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13 Features That Make Watch Dogs 2 The Most Lit Game Of 2016

The big shiny open world sequel is FINALLY HERE.

Fancy the idea of hacking your way around a big shiny open-world adventure?Then you’re in luck, because Watch Dogs 2 IS HERE.

And there’s a whole load of new changes. For a start, where the first game’s main character was Aiden Pearce, this time we are led by a whole new team of DedSec hackers. It’s also set in vibrant San Francisco rather than the first one’s gritty Chicago.

Like its new brighter setting, this sequel is more light-hearted, more lit and more LOLsy. Here’s everything you need to know about the hacking action game that’s about to take over your console…

Seamless multiplayer

Although 'Watch Dogs 2' can be played entirely offline, you’re going to have loads of fun with the sequel’s seamless multiplayer.

Players causing too much carnage in their own game world can result in their city requesting your help in taking them down. Should you accept the call, you will be given the player’s location to hunt them down and try to stop them.

This awesome feature helps to spice up the gameplay and adds a whole new competitive element.

Brother From Another Mother

While the first Watch Dogs game had us playing as moody and brutal vigilante Aidan Pierce, this time around we’re led by a younger, more mellow cast of hackers – but that doesn’t mean they’re a bunch of pushovers.

Where Pierce rained furious vengeance upon his enemies via a telescopic baton, our new hero, Marcus Holloway, comes armed with a weapon known as the ‘Thunder Ball’.

It’s basically a heavy ball on the end of a chain which Marcus uses to bludgeon enemies into submission. Eek!

If a more stealthy approach is required, he can also put them to sleep by strangling anyone in the way. Still, eek!

Selfies!

Nowhere can escape the selfie –' Watch Dogs 2'’s San Francisco setting included. So, after you’ve spent the day stealing money from people’s bank accounts on San Fran’s popular tourist spot Pier 39, you can still pose for a photo. Be warned though, passers by LOVE a good photo bomb.

NPC’s! Yeah You Know Me!

On the street, you can dance, wave and even flirt with complete strangers - the level of interaction that you can engage with NPC characters on is phenomenal.

But if you wanna get hot and heavy, be wary:the people on the street don’t always respond kindly to undue attention… and neither do their partners.

Thankfully there’s a CHILL action that you can use to try and calm the situation down. If that doesn’t work, there’s no need to resort to violence just because you’ve been rejected – didn’t your mum teach you better than that

Instead, perhaps you could hack your proposed beau’s bank account to see if that changes their mind… they might be less inclined to say no to a drink and a meal if they’ve not got any money.

FYI DON’T TRY THESE TECHNIQUES IRL DATES PLS.

Have Cape, Will Fly

Something else we love about the characters on the street in this game?They sound real!

A huge amount of work went into getting actors into record lines for characters in a number of different ways so that the relevant tone can be chosen at the right moment. The Audio team worked with a wide range of talent in order to record the voices and even had Joey Cape from the punk rock band Lagwagon lend his dulcet tones to the project.

I’ve Heard of 'License to Print Money,' but Weapons!?

'Watch Dogs 2’'s way of acquiring weapons is totally different to any other action shooter.

Back in the Hackers’ base, the team have a 3D printer which pops out weaponry and tools in no time at all. You just need to make sure you have enough money to pay for the printing, and judging from the look of it, 3D print cartridges are very expensive.

Olivier Girard the game’s Audio Director stated that the change in the weaponry for 'Watch Dogs 2' provided an interesting challenge: “DedSec homemade weapons - how do we make it sound like a gun and not a toy, how do you make a Taser sound cool and fun?”

Looks like the team succeeded – we can confirm they’re v satisfying to shoot.

Jump, Jump, Jump

Maybe we should have mentioned this earlier but the latest Watch Dogs game HAS A TINY ROBOT.

The Jump Bot is is a little robot on wheels able to venture through vents, giving Marcus the ability to approach problems from unique angles. It also capable of jumping, so unlike Daleks, it doesn’t become crippled by a small flight of steps.

Due to its light weight and size, it’s not particularly sturdy. If spotted, the enemy are able to just kick the poor little thing rendering it unusable. Sad times.

Attack Of The Drones

This time around, we also have a new flying drone called the Quad Copter. This awesome piece of kit can be used to carry and collect things from out-of-range places.

As this is set in the virtual world of San Fran and not reality, players can also take their Quad Copters to the park for a relaxing afternoon and take in some of the gorgeous views on display. All without having to worry about accidentally wandering into a flight path and causing a horrific plane crash!

Hack Away!

There are more hacking options than ever before. No longer are you forced to blow up electrical breakers killing your enemies. Now you can just switch them off in order to turn the lights out in a certain section, making it easier to escape. Much more friendly!

In fact there’s been a huge emphasis put into the hacking section of the game, with it being very careful to avoid the clichés of computer hacking that rear their ugly heads all the time in film and TV.

Hacker and journalist Violet Blue who has featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show and CNN as an expert on digital crime said, “It’s refreshing how well presented the characters are. When I go to the [hacking] conferences these are exactly the kind of people I hang out with. They look just the same,with clothes stuck in the 90s.”

Back Once Again For the Ill Behaviour

While the grimy backdrop of the first game’s Chicago couldn’t be further removed from the Californian vistas in San Francisco, we are guaranteed to see at least one familiar face when we return.

Yes that’s right, T Bone (our fave from the first game) is due to reappear and help DedSec take back control of everyone’s digital privacy with his hair-brained fire breathing statues and crazy one liners.

When pushed as to whether that means we will see a reappearance from Aidan Pierce, Jonathan Morin the Creative Director told us we, “would just have to wait and see.” Ahh, meanie.

Let the Music do the talking

Every gamer knows that one of the most important aspects of a game like 'Watch Dogs 2 'is the music – and for this game, Ubisoft has teamed up with Warp Records to provide most of the music. Keep an eye out for the Warp Records logo!

Handles Like a Dream

There are 77 vehicles in total and sail boats have been included this time too - when the design team first arrive in The Bay at San Francisco and saw the sheer number of boats constantly going in and out of the harbour it would have felt incorrect not to include them, they tell us.

Are You Going to San Francisco?

San Francisco has been beautifully remodelled - the team spent time investigating all of the most interesting places to explore and run rampant through.

Not all locations are 100% accurate but they have been finely tuned in order to ensure that the game is really playable (so no big boring straight American roads!). A whopping 43 districts have been squeezed in, ensuring players have a huge and diverse playground that perfectly encapsulates the spirit and energy of San Francisco.

'- By Tom Hockin'

'- Watch Dogs 2 is out now on PS4, Xbox One and PC.'

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