Dishonored

​Glad to see you guys again. Pretty soon, a new steampunk game called Dishonored 2 will be available on the market. So, I decided to review the first Dishonored game. I'll give a breakdown of the gameplay and plot, along with the pros and cons.

​Dishonored takes place in a fictional city called Dunwall, which a dark and gritty dystopian environment. It has many influences from steampunk, including clothing, weapons, architecture, and the overall dystopian component. I don't think Dunwall is part of Victorian England, but it definitely has a lot of similarities. You'll play as Corvo, the Empress's bodyguard. Early in the game, an assassin murders the Empress and frames Corvo for her murder. Corvo escapes from prison and tries to clear his name. Along the way, you'll encounter many enemies, political corruption, and a supernatural entity called the Outsider. This mysterious Outsider probably has a malevolent purpose, but you don't have many allies. He grants Corvo special powers, like the ability to teleport, see through walls, and possess animals for a short period of time. Dunwall is also inflicted with a deadly plague that's devastating the lower classes. Corvo will try to survive his journey and rescue the Empress's daughter. I also noticed everything is running on whale oil instead of steam power. Does this game sound weird enough yet?

​Overall, Dishonored is a pretty good game, even though it's almost too hard for me to play. The plot is very interesting and it keeps you guessing. Some players will really enjoy the gameplay because you can mix and match stealth with sword fighting. Unlike most games, Dishonored has a lot of versatility with the gameplay. Some people might prefer a stealth approach with fewer kills and confrontations. Others will prefer the more brutal combat that dispatches of Corvo's enemies. I think it's best to use a combination of the two strategies, depending on the scene. The protagonist has awesome weapons. You'll have a sword, pistol, crossbow, and mystical powers that will help Corvo get out of sticky situations. All of these weapons have steampunk elements and that makes the game even cooler. I fell in love with the depressing steampunk environment. The landscape has a lot of Victorian influences and you can tell the city is plunging into chaos. I know that doesn't sound like a good thing, but it's not uncommon in steampunk tales. Dishonored also has the classic dilemma of upper classes ruining lower classes. The wealthy landowners and politicians live a cushy existence while the working classes are suffering from a plague. Don't worry. You'll see justice in the end. Corvo's powers are also a lot of fun to use. I don't want to give away all of them, but you'll pick up new ones along the way and it definitely makes the gameplay easier. You can also save the game any time. If you find a good place to stop, just save the game and come back later.

​Here are the drawbacks. Some people say this game is easy to play. I don't know what they're talking about. Dishonored is very challenging and primarily tailored for experienced gamers. However, some people would say that's a good thing. I'm not great at stealth gameplay and that definitely makes a difference. Everything works better if your stealth skills are good. You'll also achieve a much better ending with more stealth attacks and fewer kills. I ran into several glitches. It was annoying and I had to restart the game a few times. Corvo has to pick up essentials like ammunition, health, and elixirs that recharge his powers. Unfortunately, all of these items are sparse. Enemies can easily take a lot of your health and using your powers is a draining experience. So, it's easy to run into trouble. I like to use pistols and crossbows, but their ammo is very limited. Pick and choose your kills wisely. The AI is a bit inconsistent. Somehow, enemies were spotting me behind walls, doors, and piles of boxes or rocks. Yet they might not see me in more vulnerable areas. It's important to pick up bone charms and runes to gain more powers. However, they're heavily guarded and hard to obtain. You might find their location, but have difficulty picking them up. Everything is out to get you. In this universe, animals use humans as a food source. Even the rats eat people in this game. I'm also having a hard time wrapping my mind around the whale oil thing. Maybe Dishonored is a commentary about hunting whales. Who on earth is the Outsider? It's never clear. He seems to be an immortal and demonic human who can grant unusual powers to people. The Outsider definitely wants Corvo to succeed, but the motivation remains mysterious. Some people believe the Outsider is a whale deity who's taking on a human disguise. Preposterous, but it might be true.

​Even though I struggled with this game, it's still a good buy. Steampunk fans should definitely try it out. In fact, anyone who likes dystopian environments would like this game. Players who enjoy sword fighting and stealth modes would also appreciate it. Dishonored is great for people who enjoy challenging gameplay and lots of options. I won't give it away, but wait for the end. Dishonored has three different endings depending on your gameplay style and it's quite exciting. That's pretty much it. Have fun and I'll see you guys next week!

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