Even as its hero uses weapons, magical powers, and acrobatic moves to neutralize targets in countless ways, Dishonored pulls off an amazing juggling act of its own. The game slyly mixes stealth, moral choice, steampunk-style science-magic, and intense assassinations — the best concepts of this console generation — into one awesomely cohesive package.
Like BioShock, Dishonored is set in an alternate reality based on a decades-old locale — in this case, a fictional place (Dunwall) inspired by turn-of-the-century, plague-infected England — and the idea works to great effect here, too. As Corvo, a bodyguard to a noble family, you’re framed for the murder of an empress and the disappearance of her daughter. Cast out from high society and forced to work with a band of revolutionaries, you’ll see all aspects of Dunwall’s society, including sewers filled with plague-infected paupers, streets patrolled by armed military forces, and high-rises occupied by upper-crust nobility (and protected by supernatural soldiers).
The characters in this engrossing tale look and act memorably, but the setting’s the true star. Intricately designed stages allow multiple paths to your objective, with spectacular settings such as a cathouse, a regent’s lavish mansion, and a masquerade party where you must deduce your target’s costume. Each new mission offers a huge sandbox in which to play, allowing you to reach destinations by rooftop, by sewer, or (if you’re stealthy or violent enough) by going through enemy lines.
It's not fancy, but the Windblast spell can help you escape perilous situations.
You can't do a stealth game without an infrared view.Though a number of stealth games have very loose ties with reality (read: Metal Gear Solid’s bosses), most are grounded in realistic physics and weaponry. Dishonored, on the other hand, avoids authenticity, instead giving you an intriguing new way to handle enemy encounters by binding BioShock-esque powers to Corvo’s left hand. A patrolling guard on the other side of an un-jumpable chasm is no longer a death sentence, for example, as you can teleport right behind him. You can even fell a group of guards if you slow down time enough that none of them have the chance to notice their fallen comrades. And if you find yourself discovered, possessing the body of a nearby rat or fish can provide the means for an easy escape. If a more lethal response is needed, you can summon a swarm of flesh-eating rats or generate wind gusts powerful enough to throw enemies to their death. All of these moves sap Corvo’s mana bar, and replenishing items (as well as ranged weapons) are in short enough supply to force you to consider your moves carefully.
All this stealth-focused combat works quite well, despite some slight flaws in the game’s execution. It’s pretty hard to tell just how aware enemies are of your presence, for instance, as Dishonored’s Dark Vision shows faint enemy-vision cones, and while foes display their level of alertness, it’s not the foolproof detection systems at play in (admittedly less ambitious) games like Metal Gear Solid and Mark of the Ninja. The enemy A.I. is also suspect, allowing you to get away with crazy acts like snatching a nearby guard out of thin air with witnesses offering nothing more than a slightly alarmed quip before returning to regular duty. Super-stealthy players will likely be angered more than once when a silent takedown is marred by an enemy moving just out of your range, leading you to inexplicably perform a parry move that’ll likely grab the attention of your intended target.
Though stealth is usually advised, you have enough firepower to handle situations where your cover's blown.
One of Dishonored’s best Achievements is for taking down one of the stilt-wearing, fire-arrow-shooting Tallboys without using a ranged weapon. Given that your knife attack reaches the midway point of this enemy’s steel stilts, we launched off a rooftop to perform a “death from above” assassination on a patrolling tall soldier four stories below, hanging onto his body as he fell. Amazing Achievement Unlocked!Where Dishonored really hooks you is by making your actions dictate the story just as much as your dialogue choices do. Every mission has a target that you can directly eliminate or dispose of in a different manner, be it capturing them, robbing them of key intel, or giving them to allies with plans for severe (yet non-fatal) punishment. Your choice to kill or non-lethally neutralize each mission’s primary target will often elicit different dialogue from allies at your home base and NPCs populating each stage; meanwhile, engaging in bloodletting will raise the world’s “Chaos” level, which drastically alters the final stage of the game. While we appreciated the subtlety of a system that doesn’t display the results of your every choice à la Mass Effect, it was often difficult to get a bead on which side of Chaos we were trending toward, given that the only representation of your morality is a one-word description on the “Mission End” screen.
Dishonored’s vague morality and stealth systems can be slightly disarming, but thankfully, the game’s barely the worse for it. During most of your stay in Dunwall, you’ll be captivated by the unique gameplay, gorgeous art direction, and engaging gameworld. Arkane Studios has crafted what’s likely the year’s best new IP, and by tapping into elements of so many of this generation’s greatest games, this adventure sneaks up, grabs you, and won’t let go.
PUBLISHER: Bethesda Softworks • DEVELOPER: Arkane Studios • ESRB: Mature • MULTIPLAYER: None • ACHIEVEMENTS: Stealthy and violent • COST: $60 • RELEASE DATE: October 9, 2012
+ Missions allow for various tactics, making stealth and power equally viable options.
+ Intriguing old-timey setting, story, and characters.
– Hard to discern enemy awareness; Corvo could’ve used more offensive powers.
? Why are rats and fish tougher than armed soldiers?
