7 Years Later, Dishonored 2 is Still a Stealth Masterpiece

As a seasoned gamer with over two decades of experience under my belt, I can confidently say that Dishonored 2 is a game that truly stands out from the crowd. Having played countless titles across various genres, this game has managed to carve a unique niche for itself in my gaming library.

If you inquire several gaming enthusiasts about which video game series they believe is due for a new installment, you’ll often find that they mention Half-Life, Portal, or Elder Scrolls. Some might also bring up WipEout if they’re thinking optimistically. Games like Bully or Days Gone, both of which only have one entry in their series, could be mentioned as well.

Among the potential winners in the poll, Arkane’s “Dishonored” franchise stands out as a strong contender. The original game was released in 2012, followed by its sequel and additional DLC in 2016 and 2017 respectively. A new title, “Deathloop,” set within the same universe, came out in 2021. After a slight misstep with last year’s “Redfall,” going back to one of their successful series could be exactly what Arkane needs (disregarding the fact that Arkane Lyon is currently developing “Marvel’s Blade”). A return to “Dishonored” seems fitting; this stealth-focused action-adventure series gained a large following after the release of “Dishonored 2,” even though its individual components may not have been particularly unique.

In essence, just as in the game Hitman, there’s a lot of flexibility when it comes to achieving objectives. However, while its level design is impressive, it might not be considered objectively superior to that found in Bioshock or games created by FromSoftware. The story could be seen as average, and its first-person shooter combat may seem shallow compared to others. Nevertheless, these aspects blend wonderfully to form a captivating whole. Moreover, its exceptional stealth mechanics and high replayability make Dishonored 2 truly unique – there hasn’t been anything quite like it since.

Let’s delve deeper into the topic of replayability. While it’s been noted that the individual elements in Dishonored 2 aren’t particularly unique, its high replay value is still significant. However, this doesn’t necessarily set it apart from other games released since. For instance, Disco Elysium allows you to solve its central mystery in a straight-forward manner or as a total disaster, or even something in between. NieR: Automata, on the other hand, invites you to replay the story up to five times to explore different perspectives and encounter numerous possible endings. Dishonored 2 offers more in terms of replayability, but these other games also provide unique experiences.

The main factor contributing to its repeat-play value is the presence of two primary characters: Corvo Attano, a former royal guard and protagonist from the previous game, and Emily Kaldwin, the deposed Empress of the Isles who is also Corvo’s daughter. Depending on the player’s decision, they can either control Corvo or Emily to complete the game. The story unfolds as the chosen character escapes from the beautiful coastal city of Karnaca while the other turns into stone. The narrative involves defeating conspirators, forming alliances, and rescuing family members, with a rocky prison serving as a significant location.

7 Years Later, Dishonored 2 is Still a Stealth Masterpiece

Gameplay choices can significantly impact the experience, such as varying levels of chaos based on enemies killed and side objectives completed. This affects accessible areas, encounters with NPCs, guard numbers, type and strength of creatures like rats, weepers, and bloodflies. You might opt for a pacifist run or a stealth-focused approach, avoiding conflict whenever possible. Or, if you prefer, you can go all out with supernatural powers, use guns exclusively, or even choose a more FPS-style approach, though it may not be the optimal strategy for this game.

In Dishonored 2, the diverse methods you can use to progress through the game levels is a standout feature, offering numerous strategies for exploration. For instance, your approach can vary significantly depending on whether you choose to forego supernatural powers or fully utilize them. Interestingly, both Corvo and Emily have their own unique supernatural skills. Corvo, who excels in stealthy infiltration, possesses the Blink ability that allows him to move swiftly forward. On the other hand, Emily, proficient with swords and guns, has the Far Reach ability which lets her rapidly pull herself over a certain distance. Although these abilities may seem similar initially, their upgrades lead them down different paths. Corvo’s Blink can be enhanced to pause time or immobilize enemies during its duration, while Emily’s Far Reach upgrades enable her to draw objects, corpses, or even living enemies towards herself.

Corvo and Emily have unique skills: Corvo can manipulate human hosts and summon rats to attack groups of enemies, while Emily takes a sneaky form and links humans together to eliminate them all at once with her Domino ability. Their extraordinary powers are incredibly impressive, and the variety of stealthy ways to neutralize enemies – such as disrupting electrical devices or setting up traps – ensures you always have multiple strategies to employ.

Let me praise the exceptional mission A Crack in the Slab from Dishonored 2 and its Timepiece artifact. This item offers an intriguing feature that enables you to move between two different periods within Aramis Stilton’s mansion – the decayed current setting of the game, and a grander, three-years-past version. While Titanfall 2 previously explored this concept in its Effect and Cause level, Dishonored 2 handles it with more grace and style. By adjusting the Timepiece’s lens, you can peer into the past, observe guards patrolling as they did three years ago, then seamlessly transition to their timeline, eliminate them, alter history, and return to the present day. The ability to influence events in the future based on actions taken in the past is a mind-bending concept that fits perfectly with Dishonored 2’s gameplay. It’s particularly captivating, especially during your initial experience.

7 Years Later, Dishonored 2 is Still a Stealth Masterpiece

Despite being intriguing, the Timepiece mission in this game is unique as it limits strategies rather than promoting them. You can’t employ powers here, only the Timepiece itself matters. This mechanic is underused in gaming, making it a potential asset for future games like a hypothetical Dishonored 3. If Arkane ever creates such a game, they could benefit from refining and reusing this interesting concept.

At its initial release on PC, Dishonored 2 encountered some technical issues, but with a good-enough system, it should run smoothly up to 120 fps by 2024. Given its relatively low price point and frequent discounts, it’s worth trying out, especially if you haven’t played it extensively before. Few games are quite like it. While the individual elements may not stand out, they blend together exceptionally well. The city of Karnaca, with its Mediterranean influence, is so immersive that revisiting it is a pleasure. Unfortunately, the story and character development don’t match the quality of the stealth mechanics, supernatural powers, and world design. However, these aspects are areas where Arkane Studios could improve in potential future installments.

Note: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to, GamingBolt as an organization.

2024-11-29 00:41

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