So, Dishonored 2 is out soon. Talking to a friend about it, I was reminded what a superlative game it was. Incredible level design allowed you a true decision in what path to take. Certain choke-points to take you through to the next sub-section, but other than that there was often 3, sometimes 4 different ways to achieve your objective. Sneak, kill, distract, possess, blink...
It's been about 3 years, I can't really remember the details of the story, it would be good to do it again. Was it ever!
You invest Corvo Attano, the Royal Bodyguard. The opening sequence deals with your titular misfortune - a dastardly plot that pits you against the powerful senior members of society in the city of Dunwall. Pretty soon you link up with the Loyalists, a group of concerned citizens fighting to save the Royal Progression and leverage power from the veiny mitts of the plotters. You are also chosen to be the Outsider's champion, the patronage of whom gives you supernatural powers... pretty soon Corvo is embroiled deeply into plots within plots, as the game's story plays out across the industrial cityscape.
As these types of games go, the story is pretty decent (if at times predictable)- you care (at least, I did!) about the characters, cheering some and booing the delightfully pantomime villains of the piece. As the game goes on, you meet more principles, get to know older ones better, and by your actions in the game alter those people's attitude towards you. I think Samuel was my favourite, and remember feeling singularly disappointed in myself at his later disparagement. I was a Bad Man(tm).
Although you have obtained the right to use your powers, the game doesn't hand them to you on a platter - The Outsider's tokens must be hunted down to increase your abilities - you are given some at the start to get you going, but if you want more, you're going to have to work for it. It's a really nice design balance that shows up some games' achievements for collecting as simple Magpie Moments. At the same time, it encourages exploration and consideration as opposed to speed running, something I've never really been a massive fan of (or indeed, any good at). These powers never feel unbalanced really either - you could, if you so wished, not bother with any of the more powerful abilities (barring blink), and survive on your wits alone - but this game is to be played and I would rather not torture myself with the frustration. Especially if attempting the non-lethal route. (I do have a small whinge here - I was never able to work out where to hide the bodies if I had knocked them out rather than made them vanish, always got tagged for it on the end of level tally). The final supernatural aids that you are given are runes, which are incremental upgrades to various parts of your arsenal, carved out of whalebone.
Also worth a mention is the voice acting. It is brilliant. I'd forgotten how great it was, and on a few occasions thought I recognised a voice, looked it up and it was them. There is some serious voice talent in this game, which really adds to the atmosphere - Brad Dourif in particular stands out for me.
The backdrop of the city is richly detailed; a civilisation powered by whale oil, steampunk contraptions abound, a hard life for most with the extraction and hunting of the whales pretty unpleasant (with indications of them getting more rare). Arkane clearly took great pains to paint a vivid picture, plenty of background snippets to read all add to the excellent atmosphere.
I enjoyed it so much the second time around that I ended up buying some DLC - The Knife of Dunwall, aka 'Daud's Story'. Daud is the head of an assassin's guild, and he's feeling guilty, Ladies and Gentlemen. He's having doubts about also being a Bad Man (tm) and your task is to salve his soul. You are given somewhat of a different choice of powers (although disappointingly the runes don't seem to have changed much). There is a second add-on called The Brigmore Witches, where Daud again tries to prevent another gang from sealing his fate (at the hands of Corvo) with a powerful ritual.
I will probably wait before I get Dishonored 2 (because DotA), but I will look forward to playing it. If this genre rocks your world and the quality holds, it should be great. A cut above.
