Dishonored 2 (XB1) Review

Dead in the blink of an eye.

I don’t play Dishonored the way most people do. I like to murder everyone, on every level. I cause chaos. I get the “bad” endings. Patience in games is not a virtue of mine, and the first game embraced that, giving me brutal finisher animations, and the tools to wreak havoc on the world of Dunwall. It might not be the most challenging way to play the game, but it is certainly the most satisfying.

Dishonored 2 sees players returning to the world of Dunwall, some 15 years after the events of the original game. Little Emily Kaldwin is now grown up, and the Empress of the Isles. Accompanied by her father, the famed Corvo Attano from the first game, things go awry quickly as her evil aunt appears laying claim to the throne. This is where the game splits, and gives players a choice of which protagonist to play as. Make sure to choose wisely, as once it is done, there is no going back for the duration of the 15-20 hour adventure.

MSRP: $59.99
Platforms: XB1 (reviewed), PS4, PC
Price I’d Pay: $59.99

The world of Dishonored 2 is enthralling. The developers at Arkane Studios have carefully crafted a place that feels both dirty and alive. Almost everything can be interacted with, and each level is a virtual playground with numerous ways to tackle every situation. It can be overwhelming at first. Thankfully the developers have implemented a quicksave option via the menu that allows for plenty of experimentation. Wondering if that next kill is going to cause a full-on riot? Just quicksave and take the chance. That is the beauty of the design.

The sequel still gives players the tools to play the way they want, but it definitely feels more focused on stealth this time around. New abilities cement that fact giving players more options to remove enemies without being seen. The new AI is also much more alert and aggressive, making the challenge that much harder. My play style led to plenty of unfortunate events where I was bum rushed by upwards of ten enemies, in which I had no chance of success.

Each playable character comes with their own unique abilities. It is also worth noting that the game offers up the chance to play the entire thing without them. This is for the gamer looking for the ultimate challenge. Corvo once again has his Blink alongside possession and even the ability to slow down time. Emily has a similar power to Blink, but instead it can be more versatile, and even reach out to grab enemies. Her most interesting power though is the link ability. This takes multiple enemies and gives them the same fate.

Combining these powers and solving the puzzles that are each encounter, are what keep Dishonored 2 fun throughout. As I mentioned earlier though, things are much more challenging this time around, so searching for runes and bonecharms is a must. The heart returns to aide players in their search. Runes are used to upgrade powers, while bonecharms are there to give perks to the character. These are interesting as they can offer simple benefits, or even trade some abilities for others. For example early on I obtained the Witch’s Skin, which decreases my mana bar instead of my life bar when taking a hit. The downside is that my mana didn’t recharge.

Each level also changes up how things work. For example some levels limit visibility with environmental effects, while other can be changed on-the-fly. The Clockwork Mansion is one of the most elaborate levels I have ever played in a game. Combining everything in the world along with supernatural abilities make every play through of the game feel unique. This is definitely a game where people can discuss what they did, and have entirely different conversations. It is that diverse.

Visually the game retains the same exaggerated look of the first title. The world is once again washed out with muted colors and some truly gruesome animations. It feels macabre and dreary, like it has been raining forever. I could almost smell the fish and steel from the piers scattered around the game. Arkane has done an outstanding job of creating a world that feels lived in. Voice work is once again great, with main characters Corvo and Emily being the obvious highlights.

Dishonored 2 is a great game that builds a believable world and lets the player use it as a playground. For those wanting a straight-ahead action game, this is not it, and even more so than the first, stealth is highly recommended. Still it is impossible to argue just how well the team has executed their vision. Crafting one of the most unique and engrossing experiences once again. Don’t miss out on Dishonored 2, it is easily in contention for one of the best of 2016.

Review copy of game provided by publisher.

Good
  • Incredible world
  • Tons of tools to play with
  • Levels are massive playgrounds
  • Quick save is a blessing
Bad
  • Harder to play aggressively
9
Excellent
Written by
Ken is the Editor-in-Chief of this hole in the wall and he loves to troll for the fun of it. He also enjoys long walks through Arkham Asylum and the cool air of Shadow Moses Island. His turn-ons include Mortal Kombat, Metal Gear Solid and StarCraft.