Watch_Dogs Comic-Con 2013 Impression

After waiting over an hour I was finally about to see this never before seen footage of Watch_Dogs. The nine minute demo highlighting a lot of the same concepts I was already familiar with but added more details about Aiden Pearce. I witnessed live combat and more information about how the world will develop based on the actions of the player. It was a fantastic treat and definitely worth the extensive wait.

After entering the studio I was introduced to the demo by a Frag Doll named Esper, she explained her fondness for the game and grenade launchers in general before playing the demo. Creative Director Jonathan Morin went on to explain how players will be able to continuously play Watch_Dogs on any platform and infiltrate each other’s world, the amount of player interaction scared me a little. At any time someone could hack into my universe and cause untold calamity. This fear was further cultivated with the fact that Morin went on to explain how the world will evolve based on how the player uses the environment, whether it’s a traffic jam or stealing a car: the world will take notice.

Afterwards a gameplay demo was shown, highlighting combat and stealth. At the start Aiden is seen purchasing new weapons and heading to his next mission. It’s here that I finally saw Aiden as a character, talking and interacting with another person at a personal level. Aiden needed information on a specific job and the person who had it wasn’t going to give it up willingly.

After hacking into a boat and getting to the rail-yard Aiden sticks to the shadows. The cover based system runs smooth, Aiden is nimble. Using his equipment Aiden can place and throw tracers to subdue guards. Combined with his focus ability using this in connection with his tracer can allow Aiden to remove several guards in a matter of seconds. After gaining controlling the ctOS in the area Aiden walks into the Parking Lot and interrogates the leader, demanding information in exchange for his two family’s lives. However the guards are alerted to Aiden’s presence within the area and now must resort to direct force.

Combat is fast and fluid, Aiden is a skilled shooter and military combatant. Using his new weapons Aiden quickly eliminates the guard, and uses the ctOS to his advantage. It’s also here that I first saw the use of remote improvised explosives. In an attempt to escape Aiden causes a Blackout and succeeds in fleeing the scene, ending the demo.

In the trailer that followed more details regarding Aiden was revealed. Apparently Aiden has an obsessive personality  which he focused on surveillance. But now a threat that Aiden was attempting to avoid as his family in danger and now must be willing to do whatever it takes to ensure his family’s safety. The demo didn’t add much to the Watch_Dogs universe but it didn’t hurt it as well. Instead I found out more about the protagonist and obtained a shirt afterwards for pre-ordering the game. Watch_Dogs is slated for Xbox 360, PS3, Wii U, and PC on November 15. Next-generation console versions will be day one launch titles.