Watch Dogs & Hacking - What would make it better?

[SonOfVoorhees]

Complaints i read are about the one button hacking issue. Now for me, it makes since when you have already hacked the controlling tower of the city. So you would have an app maybe that means you could turn or traffic lights and raise bollards with one button. But people complained about that so i wonder what would people prefer as a replacement?

 

[josemlopes]

I cant complain much about the way it is. Its a rather fast game so making it a slower process (in any way, be it a short puzzle, a QTE or the character having to perform any kind of action that would take longer) wouldnt really help much.

This here is basicly the other extreme where it works as it complements the rest of the game design since in it self its a much slower paced game.

I really dont feel that the hacking is a problem in Watch Dogs, it could however have a bit more variety and have less direct results. For example, hacking one thing alone doesnt make much of a difference but the combination of some different hacks create one very unique outcome. Even the more direct stuff could have been pushed a lot further with disabling lights and turning on/off a wider variety of eletrical devices.

 

[nomotog_v1legacy]

The one button hacking works fine as is. If you tried to make it more complex, it would mesh poorly with the run and gun gameplay. I can think of other ways to do it, but they wouldn't be better just different. The only thing I think needs be changed about the hacking is you need more hackable objects. Like a lot lot more.

 

[SonOfVoorhees]

I cant complain much about the way it is. Its a rather fast game so making it a slower process (in any way, be it a short puzzle, a QTE or the character having to perform any kind of action that would take longer) wouldnt really help much.

This here is basicly the other extreme where it works as it complements the rest of the game design since in it self its a much slower paced game.

I really dont feel that the hacking is a problem in Watch Dogs, it could however have a bit more variety and have less direct results. For example, hacking one thing alone doesnt make much of a difference but the combination of some different hacks create one very unique outcome. Even the more direct stuff could have been pushed a lot further with disabling lights and turning on/off a wider variety of eletrical devices.

You can make it better when hacking standard stuff like phones or PCs. But with the car stuff, i dont get what people are moaning about. You have seconds to press x, so not sure what they in those seconds. After all you cant have the game pause and do a mini game to make it work. Also slowing a game for QTE will just impede the game. Just pressing one button makes it flow better. Agree with the variety, could have word games or number games.

 

[SonOfVoorhees]

The one button hacking works fine as is. If you tried to make it more complex, it would mesh poorly with the run and gun gameplay. I can think of other ways to do it, but they wouldn't be better just different. The only thing I think needs be changed about the hacking is you need more hackable objects. Like a lot lot more.

Agree with the more hackable stuff. I would love for WD2 to be set a few years in the future so cars, guns and some people are hackable. So you can drive cars remotely, mess with guns and maybe cause headaches or even control peoples arms or legs. Oh and have more stuff to buy because money was fairly pointless in the game.

Also imagine controlling a helicopters targeting software so you can hack it and make the helicopter fire at your enemies.

 

[Phoenixmgs_v1legacy]

There needs to more variety in the hacking. There's just way too many explode-able objects (and people). Just completely get rid of hacking grenades. I'd like more variety in being able to distract and manipulate the AI. Stuff like hacking the sprinkler system or fire alarm.

 

[sXeth]

It just needs more variety beyond "explode" "attract" and "break vehicle" (the neutralize being dumb in that it will neutralize them even if the obstacle fails, like the traffic light will make the enemy veer into a random car even if no cars hit them).

You could have sprinklers soaking the ground so guys slip when running, then hacking a transformer electrifies the water. Overcharging lights to temporarily blind guys like a flashbang. Remote-operating vehicles. Just to throw out a few ideas.

 

[ultrachicken]

I actually really liked the one button hacking. Minigames usually wind up being worse than the rest of the game so they take fun out of it, and if the minigames are better then they ought to just sell the minigame separately. What I wish they did differently was to make Aiden more vulnerable and not give the player so many weapons, in exchange for many more hackable objects. The way it is, it's basically a standard third person shooter with some bells and whistles (plus it looks absurd to have Aiden pulling sniper rifles out of hammerspace in a serious game). The devs ought to have embraced the hacking more and made the combat way more about hacking to gain the upper hand in a fight, like in one of the adverts where Aiden hacked the sprinklers in a room to disorient the enemies.

 

[teebeeohh]

i think the issue is that all the one button does is make things explode or extend/retract. i had hoped for you to be able to influence everything connected to the city power grid, with 90s hacker logic so every lightbulb becomes a flashbang waiting to happen.
then again i also hoped the game wa set far anough into the future that you yourself only carry a pistol and all the enemies guns have electronic parts that you can manipulate.

 

[IceStar100]

I can see how it can get old fast but also see how it works.

Aidan himself is not the hacker. It why he values his phone so much. The phone has all the programs uploaded to it. So Aidan might have some basic understanding but remember he always has someone more tech savvy around.

Spoiler

First it was his mentor Demon then badboy / Clara then at the end he had T-bone

.
Aidan is the muscle the one who you send out while the hacker stays behind the keyboard.

 

[Elfgore]

You really couldn't without slowing the pacing of the game. This game is about car chases, shootouts, and explosions. To make the hacking a QTE or little minigame each time, would be downright gamebreaking. Icestar brings up a good point that Aiden is no hacker, he is the muscle. Someone else is always doing the technical stuff.

 

[J Tyran]

Making it a minigame every time or a QTE would suck, the only thing you could do is have a greater variety of things like other posters here said and maybe have an "accuracy" mechanic. Like the hacking in the Syndicate FPS, in that you had to hold the button down to hack the item but if you did it just right you earned bonuses.

Watchdogs could have done the same, hold the button down just long enough and the effect is more powerful or hold it down for to short a time or for too long and it could fail completely. If only to make the execution feel a bit more rewarding.

I mean Gears of War actually made reloading a gun in a shooter more satisfying that way.

 

[008Zulu_v1legacy]

I'd like to see one that takes advantage of a person's typing skills. Kinda like those typing test programs, where you have to type the line of text as it appears on the screen.