, a digital weapon allegedly co-engineered by U.S. and Israeli intelligence agencies to debilitate the Iranian nuclear program. Developer Ubisoft Montréal studied such headline news when formulating its cautionary tale about the horrors of an interconnected world in Watch Dogs.

Announced with an awe-inspiring trailer during E3 2012, Watch Dogs counted among first games shown for the eighth console generation. While its final form failed to fulfill the promise of the original teaser, many would argue the title's gameplay mechanics still showcased the power of next-gen technology. These talking points undoubtedly boosted Watch Dogs's sales numbers early on and helped it sustain long legs with over 10 million copies sold.

But this incredible momentum waxed and waned over the course of the series's life cycle. Watch Dogs 2 released to better reception, though it came and went with little fanfare. And the third installment found itself beset by game-breaking performance issues at launch. Watch Dogs has, thus far, managed to claw its way back from multiple downturns, raising questions as to how Ubisoft will reinvent the hacking-focused series next.

This is the Rise and Fall of Watch Dogs.

Click to expand...

Taking a look back at Watch Dogs after playing it again so I could finally get around to reviewing it for the channel!

Timestamps
00:00 Intro
01:43 Overview
03:10 Multiplayer
05:00 Technical State
05:44 Difficulty
06:29 Story Set Up & Thoughts
11:00 Progression Systems
13:00 Gameplay & World
19:37 Combat
23:17 DLC
24:52 Steam Deck
25:33 Positives/Negatives
28:00 Conclusion
30:00 Wrap Up

Click to expand...

• 00:06 The review is based on a full 100% completion of Watch Dogs, with the reviewer having over 100 hours invested across multiple playthroughs.
• 00:48 Steam achievements were added years after launch, allowing long-time players to retroactively unlock most achievements instantly.
• 01:44 Watch Dogs stands out among Ubisoft open-world games thanks to its darker neo-noir tone and heavy focus on environmental interactivity.
• 02:10 ️ The core hacking mechanics—manipulating traffic lights, bridges, and infrastructure—are what make the game uniquely engaging.
• 02:39 The game was ahead of its time in exploring themes of digital surveillance and privacy, which feel even more relevant today.
• 03:18 Multiplayer is still online and conceptually fun, but modern players may face connection issues due to Ubisoft launcher integration.
• 04:57 The game has technical issues on modern hardware, including crashes and persistent visual bugs, though none are game-breaking.
• 05:53 ️ Difficulty options exist but are poorly communicated, offering flexibility that most players may never discover.
• 06:35 The story is compelling overall, but protagonist Aiden Pearce is widely seen as lacking charisma despite fitting the bleak tone.
• 07:44 The narrative expands into a broader conspiracy involving corporations, hackers, and organized crime beyond simple revenge.
• 08:40 Side characters like T-Bone, Clara, Damian, and Jordi are highlights and better embody the game's themes than the main character.
• 11:10 Progression revolves around skills, weapons, vehicles, and hacks, with city-wide hacking upgrades being the most impactful.
• 13:13 ️ While structurally a typical Ubisoft checklist open world, Chicago feels more alive due to constant hacking-driven interaction.
• 15:22 ️ Investigations, side missions, and mini-games reinforce the game's darker subject matter, including crime and privacy violations.
• 16:19 The profiling system adds depth by giving every NPC personal data, forcing players to confront the moral cost of their actions.
• 17:31 ️ The reputation system reflects player behavior, reinforcing Watch Dogs' core theme: power, surveillance, and moral ambiguity have consequences.
• 19:26 Beneath its flaws, Watch Dogs contains a strong core message and creative spark that the sequels failed to fully build upon.
• 19:40 Combat is simple and favors stealth, with players being fragile and rewarded for careful planning over brute force.
• 20:10 Environmental hacking and camera access allow players to plan encounters in advance, creating satisfying emergent gameplay.
• 21:07 A wide variety of gadgets and explosives supports flexible combat approaches, especially for stealth-focused playstyles.
• 21:48 Late-game weapons and the Focus ability enable fun, over-the-top combat options like wall-penetrating sniper shots.
• 22:31 The Bad Blood DLC expands combat with new gadgets like an RC car, previewing mechanics later used in sequels.
• 22:46 The cover system is clunky and unresponsive at times, making direct shootouts feel awkward and frustrating.
• 23:27 The Conspiracy DLC is shallow and unrewarding, offering little value beyond a novelty AR mini-game.
• 23:55 The Bad Blood DLC is a strong narrative expansion, letting players control T-Bone and explore meaningful new content.
• 24:52 Watch Dogs runs well on Steam Deck hardware, but Ubisoft Connect launcher issues can make setup inconsistent.
• 25:34 The game's biggest strength is its concept and highly interactive world, making it a memorable and fun experience.
• 26:02 Aiden Pearce is widely viewed as a weak protagonist, lacking charisma compared to standout side characters like T-Bone.
• 26:30 Frequent forced car chases, especially late in the story, feel repetitive and artificially inflate difficulty.
• 27:12 Aging multiplayer systems and launcher dependencies are increasingly unreliable and unlikely to be improved.
• 28:10 ️ Even 12 years later, Watch Dogs remains unique and relevant due to its themes of technology and surveillance.
• 28:36 While its open-world structure is checklist-driven, the game still feels distinct thanks to its hacking mechanics.
• 28:51 ️ Community mods like Living City significantly enhance gameplay, exploration, and replay value.
• 29:19 The reviewer recommends buying the Complete Edition on sale, as the low price offsets technical and aging-system risks.
• 29:48 Overall, Watch Dogs is a flawed but worthwhile experience, especially for players aware of its multiplayer limitations.

Click to expand...