Dishonored I feel is pretty meh,it's a good game,but it's just so bland in terms of storytelling and atmosphere.
I mean it can't keep it up,it's only dreary on the outside.We don't get enough context on the places we visit,the world lore doesn't hold its own,and you barely care because you never see it having an affect in the actual environment you're in.
It took Yahtzee to tell me why I didn't care about the world or characters,it's because it's so mechanized,you can't relate to anything.Did I care about the people you murder?No.Did I really care about the Loyalists in the first place as a player?No.Did I care about the black death that is plaguing the town?No.Did I care in the political intrigue which you're dragged in?Nope.
The list goes on...Conclusion: Story,context and aesthetics didn't truly engage me as a player,exceptions being Emily,Piero and Sokolov.
The game is quickly forgetful.The counter argument for the last point is that I never really dicked around and did stuff for the hell of it,I might have when I got detected but I don't remember.
It's truly strong in gameplay which is immediately broken by the overpowered,yet mandatory Blink which you get after the first level.I played on the hardest difficulty and breezed through it(admittedly I was save scumming like there's no tomorrow),mainly because I went the solid stealth non-lethal approach,which allowed me to truly explore almost everything in the environment.
After this comes the next aspect in which this game shines brightly: level design,it felt hub-like,just like Deus Ex and Hitman.Here's a level for you to explore and make your own playground.It's a shame that the few games I select to play usually have this kind of levels,so I'm spoiled when it comes to this,but I admit I was satisfied when lurking in the shadows looking for openings around guarded areas,notes,cash,potions and the like.
But overall I enjoy Mark of the Ninja more than this.Call me a stealth fanatic or whatever but that's my personal opinion.Mark of the Ninja has a flat out better story,better atmosphere and much better refined stealth mechanics,not to mention it's 2D which makes it simpler,yet just as challenging.What can I say,I like pure stealth more than stabby,stabby action.
TL;DR Dishonored is good,but not great.Story,context,background seriously underdeveloped.
EDIT: Please don't let this post discourage you buying Dishonored,like I said,I'm a stealth fanatic and only explored one aspect of the game.The developer needs recognition and the game IS good,the options for playing however you feel like are there,you are free to combine abilities and terrain to your will at any given moment of the game.
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