Perhaps expectations were raised so high that reviewers feel they shoud waste a lot of words stating that it isn't all it was hyped up to be, spending less time on the things that make it into an enjoyable game.  If it is a sound, but unmemorable game, why couldn't it be an 8?

Also, huge AAA productions usually get rated higher just for behing huge AAA productions.

I am downloading the Steam version NOW!!!

Saving it for tomorrow night though, that's when I start vacation. Can't wait to turn on ULTRA SETTINGS!!! lol

Well, it has been getting roughly an even number of 7s, 8s and 9s in reviews today so it's not a lovefest.

Most reviews say that it does okay and bashes out the tropes but does nothing to excel in those areas. Some praise the story, the mission structure sounds repetitive.

It's basically a 2/3rds split in favour if you cut out the 7s.

Nothing wrong with an 8/10 game.

phantom_leo said:

OK. Maybe I am wrong about the game, and that is fine --but-- I've been browsing reviews and they all read the same way: Plot is cliche and pointless, character is unlikeable, city is bland, NPC's are boring, Hacking concept is ridiculous, it's no GTA, Driving stinks... I GIVE IT AN 8!

Ubi was hyping it like it should be an 11/10... Most reviews state it's nothing special... yet still an 8. Were expectations raised soooo high that it's getting a "pass" and an inflated score from it. Again, I don't get it. Vader?

Seems like an 8/9 to me. Its fun, that is what matters.

• CVG: 9/10 - Forget speculation about textures and framerates - Watch Dogs is a bona fide next-gen proposition with a wonderfully told tale at its heart.
• GamesRadar: 4/5 - The story is unlikely to keep you logged in, and the missions will often feel annoyingly familiar, but if you connect with and really explore this high-tech world, there are plenty of virtual--and emotional--rewards to harvest.
• PC Gamer: 87/100: When it deviates from the familiar it really soars: hacking the city of Chicago and all its cameras, utilities, and communications is freeing and fun, and invading the games of unsuspecting players is an unusual and welcome thrill.
• Eurogamer: 7/10: You won't regret the time you spend in Aiden Pearce's world, but nor will it be saved as a precious memory when you reboot.
• Joystiq: 4/5: I'm not knocking the crazy wealth of content here, just that some of it is either too disruptive to the game's pacing, or shouldn't have made it through the "Is this relevant to our game?" filter.
• GameSpot: 8/10: I can confidently say that Watch Dogs is a lushly produced and riotous game with an uncanny ability to push you from one task to the next, each of which is just as fun as the last.
• Polygon: 8/10: Other games have nailed a better balance in optional activities and large-scale ambiance, including other games from Ubisoft Montreal itself. But when Watch Dogs focuses on the things it does better than anyone else, it finds an identity worth developing. As a hybrid open-world stealth-action game, it's in a class by itself.
• IGN: 8.4/10 - Watch Dogs is an excellent open-world action game with some unique hacking-magic that makes it a memorable game.
• Metro: 7/10 - The story and characters are not very interesting. The game as a whole lacks personality and mission design often lacks inspiration. Graphics are not as good as originally implied.
• Digital Spy: 4/5 - After an opening act bogged down by tutorials and dodgily scripted story sequences, Watch Dogs removes the shackles, takes some chances and begins to live up to its own hype.
• Game Informer: 85/100 - The main draw of any open-world game is the gameplay, and while not perfect, Watch Dog's hacking abilities add an engaging and unique twist to the third-person action.
• Forbes: No score - Aiden Pearce is just a character meant to sell cool looking hats in collector's editions. Perhaps that can be rectified in a sequel, but for now, Pearce is pretty big issue, and so is his propensity to kill people in boring, cover-based shooter-y ways.

Joystiq – 4/5

• ShopTo – No Score
• GodisaGeek – 9/10
• CVG – 9/10
• LeaderGamer – 9/10
• Videogamer – 7/10
• DigitalSpy – 4/5
• Gamespot – 8/10
• Polygon – 8/10
• Rock, Paper, Shotgun – No Score
• GameReactor – 8/10
• Eurogamer – 7/10
• Edge – 8/10
• Destructoid – 8/10
• Metro – 7/10
• StrategyInformer – 7/10
• GameInformer – 8.5/10
• PC Gamer – 87/100
• Areajugones – 9/10
• EGM – 7/10
• Pixel Dynamo – 8.2/10
• GameStar – 8.8/10
• Softpedia – 8.5/10
• Lazygamer – 8/10
• Eurogamer.de – 7/10
• Zing.cz – 8/10
• GamesVillage.it – 9/10
• ITF Gaming – 9.7/10
• Jeuxvideo.com – 18/20
• Gamekult.fr – 7/10
• Merlin’in Kazanı – 85/100
• Games.ch – 88/100

Did joystiq say there was too much content and some that should not have passed the it fits your game filter. If it's fun content it fits the game!

I played for another hour this morning before I had to go and did nothing but run around doing random fun shit. The amount of content is insane! At some point I was bouncing through the air landing on giant flowers for a high score. That is awesome. These minigames are not simple, they have multiple stages and some have their own skill trees to unlock. Everything you do unlocks some skill or object, it is the ultimate carrot on a stick game, I want to keep getting stuff.

I did have some random find the criminal in a base mission where I tried to be all stealthy but failed. There might be some oddities with the stealth, it's more video gamey rules and reactions than anything bad. Shooting is fine, control wise it feels right, but it completely lacks the  impact of a GTA. There is no blood, bullets don't carve the environment, they don't even feel powerful. I still need to get into major gun fights to really get a feel but you can notice the different.

early impressions to me show that on a technical and detail oriented level this game is a step below GTA. In terms of open world fun and content it is as good as any, more stuff than GTA4 to be sure. And the hacking hook is not a throw away feature, it does add to the gameplay.

Infamous was a smoking hit chick and my balls were turning purple cause there was nothing on ps4. (Oops forgot about snake, that man can satisfy anyone )

With all that beauty I still saw infamous for what it was, a good looking crack whore

gamingeek said:

I thought you didn't need another open world game, at least that's what you said whilst avoiding Lego City. Then you went on to buy Infamous and Watch Dogs.

But but I need games for the new system i bought, wait that doesn't work...

I think the Lego game would be too much of a challenge and Vader is too busy of a man to bother.