When Dishonored was released in 2012, it was a throwback shot across the bow of AAA games. It largely avoided the spectacular action and setpieces of big-budget titles, and instead went back to the well of the late-’90s/early-’00s renaissance of first-person action games on the PC platform particularly the Thief series. It wasn’t a negative thing that Looking Glass’ formula and ideas were so extensively appropriated by Dishonored creator Arkane because it tapped into a craving for something different from the established quo.
It also helped that the environment and fiction of Dishonored were so compelling and distinctive thanks to outstanding visual direction. In Dishonored 2, each playthrough is unique. With two distinct sets of talents, a rich and complex environment, and a bewildering variety of level designs that influence how you approach each new location, developer Arkane has expanded on the play-your-way concept from the original. Each of your playthroughs adds to the diverse spectrum of stories that may be told within this beautifully warped environment, whether you opt for a stealthy or brutal approach.
After 15 years have passed since the events of the first Dishonored, Emily Kaldwin, the Empress of the Isles, finds her realm once more in shambles as her malevolent aunt shows up with nefarious plans for her reign. Your most important choice in Dishonored 2 is whether to play as Emily or Corvo Attano, her father and protector and the main character of the first Dishonored game. It’s important to think carefully before making your decision because it will affect the remainder of your 12 to 16-hour playthrough, depending on whether you choose high-chaos.
System Requirements
CPU: Intel Core i5-2400/AMD FX-8320 or better
CPU Speed: Info
RAM: 8 GB
OS: Windows 7/8/10 (64-bit versions)
Video Card: NVIDIA GTX 660 2GB/AMD Radeon HD 7970 3GB or better
Pixel Shader: 5.0
Vertex Shader: 5.0
Free Disk Space: 60 GB
Dedicated Video RAM: 3 GB (2 GB NVIDIA)
Gameplay
Dishonored 2 borrows many of gameplay elements from the original Dishonored. Players define their own play style by combining immersive first-person action, assassination, stealth, mobility and the game’s combat system. By combining the tools at their disposal, players have the ability to take down enemies, whether they choose to pursue them unseen or ruthlessly attack them head-on with projectile weapons. The player can also eliminate key targets by staging an “accident” into which they will fall, bordering on poetic justice.
The campaign in Dishonored 2 follows the same format as its predecessor, requiring the main character to go through a series of tasks while utilizing an inventive combination of abilities and weaponry. Corvo still has his previously limited powers from the first game, but Emily has her own set of special skills. The game offers the ability to play totally without having access to any supernatural abilities, but it also has branching upgrade routes for its powers. Both a lethal and non-lethal upgrade route is available for these skills.
Setting
The Empire of Isles’ capital city of Dunwall hosted the previous match. Karnaca, the southernmost coastal city in the Empire of Isles and the capital of Serkonos, is the setting for Dishonored 2. The nickname “Jewel of the South” is widely used to describe the city. Wind turbines located throughout the city are powered by current produced by a mountain cleft that is located at its edge. One of the city’s main exports is silver, which is obtained from nearby mines. Karnaca frequently has dust storms, which cause the wind to blow through the mines and into the city, giving rise to the nickname “Dust District” for the mining area.
The Howlers and the Overseers, two factions, are at war with one another in Karnaca. Following the passing of Duke Theodanis Abele, a man by the name of Paolo is leading the Howlers in resistance to the new Duke and his administration. In reaction to the chaos, the Grand Serkonan Guard, Karnaca’s police and military, built protective walls known as Walls of Light. The game’s new setting seems quite intriguing. Players of the first game will have somewhere new to explore. There will undoubtedly be a wealth of fresh and fascinating scenarios with the addition of new characters, settings, and lore.
Performance
Dishonored 2’s PC release has had a difficult start, with many players citing significant performance issues and rating it “Mixed” on the Steam store page. The problems have been addressed, and Arcane has promised a fix “in the next days.” Nevertheless, we haven’t been able to reproduce those issues. Dishonored 2 wasn’t a perfect experience for me, but we think we managed to avoid the worst of it. On Arkane’s “Auto” settings (a mix of Very High and Ultra), with a Core i7 4770K, a GeForce GTX 1070, and 16GB RAM, we originally had erratic frame rates.
We would play around 60 frames per second for a significant portion of a level before encountering sporadic drops into the 40s. Although it never became unplayable, it was definitely visible, and that shouldn’t happen on a system that exceeds the suggested spec (which lists a GTX 1060). I was able to play for a good few hours without experiencing any noticeable frame rate variation after a fresh restart and the shutdown of background programmes like a video stream on my second screen.
Conclusion
Dishonored 2 is a great experience with two distinct skill sets to use throughout ten themed chapters that keep things interesting and a magnificent, evocative setting that seems alive. Its basic plot, which once again centers on a usurper to the throne, might have used a little more originality, but what I’ll remember are the stories we made up on my own using its many creativity-enhancing capabilities, each graceful, awkward, and hilarious. I feel obliged to produce a lot more in the upcoming months.
