Dishonored 2 Early Thoughts

steam.com

     The first Dishonored game was a real surprise for me, and not in the way you’re probably thinking. Sure, it’s very unique in how it approaches level design and stealth gameplay, with  huge open levels that often have several paths to get to an objective, as well as the great incorporation of supernatural powers and steampunk technology into the cool Victorian-ish world it had set up. But honestly it was surprising for me to find a first person game that isn’t a shooter that I really liked! All kidding aside, developer Arkane is back with Dishonored 2, a game with twice the protagonists, creative levels, and all-around mayhem. Or at least that’s what they say. Does it live up to that? I’m sure that a guy who’s only played half of it can tell you!

      Dishonored 2 takes place fifteen years after the end of the first game, with the young empress of the Isles Emily Kaldwin attending a ceremony to commemorate the death of her mother. Along with her father, Corvo Attano (the protagonist of the first game), the two are attacked by a witch named Delilah and Luca Able, the Duke of the island of Karnaca, and the player must choose which one of the two heroes to play as. From there, it’s on to Karnaca and other isles to uncover the plot and save the day once again. 

     Just to let you guys know, I’ve been playing the game as Corvo so far, given that I was more familiar with his moveset coming in. Thus, my experience has been a bit more familiar than someone who might be coming in fresh. You still get the basic teleportation power first to help with traversal, the control scheme in terms of stabbing or choking out your enemies remains the same, and if you’ve learned how to move around and handle the enemy A.I. then you are all set. I’ve been told by folks who have played as Emily that her powers (which are quite awesome from what I’ve seen and read) create a completely different experience, so take this with a grain of salt. 

     The familiarity is actually where the game starts from and builds on to make something truly fun and awe-inspiring. While the first mission is standard Dishonored, the levels take a huge leap in inspiration and complexity afterwards. The mission I just finished takes place in a mansion that has been designed to shift and change at the pull of a lever, turning it into a maze that you have to navigate through to reach your target. Add in some terrifying robot soldiers that can see both what’s in front of and behind them and you have your work cut out for you. Each level has its own twists and challenges, and the difficulty ramps up if you choose to take a non-lethal approach and decide to remove your targets peacefully. The chaos system from the first game is also back, and it’s a lot easier to track this time for those players who are concerned with that. 

crack2games.com

But let's be honest, you're not.

     Arkane also put a lot of work into the design of this game, immediately distancing the island of Karnaca from that of Dunwall. Rather than a plague-ridden environment that looks like a poor man’s London, Karnaca feels alive and vibrant (if a bit dusty). There are still some elements that call back to the plague, like homes infested by the annoying bloodflies, but overall Karnaca is a much nicer place to be. The people on the street react to you like normal people would, and sometimes their conversations can help you learn tricks to help make your way through the levels and often have little side quests for you to take on. The character models are a little iffy, but it doesn’t take away from the great presentation. 

     Now I’m sure you all have one question: is the game any fun? And the answer is a resounding yes. Just like the first game, it’s always a blast to take out unsuspecting enemies (or lure two groups of enemies into combat with each other) or make a narrow escape from a group of approaching foes. The stealth sequences are exhilarating, with chills running up and down my spine when I heard enemy chatter or footsteps overhead, and when it gets into combat the wide array of powers comes into play to help turn the tide. You’ll need to be careful, though, because your character can only take so much punishment before they perish. 

     In terms of negatives, there are only a few things I can think of. The first is the voice acting, which ranges from too over the top (looking at you, Vincent D’Onofrio) or way too flat to really register emotionally. I like the actors who played Corvo, Emily, and the Outsider (the creepy otherworldly creature who provides the heroes with their powers), but the only actor who really gives a good performance in my opinion is Rosario Dawson as Meagan, the person who provides you with transportation to and from the mission areas. 

     Another thing that I have a gripe with is actually pretty petty, but I have to bring it up. Corvo’s outfit looks awful in this one, particularly compared to the first game. Last time around I was mad that it was in first-person because they designed such a cool costume and you couldn’t see it. In this one, thank God it’s in first-person because he looks like he’s doing a bad Assassin’s Creed cosplay, with only the cool-ass mask surviving to this version of the outfit. Like a good superhero costume makes a hero cooler to look at and more iconic, a good video game outfit makes you feel so much more badass when doing your thing. Emily looks pretty cool, though, but Corvo, just put the jacket back on and be cool again. 

dishonored.wikia.com

     I am nowhere close to being finished with this game, but I’m having a blast. It’s the perfect example of a game that built on a strong foundation to make something greater, and I hope this game is getting the sales to reward Arkane for all their hard work. If you’re not sure what game you want to get this holiday season, but this on the top of your list. You won’t regret it. 

Hey guys, if you like this article please leave a comment or share this post so we can get the word out there! If you have any questions or comments you can find me at:

Twitter: @PresidentGlover

Instagram: _steveng_

Also, if you like this please drop by Amazon to pick up a copy of my book RED STEEL, available in both paperback and Kindle formats. Thanks for the support!