Dishonored 2 (PS4) Review

Will you fight as Corvo, or if you will take your revenge as Empress Emily, in Dishonored 2.

Dishonored 2 is quite an experience. If you have played the first Dishonored game, you will feel right at home. If you have not had the pleasure, you can easily step into the boots of either of the main characters easily. For those who may be new to the franchise, the first Dishonored game centered around Corvo Attano. The Empress Jessamine is slain, and the murder is pinned on Corvo. You play as Corvo to clear your name and rescue your daughter, Princess Emily.

Dishonored 2, Fifteen Years Later

In Dishonored 2, fifteen years have passed and Emily has taken the throne as Empress. The game begins with Emily’s throne being seized from her. In defense,you must decide if you will again play as Corvo, or if you will take your revenge as Empress Emily.

*** Be careful, this choice is permanent. ***

Stealth or Brutality

Each fighter has their own way of battling, and each player is presented with another choice. This time, at every turn: Will you spare peoples’ lives, or will you kill anyone who stands in your way? This premise is one that has lifted the Dishonored franchise to the tops of the charts. The ability to choose not only the path, but the morality of your actions. As a result of which choice you make,  shortly thereafter, is an even more challenging decision to be made. Will you play through using the Outsider’s gifts? Or will you fight through with no supernatural abilities?

Because of my own preferences, I chose to work through as a familiar Corvo. I figured that being the seasoned fighter, I could take on Delilah. Dealing with Delilah is cruel and swift: she turns whomever you do not choose, into stone. She then proceeds to strip you of your Outsider’s powers. One thing is clear: Your enemies are no slouch, and you need to get out of Dunwall. Now.

From here on in, you’ve got quite a journey ahead of you. Travel to Karnaca, the land of Corvo’s birth. A land much different that Dunwall. Wind-generated power, dust storms, bloodflies. This will not be an easy adventure. You will have to rescue an old friend, get past an ingenious inventor, and work your way up to the new empress. If you have seen the commercials, you know that there are mechanical nuisances to get past as well.

And while your gameplay does allow you to choose which character to play as, the missions remain the same. With age comes differing opinion, so the viewpoint of your character will vary drastically, I imagine.

Tailored Experience

Much like Dishonored, Dishonored 2 offers a wide open world, with very few limitations. If you want to possess a rat and travel through vent shafts, you can do that. Blink to a chandelier to avoid capture, you can do that. With the addition of Emily’s new abilities, you can create a doppleganger, and confuse your enemies. If that’s not good enough, imagine stringing the fates of several enemies together. Now you can! Domino gives you the ability to do precisely that. These are just a few of the abilities you will have at your disposal. Each of these come with a moderate upgrade ability, to really allow each player to adjust the way they play. If these aren’t enough, they have included an ability to craft Runes and Bonecharms. Those tiny charms that can enhance your game, even that much more.

I’ve put almost 30 hours into my gameplay, and I guarantee I harven’t scratched the surface of the possibilities this game has to offer. All the back alleys and lamp posts you can scale. It is almost impossible for two players to have the same experience.

My plan is once I beat the game with Corvo, to go back and play with Emily, killing everything in sight. I want to try every option available to me.

Vast Imagination

The creative minds behind Dishonored 2 have thought of all manner of things, from revamping the whale oil batteries, to the clockwork mansion and everything between. They must have gone over the assets of this game with a fine-tooth comb. My fellow writer Megan has a review going over the artwork in more detail, and some of the references they use. Check her out here.

While this game is amazing, it does offer it’s own difficulties. The original PC release is noted to have issues. If it weren’t for a friendly insider, I would not have known that I was simply overlooking a detail when retracing my steps. Point being, you will definately have to pay attention to your surroundings. There are subtle differences in location that may help you escape, or doom you to walk in circles. A perfect example is a rundown mansion, where after a while, the rooms begin to look incredibly similar. Add to that, there is a challenging detail of whether or not you are in the past, or the present, as the level’s details differ based on the timeframe.

I am currently playing through with a goal of stealth, and low number of kills. I know that this is causing me additional difficulty and resulting in numerous deaths. My plan is once I beat the game with Corvo, to go back and play with Emily, killing everything in sight. I want to try every option available to me. Now, I have yet to take on Delilah, the witch who also has other powers. I am not quite sure what to expect from her, but I am fully looking forward to it. The sources of her background may present an incredibly unique challenge in itself. Time will tell.

Availability

Dishonored 2 is available for PS4, Xbox One and PC, with a new update for PC on the way. You know you want to pick up a copy. This is one game you will not want to miss out on.

Dishonored 2 (PC, PS4, Xbox One)
Developer: Arkane Studios
Publisher: Bethesda
Released: November 11, 2016
MSRP: $59.99