It was a sad day when Watch_Dogs Legion had gotten somewhat of a leak only days before Ubisoft’s big announcement for it at E3 this year. The leak had shown that the game would have several NPC’s that could be recruited into a party and played. But it’s not just a few NPC’s. And at the Ubisoft Conference at E3, it was revealed that the leak might have been downsizing the amount of playable characters in the game:
The trailer is still downsizing the amount of playable characters in this game, showcasing only a few that can be recruited. From a Bible quote that refers to a man possessed by several demons, to a Hacktivist group that focuses on doxxing the corrupt and unjust, to every single person in a post-Brexit London, Legion takes on the form of many. And the gameplay shows off, just what that Many can do:
So while the leak understated what could be done in the game, the conference has shown that literally anyone can be played. The story starts off with Ian Bagshaw, one of the bare knuckled brawlers, trying to get a drone expert for DedSec, the hacking team that continuously shows up throughout each Watch_Dogs. Upon finding it, he’s thrown into combat and gunfire, both which seem to be fairly universal for each character. A small moment of Ian falling down with critical health shows off a unique feature of ‘Surrender’ or ‘Persist’. Persisting allows players to get back onto their feet, and keep the fight going. Surrender surely means to get put behind bars.
However, after a car chase gone wrong, Ian is killed, resulting in his Permadeath. Meaning, Ian, is no longer able to be played. One fighter down, and onto controlling the next one. The only constant being Bagley, the robot friend who seems to be a nod to Wheatley from Portal 2 (and it sure sounds like Stephan Merchant as well), and a companion to everyone in DedSec.
One of the favourites of the trailer and the gameplay seems to be Helen Dashwood, a hacker and ex-assassin, who feeds the pigeons in the park in the spare time when she isn’t taking down a corrupt system. The hackers seem to control these spider-like machines that allow for sneaking in and hacking into systems, as well as climbing onto the faces of guards and zapping them down.
After all of this, and playing a different character, a woman named Naomi Brooke who is a trained assassin, is finally able to find the drone expert they’ve been looking for. After she’s uncovered a front for human trafficking. She’s able to save the drone expert, Jimmy Shaw, and get him to join DedSec. When he asks where to find them, he’s told anyone can be a part of the Resistance.
After the gameplay trailer, it is confirmed that every single Londoner can be recruited. Each person has their own backstory, their own personality, is completely voiced and animated, and can join the Resistance to fight against the tyranny that’s taken over London.
Find. Recruit. Build the Resistance. Unf*ck the world.
Watch_Dogs Legion is set to come out March 6, 2020 on PC, PS4, and Xbox One.