Ubisoft’s Watch Dogs: Legion for Xbox One delivers a bold and ambitious entry into the open-world action-adventure genre. Building upon the foundation of its predecessors, Legion takes a daring leap by eliminating the traditional protagonist and replacing it with a mechanic that allows players to recruit and control virtually anyone in the game world. This unique approach shapes nearly every facet of the experience, from the story to the gameplay, and sets it apart from other titles in the franchise.
Story and Setting
Set in a dystopian near-future London, Watch Dogs: Legion paints a gritty and technologically saturated society where surveillance, oppression, and corporate dominance run rampant. The once-vibrant city has become a shadow of its former self, now controlled by private military contractors, criminal organizations, and tech overlords. The central conflict revolves around DedSec, the underground hacker group framed for a series of deadly bombings. Players must rebuild DedSec from the ground up and expose the real perpetrators while liberating the city one borough at a time.
The narrative structure is unconventional, largely due to the absence of a singular main character. Instead, the game’s story is told through the collective actions of the team the player assembles. While this allows for diverse storytelling opportunities, it can sometimes lead to a sense of detachment, as no single character provides an emotional anchor throughout the game. However, the game still manages to deliver compelling themes centered on resistance, personal freedom, and the power of unity in the face of authoritarian control.
Gameplay Mechanics
The most distinctive feature of Watch Dogs: Legion is its “Play as Anyone” system. This mechanic allows players to recruit and play as nearly any non-playable character in the game world. Each character has a unique set of traits, abilities, and backstories, which can significantly impact gameplay. For example, a construction worker might have access to a cargo drone, allowing for vertical traversal and stealthy infiltration, while a professional hitman brings a more aggressive playstyle with specialized weapons and combat moves.
Recruitment involves completing character-specific side missions, and players can switch between team members at any time. This system encourages experimentation and strategic planning. Want to infiltrate a heavily guarded tech facility? Send in a stealthy hacker with a spider-bot and hacking tools. Need to confront enemies head-on? Choose a character skilled in hand-to-hand combat or armed with military-grade equipment.
Combat in Legion is a blend of melee, gunplay, and hacking. Players can approach missions with brute force, non-lethal takedowns, or full-on stealth, depending on their chosen operative. Hacking remains a central element, allowing manipulation of the environment, enemy drones, vehicles, and security systems. The variety in gameplay options is impressive and adds significant replayability.
Visuals and Performance
On Xbox One, Watch Dogs: Legion delivers a visually rich interpretation of London. Iconic landmarks like Big Ben, Tower Bridge, and Piccadilly Circus are recreated with impressive detail. The atmosphere is enhanced by dynamic weather effects, day-night cycles, and the constant presence of futuristic surveillance systems. Neon lights, digital graffiti, and augmented reality billboards give the city a cyberpunk edge that feels both immersive and timely.
However, the limitations of the Xbox One hardware are noticeable. Load times can be lengthy, and occasional frame rate drops occur during high-intensity moments or when navigating particularly crowded areas. While these issues don’t render the game unplayable, they do slightly detract from the overall experience, especially when compared to performance on newer consoles.
Audio and Voice Acting
The sound design in Watch Dogs: Legion is another strong point. The game’s soundtrack features a mix of electronic music and licensed tracks that reflect the urban, rebellious tone of the narrative. Environmental audio is rich, with background chatter, sirens, and ambient city noises contributing to the immersive experience.
Voice acting is a mixed bag, largely due to the variety of procedurally generated characters. While major story characters and some recruits deliver solid performances, others can feel robotic or forced. Accents and dialogue can occasionally veer into caricature territory, which may pull players out of the otherwise engaging world. Still, considering the sheer volume of voices required for the “Play as Anyone” system, the overall execution is commendable.
Longevity and Replayability
Watch Dogs: Legion offers a considerable amount of content. In addition to the main story missions, players can engage in side activities such as liberating boroughs, taking on resistance contracts, finding collectibles, and upgrading their tech arsenal. The variety of playable characters and the different ways to approach missions encourage multiple playthroughs.
Online multiplayer adds another layer of replayability, enabling players to team up for co-op missions, events, and tactical operations. While the multiplayer mode was introduced post-launch, it integrates well with the core mechanics and adds value for those seeking a shared experience.
Final Thoughts
Watch Dogs: Legion for Xbox One is an ambitious and innovative title that dares to break the mold of conventional game protagonists. Its “Play as Anyone” mechanic offers a fresh take on open-world gameplay, providing endless combinations of playstyles and strategies. The game’s setting is atmospheric and thought-provoking, its mechanics are deep and flexible, and its message about technology and freedom feels particularly relevant.
While it does face technical limitations on older hardware and occasional inconsistencies in character voicework, these shortcomings are outweighed by the game’s creativity and scope. For players who enjoy open-world adventures with a strong emphasis on player choice and futuristic themes, Watch Dogs: Legion is a worthy addition to the Xbox One library.
