Dishonored 2

Dishonored 2 takes everything Dishonored does, and finds ways to improve it. From little quality of life changes like spring and lean toggles, to a much deeper crafting tree in abilities, D2 creates endless possibilities for playstyles as the player makes decisions on what to collect, where to explore, who to spare, and which mission goals to accomplish. The world has incredible detail, and the voice acting is as strong as the original. The ending is a little weak, and there are a few places where the level design falters, but on the whole I found the D2 experience immersive, engrossing, and utterly rewarding. Highly recommended.

The first Dishonored was a masterpiece blend of immersive sim & stealth gameplay, with its charmingly distinct "whalepunk" world and a literary-scale plot of revenge for an entire empire. Dishonored 2 picks up a few years after that story, where Emily Kaldwin is grown and on the throne of the Empire of the Isles, with the previous game's protagonist Corvo Attano being her protector & closest ally. You get to choose which character play as and each one of them has their own distinct playstyle. Corvo's abilities tend to take on a more direct approach to things whereas Emily's abilities are more about manipulating the environment and the people in it. In terms of gameplay, EVERYTHING was improved here. The controls are top-notch and never make you feel like your character isn't going where you want them to. The various forms of powers, combat and maneuverability are all smooth & fine-tuned. The way you, as the player, can interact with the environment is also amped up with greater opportunities than before. The thing I love most about this franchise is how you're always given the choice on whether you want to be stealthy, go in guns blazing or do a balance of the two. You never really feel forced to do one or the other. This makes for a really immersive... well, immersive sim, and it ensures that it remains a fun experience. Another awesome element of the franchise is its game world. Its late Victorian aesthetic, the technology powered by whale oil, even the Empire of the Isles itself: it's all superbly interesting and Dishonored 2 is no exception. While the first game had a better sense of atmosphere, this game's environments are absolutely gorgeous. This is aided by the fact that the game has some of the most beautiful, stylized graphics even by today's standards. My only real complaint is regarding the level design, where a few missions feel somewhat unfair. Other than that, Dishonored 2 is absolutely a worthy heir to the throne that the first game left behind!

Dishonored and it's Daud DLC is in my top 10 all time favorite games, but I can't put my finger on it why this sequel doesn't grab me as much as the first game. The Good: The graphics are more detailed and the soundtrack - once again done by the late Daniel Licht - is amazing. You can play as Corvo or Emily, who each have their own set of skills & powers, and there's a New Game+ where you can switch characters, but keep all the powers. You can also play the game refusing The Outsider's mark, which makes it a lot more punishing. This time they gave Corvo a voice and several famous Hollywood actors also lend their voice to important characters. The Bad: - The story. It's basically a badly written reboot of the first game. Having Delilah as the main antagonist also makes Daud's efforts in the D1 DLC's seem pointless. - Despite the detailed graphics everything looks cluttered, dark and desaturated. The two main colors are brown and gray. The vibrant colors of the first game are nowhere to be seen. D2 also traded the remarkable watercolor graphics in for a more realistic look. - The maps are too big. D1 had fairly small linear hubs which you could traverse any way you saw fit. D2 on the other hand has hubs with a lot of big empty spaces that are basically just padding. The much revered Clockwork Mansion - which is a technical marvel - is so big and confusing I found it a real slog to get through. - They changed the voice actor for The Outsider! I miss Billy Lush's otherworldly voice. The new guy is okay, but according to Lush Arkane Studio never bothered to give him a call... The Ugly: - This game is still riddled with bugs. I've experienced several CTD's playing the game. One minute your playing the game and all of a sudden you're staring at your desktop. No error message, no nothing. Especially the Royal Conservatory is a notoriously bug riddled map. Probably because D2 uses the new Void Engine, a customised id Tech 5 core, which used a lot of memory.

One of the most amazing and remarkable games I've ever played. Loved the 1st one, but DH2 is on a whole 'nother level!

If you haven’t tried Dishonored 2 for some reason and happen to be a fan of stealth games I highly recommend you giving this game a try. There are countless ways of completing each mission. The art style/combat system/world design/story are all top notch. Also great in terms of replayability. Def up there as one of the best stealth games out there.