It’s pretty rare for a game outside of a tactical title to include an Ironman mode. However, Watch Dogs: Legion has decided to up the ante and added this niche mode into their open-world game. This is a mode only for those that can live with the consequences of their actions, as certain elements such as reloading a saved game are unavailable; whatever happens, happens. But what exactly is permadeath, and should you use it?
Should I enable permadeath?
In Watch Dogs: Legion, you should play with permadeath enabled, but only if you can cope with loss. As you start the game, you are given a choice whether to enable this permadeath feature or not, as it can greatly affect the way you play and enjoy the game. If you use permadeath, it means that if an operative dies in any way, shape, or form, they are forever dead - there is no way to revive them; all their unique abilities and weapons are gone. It makes players progress with a side of caution and adds that layer of anxiety to every deadly encounter. It’s a punishing mode but very rewarding to play.
Watch Dogs: Legion was designed with permadeath in mind due to the vast number of operatives you can play as. Dwindling those numbers to zero will lead to a game over, and you cannot reload an old save to recuperate your losses. Luckily, even if you turn on permadeath, it doesn’t activate until completing the Reporting for Duty mission. This allows you to familiarize yourself with the game, with all the mechanics before the risk of losing anyone hits home.
If you attempted to give permadeath a try but then decided it’s not for you, and you want to remove it, you can; however, it’s a one-time thing. Once it’s been disabled, you cannot re-enable it, meaning you cannot abuse the game by using this strategy - there’s no disabling Ironman mode before a heavy firefight, then turning it back on. If you choose to disable it, it’s permanently turned off. To do this, pause the game, select Gameplay, and then toggle Permadeath Mode off. No more do you have to live with your operatives dying for good.
