Different Editions
Nowadays we almost expect that a AAA title will come with a few different editions for players to buy and Watch Dogs 2 is no different. However, Watch Dogs 2 also goes that little bit further and throws six different choices at players to choose from.
Though two of them can only be bought from the Uplay Store, you’ll still have a hard time trying to pick out the right version for you. All of the different editions are detailed below.
- Deluxe Edition ($69.99): The base game, plus two “Deluxe Packs” with in-game “premium” customization items for your character, weapons, vehicles, and drones.
- Gold Edition ($99.99): The Deluxe Edition plus a Season Pass for future DLC missions and gear.
- San Francisco Edition: The Deluxe Edition plus a Collector’s Box; a figurine of the game’s protagonist, Marcus; San Francisco-themed laptop stickers; lithographs; a San Francisco map.
- Wrench Junior Robot Collector’s Pack (Uplay Store Exclusive): Either the standard game, the Deluxe Edition, or the Gold Edition, plus a 7.8-inch replica of an in-game robot controllable by an iPhone or Android app.
- Return of DedSec Collector’s Box (Uplay Store Exclusive): The Gold Edition of the game plus real-world DedSec items, the Marcus figurine, Marcus’s scarf and hat, and an art book.
Pre-Order Bonuses
Wherever you pre-order Watch Dogs 2 from, you’ll get the same bonus mission as a reward for doing so. The Zodiac Killer mission sees the return of the infamous killer who was never found, return to the city. As a reward for completing the mission, players will get an exclusive outfit.
That exclusive outfit is a snazzy-looking orange shirt and pants with a black t-shirt that says “I Saw the Zodiak Killer.” From the trailer, it looks like players will have to follow clues and other leads in order to put an end to the mystery of the Zodiac Killer.
Seamless Multiplayer
One of the more interesting elements of Watch Dogs 2 is its use of a seamless multiplayer environment, allowing other players to gatecrash your world and either cause chaos, or help you out along the way.
Unfortunately, however, at the time of writing, it’s been noted that the seamless multiplayer aspect of Watch Dogs 2 has some pretty significant issues that apparently can see the framerate of the game dropping as low as 10fps. While this is unfortunate news, Ubisoft has assured players that they’re confident the seamless multiplayer feature will be back online by tomorrow’s release date.
For now, we’ll have to wait and see whether or not Ubisoft is successful in meeting this deadline and we certainly hope they do. Fingers crossed the launch day surge doesn’t cause any further multiplayer problems.
Extra Work
If the hacking lifestyle just isn’t cutting it or you just want to make yourself a bit of extra cash as Marcus Holloway, you’re always able to use your phone to get a bit of extra cash, among other things. Marcus’ phone is just as useful as they are in real life. He can Shazam songs as he drives past someone listening to a song, get a map in the HUD by downloading another app, and ferry people around in a car by signing up to Driver SF.
That’s right, if you need a break from your technology-based missions, you can always take some time out to help the people of San Francisco make their way around the city.
Hacking Has Been Given an Upgrade
While the original Watch Dogs’ hacking gameplay was ambitious when being utilized in an open world environment, it didn’t quite go far enough or provide players with enough choice in exactly what they could do with said hacked items. Yes, you could change the turning signals when driving, but what about if you could get a little bit more creative?
Watch Dogs 2 builds upon the foundations laid by its predecessor further expanding the horizon for hacking possibilities. You can now hack just about anything electrical you see, delve into private and confidential information of those who pass you by, and even blow up roads if you choose to do so. If you liked the premise of the original but just wished for a little more freedom, you’re likely to be very happy with Watch Dogs 2.
San Francisco Sightseeing
Leaving the original’s virtual rendition of Chicago behind, Watch Dogs 2 moves the action to sunny San Francisco with landmarks and specific neighborhoods clearly distinguishable. While it’s obviously on a smaller scale to the real deal, Watch Dogs 2’s version of San Francisco is a pretty accurate copy. Buildings will be in either the same or very similar places, detailing is impeccable, and it even feels like a real city.
Of course, ctOS 2.0 is in control of San Francisco and is a part of everyone’s daily lives. As such, you can expect to have a lot of control over the environment and the people around you as you make your way through Watch Dogs 2’s main missions. Just try not to blow too much stuff up.
An Interesting Protagonist
Watch Dogs’ Aiden Pearce was a bit of a disappointing lead character. He was an overly angry character trying to put an end to something he essentially started and he didn’t exactly lend himself to being liked very much. After listening to fan feedback, Ubisoft introduces us to Marcus Holloway in Watch Dogs 2, someone far more interesting and likable than poor ol’ Aiden.
Not only that but the rest of the DedSec crew are diverse and one of the most interesting parts of the game. Though they may grind on you a little bit at the start, each one provides more depth and room for character development than almost anyone from the original game.
Parkour Movement
In order to help you complete missions and navigate the world of Watch Dogs 2 that little bit easier, Marcus has the ability to perform parkour. This essentially means he can freerun around the world, jumping small obstacles and generally allowing for a little bit more fluidity when running through the bustling city environments.
By making movement feel that little bit more satisfying and easier to get to grips with, simply exploring the huge virtual version of San Francisco on offer in Watch Dogs 2 becomes far more appealing than Chicago ever was. Especially when combined with…
Improved Car Physics
Yeah, the first game’s car physics just didn’t feel right and led to driving around the streets of Chicago a rather standard affair. Driving wasn’t fun and so it was likely you’d groan at the prospect of making your way across the city just to check a new waypoint out on your map.
Thanks to somewhat tighter handling and physics that make cars not only feel distinctly different, but more enjoyable to drive. Exploring the world of San Francisco whether you’re on foot making the most of Marcus’ parkour skills, or speeding along the streets in a convertible just as enjoyable as completing the missions.
Release Date and Pro Support
Watch Dogs 2 is due to release this week on Nov. 15 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC. The PS4 version will also be optimized for use with the newly released PS4 Pro allowing you to play the game in an enhanced resolution with HDR support. You’ll see more detail in the world around you and you may notice that the game loads that little bit faster than on a normal PS4 too.
Will you be picking up Watch Dogs 2 this week? Let us know down in the comments below.
Updated: Nov 14, 2016 02:17 pm