Dishonored 2

As a long-time fan of Arkane Studios, I have high expectations whenever they release a new title. With Dishonored 2, they've once again proven their mastery in game design, delivering an experience that surpasses even the brilliance of its predecessor. While the original Dishonored was already a masterpiece in its own right, Dishonored 2 builds upon its foundations in ways that feel both ambitious and rewarding.

First and foremost, the game's world-building is nothing short of extraordinary. Arkane Studios’ attention to detail in creating a vibrant, reactive world is unparalleled, making it one of the most immersive settings I’ve encountered in modern gaming. The environmental storytelling is rich, and every corner of the world feels lived-in, from the elegant yet decaying streets of Karnaca to the atmospheric interiors of its many buildings. The game's world isn't just a backdrop; it's a character in itself, with its own history and personality. In this regard, Dishonored 2 feels like an evolution of the incredible foundation laid by Prey and Bioshock, capturing that same level of deep, immersive world-building.

The gameplay in Dishonored 2 is as addictive as ever, offering players a fantastic blend of stealth, action, and choice. The level of freedom granted to the player is staggering—whether you prefer to sneak through shadows, engage enemies head-on, or use the many supernatural powers at your disposal, there are almost limitless ways to approach each situation. It’s this freedom that makes Dishonored 2 so special: every decision feels significant, and every playthrough can be radically different depending on how you choose to approach the challenges before you. The fluidity of movement, the creativity in combat, and the refined systems make the gameplay feel both satisfying and rewarding, whether you're a fan of stealth or action.

In many ways, Dishonored 2 improves on its predecessor in almost every area. The refined mechanics, better visuals, and more dynamic levels make it a step up from the first game. Whether it’s the versatility of the powers or the way the game encourages exploration and experimentation, it feels like everything was polished to perfection. It's a game that rewards curiosity, and that’s a huge part of what makes it so addictive.

However, no game is perfect, and while Dishonored 2 refines everything that made the first game great, I do have a couple of small reservations. One of the most notable is the shift in setting from Dunwall to Karnaca. While Karnaca is an exquisitely designed city, I find myself drawn to the grim, atmospheric streets of Dunwall more. There’s just something about the dark, industrial feel of Dunwall that felt more fitting for the tone of the game. Karnaca, though beautiful, didn’t quite capture the same sense of mystery and tension that Dunwall did in the original.

Another aspect I slightly prefer in the first Dishonored is the plot. While Dishonored 2 has a compelling story, it lacks the immediate hook and emotional drive that the first game delivered. The stakes in the original felt more urgent, and the personal motivation behind Corvo’s quest was clearer and more immediate. In comparison, the plot of Dishonored 2 feels a bit more sprawling and less intimate, even though it still does a great job of tying into the rich lore of the world.

In conclusion, Dishonored 2 is a brilliant game that takes the core formula of the first and improves upon it in almost every way. With its incredible attention to detail, expansive world-building, and addictive gameplay, it’s an experience I highly recommend to any fan of immersive, choice-driven games. While I may personally prefer Dunwall and the plot of the first game, these are small qualms in what is, otherwise, an exceptional sequel. Arkane Studios continues to be one of the best developers in the industry, and Dishonored 2 is a perfect example of their prowess.

9/10

One hell of a immersive sim with such a wonderful story

Bigger and larger

Friedrich von Schiller wrote:

Not every act that causes contempt is dishonourable. Dishonour is a state of mind.

A nice sequel that doesn't feel forced just because the first game was a hit. You have new powers and the story continues. If you liked Dishonored 1, you can't go wrong with this one

After finishing the game 4 times and getting all the achievements, this game is fun and enjoyable. I will agree it is more geared towards Emily, but Corvo is fun to play with as well. New game plus is awesome as well!

Outsider's VA is such a massive downgrade from the 1st game though

Every level is a delightful puzzle on how to find your way, uncover great side stories, discovering the alternate way of completing the level, figuring out how to get that one pack of guards out of the way without using all your sleep bolts or getting spotted and stealing everything not nailed down (e.g., getting all collectibles)

very engaging, great story which feels very dynamic, gameplay can be very brutal and intense but the choice
on how brutal and how intense it is is left for the player to dictate.

LOVE these game titles!!!
This and the other Dishonered games that they have made have been nothing but amazing in terms of story lines and charector development that you see unfold and get to play it has the same mechanics as something of almost assassin's creed(but in First person) and with the graphics of Borderlands, and the abilities of almost Bioshock. I love all of those games already so it makes sense of why I would love this as well. You are faced with numerous enemies in this (as any other game) going through the story and your play style is your rule on however you want to approach the area. You could go in sword swinging and gun blazing, or you can be stealthy and sneaky (which takes more time) the animations on the executions are awesome and don't get repetitive I think, some games may do that but this didn't for me at least.

