WATCH Dogs 2 is what you might get if you crossed Grand Theft Auto (GTA) with the cyber thriller Mr Robot.

Like GTA, Ubisoft’s game is a fun, engaging and well executed open-world game which gives you a whole city to explore.

But it goes further than that. Watch Dog 2’s plot revolves around surveillance and hacking while its timely themes about the way that smart technology and social media have infiltrated our lives is potently explored.

The game sees the rollout of ‘ctOS’ 2.0, a central operating system which connects all technology in a fictionalised version of the San Francisco Bay Area.

But is it to keep citizens safe or keep them under 1984-style control?

You play as Marcus who joins a hacker group called DedSec to take down ctOS after he is is profiled for a crime he did not commit.

Despite these big themes, Watch Dogs 2’s emphasis remains on fun, solid gameplay mechanics and variety.

This lighter tone is what was arguably missing in the first game.

The missions see you use your phone to hack into ctOS giving you control of basically anything computerised.

You can infiltrate areas that are off limits without even stepping foot in them by hacking into security cameras, unlocking doors using computers or sending in drones to do the snooping for you.

Later on you can upgrade your skills to really act the menace.

Hacking into steam pipes to cause explosions, forging evidence and leaking it to the mob or taking control of people’s vehicles remotely to create a diversion or an obstacle all becomes part of your skillset.

The driving and combat mechanics in the game also work great.

While one of the most startling things about Watch Dogs 2 is that, in a world where almost every facet of our life is dominated by technology, nothing in the game seems that far fetched.

RATING: 8/10

DAVID MORGAN