Arkane Studios is a respected video game developer, recognized for its envelope-pushing concepts and its slick delivery of stylized titles. Recent releases like Deathloop in particular have showcased the studio's skill, and the game has been on the receiving end of many accolades and awards. However, some of Arkane's older work that has already proven its worth amidst the video game landscape, and that includes the Dishonored series. With their authentically lived-in settings and impressive mechanics, the Dishonored games were a breath of fresh air in an FPS genre that is typically characterized more form its soulless action and thoughtless storylines.
The first Dishonored game is celebrating a decade since its release this year, and that might make players feels as if the 2012 title might have aged too much to still be enjoyable today. The video game industry is a fast-changing sphere filled with innovation both in terms of design and mechanics, and it can be hard for older games to compete with titles released even a few short years later. However, when games truly excel and set the standard for what a title in their genre should look like, they tend to have a bit more staying power. Both Dishonored and Dishonored 2 were well-crafted and inventive releases, and they still hold up to this day.
Immersive Storytelling And Compelling Action
Dishonored was a truly enjoyable stealth game, allowing players to explore the various depths of the industrial city of Dunwall. The more reputable parts of the city were a contrast to its murkier regions and navigating the warren of streets and impressively vivid environments felt anything but shallow, as some in-game worlds can appear. The whole design vision for the game was original, and exploring the world was a treat. Arkane clearly put a lot of thought into its environments, but it was the way players could get around them that served as the game's true ace card. Corvo's abilities, the level of interaction available, and the freedom of choice Dishonored gave players culminated in great gameplay with hair-raising action that was immensely replayable.
The second game elevated most of these elements, expanding the action and offering a new region for players to get to grips with. Gamers could either rediscover some old favorite abilities as Corvo or utilize a new set with Emily, which helped to distinguish the sequel. The coastal city of Karnaca provided a new and fresh location while still staying true to the aesthetic of the first Dishonored, and the stylized designs of both games' environments have helped them age a little better than some titles released at similar times. Both Dishonored and Dishonored 2 give players true freedom of choice in how they play and approach missions, and this helps to keep them fluid, functional, and fun even years after release.
Groundbreaking Level Design
Some of the most impressive feats that Dishonored and Dishonored 2 accomplish are tied to level design. Many, many games have been released since both of these titles launched, but the fact that the Clockwork Mansion or A Crack in the Slab are lauded as incredibly designed levels even now shows how meticulous and impressive they are. The mixture of technology and supernatural elements makes for a fascinating setting and storyline, but when levels embraced either of these aspects more fully, it made for some great gameplay. To this day, the Clockwork Mansion is a masterwork of level design and really deserves to be experienced. The games contain a plethora of interesting side missions, many serving as amazing standalone stories amid the wider narrative arc that give players plenty of opportunities to flex their own creative muscles.
Both Dishonored titles respected the player's intelligence and provided challenging and thought-provoking puzzles alongside the more straightforward FPS action. The combination of abilities, exploration, manipulation of environments, and combat created an exceptional stealth formula that separates the Dishonored series from similar titles like Thief. The fairly stock revenge narratives are surrounded by such intriguing and original elements that the story becomes a competent base to build all the other aspects on, and this works well for both titles. More recent games may have better graphics, larger set pieces, or flashier action, but the Dishonored games are special. They're challenging and dynamic, showcasing the possibilities of game design.