Ubisoft has a wide array of games launching in the coming months, with heavyweight titles like Assassin's Creed: Valhalla being complemented by new IPs like Immortals: Fenyx Rising. In the middle of those is Watch Dogs Legion, Ubisoft's third pass at telling a compelling hacker drama. Game Rant went hands-on with Watch Dogs Legion for about four hours at a recent remote preview event, during which time we saw a significant chunk of missions, NPC recruitment, and free roam.
Fundamentally, the game will feel familiar for anyone that played Watch Dogs 2, with the combat and movement controls feeling similar to what fans have experienced in the past. There's a fair bit more variety this time around, though, thanks to the broader skillsets that comes with being able to recruit any NPC in the game's take on London.
Our demo segment kicked off after the bombing of London's Parliament, which DedSec – the player's faction – was framed for. London has fallen victim to an authoritarian system enforced by a privatized police force, and DedSec is recruiting new members to take it on. The depiction of London itself is surprisingly compelling. It could have easily fallen into the trap of near-future tropes, but instead, it's a relatively even balance of fantastical and realistic.
Most of the missions centered around the Kelleys, a massive crime family central to a well-organized human trafficking ring. The objectives themselves were pretty standard Watch Dogs fare, tasking the player to sneak into facilities, hack computers, and solve the occasional puzzle. None of the objectives were boring, per se, as players are free to find whatever solution to an objective they see fit, but they didn't really take any risks.
Finding and recruiting interesting characters, without a doubt, was the most entertaining aspect of the game. Our first was a retired MI6 agent who needed help taking down an illegal organ trading operation, but there's a broad range available to the player. Many will be familiar with Watch Dogs Legions' spy grandma that has appeared in marketing material, and while we weren't able to find a spy grandma, we did recruit an older woman with a sledgehammer for a melee weapon. It was gleefully absurd, and if Watch Dogs Legion is capable of making compelling characters like the ones we found throughout the entire game, the system will feel like more than just a gimmick.
Every recruit in Watch Dogs Legion has their own loadout, complete with their own skills and a special ability. There's also some variety in how characters fight depending on their background, which does help make them feel distinct from one another. For instance, spies will be well-versed in martial arts, but the average joe on the street will use less nuanced combat tactics, typically swinging wildly or packing a melee weapon.
Guns feel fine, for the most part, with the exception being operators that have non-lethal taser weapons by default, which didn't feel punchy or good to use. Others had regular weapons ranging from pistols to assault rifles, which feel a lot more satisfying all around. Full frontal assault didn't end very well though, so if players do get stuck with weaker weapons, sneaking not only circumvents the problem but makes the experience a lot smoother.
Some enemies will stick to melee combat if the player doesn't pull out a gun, which is a nice touch. Plus, melee combat has a little more depth thanks to enemies blocking attacks, forcing the player to try and break through their defense.
The downside is that no character felt all that defined in the story missions we played. With Watch Dogs Legion featuring optional permadeath, it makes sense that there can't be that much investment into a single character that may die during a flubbed stunt in free roam. Instead, the selected NPC largely depends on how fun their skillset is to play, and how well their abilities tie into the objective. That shakes out well for gameplay, but it's also a pretty big gamble.
Hacking in Legion works fundamentally the same as the last two games. Throughout the world, there are objects players can interact with to set traps, distract guards, or generally cause chaos. The most useful option for the given context can be accessed by tapping left bumper, which is a small but appreciated change, though other options are still available for a single object too. Unlocking a hack grants it to every character, so players don't need to worry about progress wipes if they lose one.
Driving felt a little bit floaty, a problem that the previous two entries in the franchise couldn't seem to shake. The cars are crafted pretty authentically within the context of the world, though with electric cars featuring satisfying hums instead of dedicated motor sounds, and self-driving ones just waiting to be hijacked. There's a varied feel to vehicles too, especially with the game featuring classic cars in addition to newer ones. They successfully manage to feel interesting, despite their issues with controls, which remedies the problem to a degree.
Overall, Watch Dogs Legion feels familiar, though it's at its best when it leans into its absurdity. The game seems to be willing to be as bizarre as players want it to be, allowing them to get drunk and bash enemies as a sledgehammer-wielding grandma. With any luck, that will translate into the full game too.
Watch Dogs Legion releases October 29 for PC, PS4, Stadia, and Xbox One. PS5 and Xbox Series X versions are in development.