Dishonored 2 Review - Does it match its predecessor?

 

Dishonored 2 is a first-person action game (stealth-ish, if you prefer) developed by Arkane Studios. Most of you have probably already played the first Dishonored game, which actually left a really great impression on me. To be honest, it doesn't really feel like there is anything new going on in Dishonored 2, although it may be for the better.

Choices from the very beginning

In the previous game we saw Emily's mother Jessamine Kaldwin, who was also the Empress, get killed. In the beginning of Dishonored 2, we witness the overthrow of Dunwall's imperial throne. We get to choose our main protagonist with due haste - it's either the Royal Protector Corvo or his daughter Emily Kaldwin, the overthrown Empress.In the first Dishonored game we got to play as Corvo. The idea of playing as his daughter in the sequel appealed to me more, which is why I chose Emily during my gameplay. I guess it even makes even more sense, as the throne was stolen from Emily and it is her duty to reclaim it and free her father.

After choosing our protagonist, we instantly delve into the story. Both characters have different powers, although the story turns out to be more or less the same. Our destination is the city of Karnaca, where we are meant to disrupt the powers that have overthrown the family's empire.

The Gameplay

Lets face it - the gameplay is what attracts the most. In Dishonored, we were able to be killing machines or we could observe, sneak and take out our enemies stealthily. The same is possible in Dishonored 2, although you might want to level up your abilities before going full berserk, because it might end up bad really soon into the game, as guards call in backup pretty fast and in decent numbers. During my playtime, I sneaked around until I got the hang of everything before attending direct combat. Even though I was a power of destruction in the first game, Dishonored 2 made me struggle a little bit in the beginning.

Dishonored 2’s levels also offer various hooks and unique affectations. The campaign is short at around eight hours per character, but each level features an added new twists. The rules and challenges change with each mission: A clockwork fortress transforms and shifts with the pull of a lever. A rundown mansion springs back to life as you leap through time. A devious politician protects himself with a body double. Unfortunately, Dishonored 2 abandons these ideas quickly, presenting them only for a brief time before moving on. 

The Change?

Speaking of improvement, Dishonored 2 had some more in-depth details to offer. One of these were the fact that it felt more full overall. I was able to sense this as there were noticeably much more buildings and structures, apartments and shops to roam and navigate in.Although the game seems like it might overrule its predecessor, I would not quite agree with that. The first Dishonored was like the bread and butter of the series and it defines the sequel to the point where we just see a continuation in the story (and we've seen better stories!). 

On a technical level,  Dishonored 2 doesn’t run well. Frames drop as the game struggles to render Karnaca in full glory. It froze during key moments. These disruptions are frustrating. It is essential to keep multiple saves or else risk losing major swaths of progress. 

This game is still great whatsoever and I recommend trying it if you're still unsure about it. Also, if you haven't tried the first game, I suggest starting from there!

Thank you for reading! Share your thoughts.

@cheaky