Dishonored 2

- I'll admit right off the bat, I was hesitant in buying Dishonored 2. The problems people experienced on PC when the game originally launched left me feeling cautious about this purchase. There were many issues regarding poor performance even on high-end PC's, stuttering, frame-drops and constant crashing. - I'm happy to report that I did NOT encounter any of those problems on the GOG version. The game ran smoothly on my medium-end PC. Loading it for the first time took a while, with subsequent loads being very fast. - While it's nice to have a choice between playing as 2 different characters with (slightly) different magical powers, I never understood why they added in an option to "refuse" those magical powers. I mean, why would you say no to fun? - Level design is generally good, with 2 levels truly standing out. Inside the "Clockwork mansion" you can pull levers that will then change the layout of the very rooms you are currently in. At the "Stilton manor" your are stripped of your magical powers and given a device with which to travel through time, between the past and the present time. These 2 concepts show us what talented developers can accomplish, if given sufficient creative freedom. I wish more game studios would come up with ideas such as these. - While the game only has 9 levels, worry not, for these maps are very large and will take a long time to thoroughly explore. - Say what you will of Dishonored 2's writing but at least it wraps up Emily's and Corvo's stories nicely, unlike Deus Ex Mankind Divided, which ends on a cliffhanger. (I do recommend both of these titles to immersive sim fans and patient gamers in general)

The combat improvements an the new powers are great. The problem is the recycled story from the Daud dlc from 1 by reusing the same villain as it invalidates players who may have decided to kill the villain from the dlc or who decided to spare the villain by trapping her in the painting as she comes back. This could have been allivated by having an import saves from dishonored 1 and its dlc or not using the same villain again. also the villians in the game are more cartoonishly evil unlike dishonored 1 which involved mostly corrupt politicions siezing power. None off the new assassin targets are interesting and there is less of them. also a missed oppurtinty to have a misson or even a few missons like lady Boyles last party as you can play as an empress. also the game doesn't seem to preform as well as dishonored 1. also kill and coke animations take longer to play out. I argue dishonored 1 had better level design than 2. yeah dishonored 2s levels are bigger and some are gimmiky doesn't make them better. the clockwork mansion is pretty good but a missed oppuntunity to have an alternate assassination method which the game is sorely lacking from 1. It seems also that there is less alternate entry points to locations and alot of them feel more segmented. also the nonlethal option for targets is kind boring compared to 1 as there isn't really a side quest attached to any of them and the game bascilly hand holds the player by giving the player information on how to take the target out nonlethally. most nonlethal options in the game are target loses memory, power is taken away, or target is cured. the only intersting nonlethal option is duke abele and thats because it actually takes work to do and is more similar to dishonored 1.

Like with the first game, we have a solid stealth action games that gives you the freedom to play stealthy or go aggressive, though not as good as the first game. Interestingly, there is more incentive to pick your battles in 2, since the morality system is now affect by normal NPCs, not just the major targets.

If you loved Dishonored, you'll love this sequel. It reproduces what made the first entry great, and is pretty much just “more of the same” (especially if you select Corvo as the protagonist): make your way through open-ended levels! Think out of the box! Find secret paths to your goals! Kick butts in style! It's more than just a rehash however: D2's levels are gigantic compared to the first game, and the gameplay includes many small changes that make big differences. Among multiple control tweaks and a bunch of new gadgets and powers to play with, the increased number of non-lethal options is particularly appreciable. As for the first, the story is not too impressive but carries the game well and has many memorable moments and characters. The worldbuilding and atmosphere are still top notch, especially since D2 is gorgeous to look at. Still leaning heavily into the trademark cool uchronic aesthetics and exaggerated character designs of the series, it has received clear visual upgrades: the environments are not just sprawling, they’re also ridiculously detailed. Sadly this comes at a cost, as D2 is poorly optimized and still stutters on some modern machines... No doubt that there’s a good argument to be made about D2 being superior to the first, but I think it's also fair to have some mixed feelings about it. My personal gripe is that the bigger, more populated levels can get a bit overwhelming and make the game slower-paced: exploration tend to be less smooth, as going through these complex areas and getting past all those foes demands more time and planning. Hunting for collectibles can get especially tedious, since important objects and passageways tend to be hidden in small corners and blend in the detailed backgrounds. In the end, the fact that my worst complaint about D2 boils down to “it’s too big with too much stuff to do” is a testament to its excellence: it’s a masterpiece of game design, arguably the best entry in its series, and a blast to play.

Dishonored 2 was a breath of fresh air in my gaming journey, it has been a while since I was this immersed in a world. The intricate levels carefully crafted for the player to explore reminisced me of the Hitman franchise, there are many ways to accomplish your goal and none of them feel wrong (except perhaps morally). On top of that, having your decisions shape the world around you in a justified way is an awesome concept. From the character you play to how you play will reflect on the world creating an additional layer of choice in your experience. I believe it is truly an achievement that this game manages to be both excellent in a stealth and action setting. I never felt like I was missing out and know that future playthroughs will offer me a new point of view be it gameplay or story wise.