In the past, I have expounded upon the virtues of interactive storytelling, and worried about the future of game plots due to an increased emphasis on freedom and size.
With Watch Dogs, I was hoping for a gripping, intriguing, thoughtful narrative that would ask plenty of challenging questions. Consider the setting:
In the future, privacy becomes a commodity. Those with power can theoretically enslave others and even if you don’t have power, a superior hacking skill can allow you to completely obliterate the lives of fellow citizens. Considering the direction society appears to be taking in reality, this is a very relevant plot. The possibilities are endless for ambitious writers.
Unfortunately, it appears that many critics can agree upon one thing: The story just doesn’t live up to expectations.
Ubisoft had a great chance to produce an excellent, thoughtful script
This is the perfect situation for a top-tier interactive storyline. The protagonist is a vigilante; that alone is rife with plot-related possibilities, and if one was so inclined, one could pen a wonderful narrative based on that alone. However, when you toss in a civilization where no one’s personal information is ever really safe, and governmental oppression is a reality, the dramatic branches are obvious.
Good writers could really do a lot with that, you know. And I’m not saying the writers for this game aren’t good, nor am I passing judgment on the story. I have not completed the campaign and I’m merely reacting to the majority of reviews I’ve read, all of which have made a point of condemning the story in one way or another. Well, perhaps “condemning” is too harsh of a word; in general, most reviewers simply say the story is a missed opportunity. And to me, that’s just depressing.
Yeah, the huge open world will hold our attention, but Ubisoft had a chance to do so much more.
If we don’t get a great narrative with this setup, that’s a bad sign
As I say, the stage was set for a fantastic story. So, logically speaking, if we can’t get a movie-quality script for this, then what will prompt our writers to elevate to the next level? There are quality writers in the industry, but I’m afraid they won’t be allowed to stretch their wings, especially as the current trend is freedom and more freedom. The more freedom we grant the player, the less we can focus on the story, because the player can alter the plot. In short, we can’t have as many set, pre-written, complex stories.
Maybe it was because the developers wanted to emphasize the gameplay in Watch Dogs. And that’s fine; I’m all for doing that, as this does remain an interactive medium. Gameplay above all else, I say. At the same time, I think this particular title could’ve been truly memorable had the writers taken advantage of the situation. It seems they didn’t, and that’s disappointing…and it’s a bad sign for the future.
What open-world adventure would be more inviting to an ambitious writer with lofty aspirations?
