Dishonored 2 (PS4) Review

Double Trouble.

 Dishonored 2 is the sequel to developer Arkane Studio's critically acclaimed stealth/action game of 2012, Dishonored. Assassin Corvo Attano and now Empress Emily Kaldwin are back again in an adventure full of betrayals, plot-twists, and action. As fan of Dishonored, I was pretty excited when I heard that it's finally coming this year. Now after having finish the adventure, it's time I give my thoughts in this review.

STORY- Fifteen years after the events of Dishonored, we once again follow Royal Protector Corvo Attano as a new threat to Dunwall emerges. Joining him is Emily Kaldwin, Empress of Dunwall and daughter. Either as Emily or Corvo, you must hunt down those who oppose you and reclaim your throne. I found that the narrative to be well-told and engaging. I liked hearing about Corvo's early childhood, how Emily's life changed after she became Empress, and bits and pieces of The Outsider's prior life before becoming a god. Overall, Dishonored 2's story was quite interesting. 

Either as Corvo or Emily, fight back and take down your enemies.

GAMEPLAY- If you've played Dishonored, chances are that you'll be right at home with Dishonored 2. If not, Dishonored 2 is a first-person action-adventure game with an emphasis on stealth. At the start of the game you can either choose to play as Emily or Corvo and get to know they're point of view of certain events. Both characters control the same, only with slight variations. Just like its predecessor, Dishonored 2 is a very open-ended game. Your choices will have an impact on the game's narrative. There are multiple ways of getting past objectives, either by taking a stealthy route or taking the assault. Regardless, by unleashing chaos, you'll obtain a rough, bad ending-like ending but while going for low chaos will net you a more optimistic one. 

 With the help of the enigmatic "Outsider", Emily or Corvo can have access to supernatural powers. Returning powers include Blink, which allows you to travel from one place to another; Dark Vision, allows you to see enemies and items behind walls; and Possession, which allows you to posses human enemies and animals and manipulate them. New ones include Far-reach, Emily's equivalent of Blink, allows her to pull object to her and reach higher ground. Domino, by linking up to four enemies, you can neutralize all of them at once by either killing them or rendering them unconscious. Doppelganger, allows you create a body double that can be used to distract enemies and mislead them. Lastly, Shadow Walk has you transforming into a shadowy cloud and can undetected. Of course you'll need to collect "Runes" in order to unlock the full potential of the powers. Along with "Bonecharms", which serves as small perks, they're scattered throughout the levels, encouraging you to go out of your to explore some of the game's well-made levels.

 Let's take a bit to talk about the level design in Dishonored 2. Compared to Dishonored, the levels in Dishonored 2 are significantly more open and brimmed with secrets such as runes and bonecharms and loot such as money, paintings, and so on. What makes it standout is that on three occasions, it makes a direct influence on the gameplay. For example, Mission 7 has you infiltrating a mansion left in ruins and trying to piece out what happened there. The Outsider gives you a device that allows you to travel three years back in time back when the mansion was more lively and heavily guarded. Throughout the level, you'll be switching back fourth between past and present to find loot and hidden ways to get past enemies. Not only was it a cool feature but it significantly increased my enjoyment of the game, Arkane should be commended for a job well done. 

Dishonored 2 has by far the best level-design I've
seen this generation.

PRESENTATION- Dishonored 2 looks pretty good. Though if you ask me, it's nothing spectacular compared to games released this year such as Final Fantasy XV and Deus Ex: Mankind Divided. While most characters are well-modeled, I found some, like Corvo, to be a bit iffy for a lack of a better word. The voice performances are great, with some commendable performances. I also liked the game's soundtrack, which blended well with the game's aesthetic. 

OVERALL- I enjoyed the adventure Dishonored 2. Arkane Studios really upped the ante with this sequel and it shows. Not only does it improve upon its predecessor, but the narrative, gameplay, level design, and presentation were all aspects of the game that I liked. In a year full of great titles, Dishonored 2 stands out as one of the most fun and engaging; it's a solid candidate for "Game of the Year".