In my opinion this game is a definite play if you haven't already. Due to the shelve life and the numerous sales that I have already seen out for this I would recommend waiting on a bundle sale so you can experience all of them for the story that they are, and say if you don't like you got it on sale, so it wont hurt as much if you don't like it. (or get a refund)

Apparently I keep forgetting to recommend this game. If you liked the first one, you'll at least enjoy the new gameplay elements and quality of life improvements. You may or may not like the story as much or more as the first game's. I personally think the first game does a better job of getting you invested. There's a lot of tweaks they could have made to really make this Emily's story and offered Corvo purely as a NG+ option. That said, it's still Dishonored and I'm still wondering what a third game might look like.

an absolutely beautiful steampunk world with bizarre architecture and different opportunities to go through with a creative approach. despite the fact that I am a fan of stealth, I would like the game not to reproach players who like a more aggressive way of playing

La historia es muy cautivante y el modo de juego también. Los poderes y ataques que vas desbloqueando te hacen tener ganas de ir probandolos.

Great sequel,with great improvements to the gameplay and very good maps with some what mindblowing mechanics.
But optimization sucks.

My first Low-Chaos run was mostly fun, although trying to not kill people requires enough stealth that I sometimes found it somewhat tedious.

My second "hard" High-Chaos NG+ run was a bit more fun, since I had more powers to choose from and decided that in order to make things as different as possible I was just going to slaughter non-civilians with wild abandon. Muuuuch quicker.

Either way, there were a lot of cool moments in the game.

Similar to the first game with respect to gameplay and endings. However you can choose your character here, both having different skills. Only issue is the game is not optimized and the fps tanks most of the time.

What a treat. Dishonored 2's expansive levels are a terrific playground.

On steam deck, use the game's native frame rate limiter - the steam decks external limiter causes loading issues.

It´s fucking Dishonored 2, play the game, you will enjoy it for sure!!!
Amazing in any aspect, make sure to play all of the games though to not miss out on the story.

Dishonored 2 is a true successor to the initial Dishonored game, that manages to capture the same atmosphere, gameplay and, equally important, expands upon the story of the Outsider's universe.

Probably not as good as one, but still very enjoyable with many great missions

Just updated my PC specs and went to boot this up. Game won't launch.
AMD Ryzen 7 7800x3d and GTX 1080ti

Apparently there is an issue where this game will not launch if you have an AMD CPU and an NVIDIA GPU. You have to uninstall the integrated GPU using the AMD driver tool, and then disable the integrated GPU (AMD) in your computer BIOS. This is wild to me.

Game is fantastic but I don't need to play it that bad. Maybe one day I'll get around to it. If you're running an Intel CPU with your NVIDIA GPU, go ahead, it's a great game. Just be sure to update your BIOS so you don't fry your CPU lol.

(Update: I gave in and tried the steps. Fairly simple to do, just should not be necessary. Once disabled and the AMD drivers uninstalled, the game will launch.)

Dishonored 2 elevates the acclaimed franchise to new heights, delivering an even more impressive experience than its predecessor. This sequel expands on the original’s gameplay, offering players the choice between two protagonists: Corvo Attano and Emily Kaldwin, each with their unique abilities. This addition enhances replayability and allows for diverse playstyles.

One of the standout levels, the Mechanical Mansion, showcases the game’s brilliant level design and environmental storytelling. This intricately crafted setting is filled with puzzles, secrets, and mechanical enemies, creating a rich playground for players to explore. The mansion’s design encourages creativity, allowing players to approach challenges in various ways, whether through stealth, combat, or clever use of supernatural powers.

Graphically, Dishonored 2 impresses with its beautiful art style and attention to detail, making the world of Karnaca feel alive and immersive. The combination of captivating visuals, an engaging narrative, and expanded gameplay options solidifies Dishonored 2 as a superior sequel that surpasses the original in every way. It’s a must-play for fans of the genre and newcomers alike.

I liked the first Dishonored game, and I like it's sequel.

I enjoy how they changed the art style and I think the game overall is worthy of the Dishonored title. Sometimes the game can be a little difficult to see guards or items.

Update: I just finished the game, and I thought it was really good. I'm definitely gonna do another play through and see what other endings/achievements I can get.

A fascinating story of intrigues and revenge. Multiple superpowers to choose from to individualize your own style: Assault or Stealth, Lethal or Non-lethal. Selecting different roles and different ways to accomplish the mission drives away any boredom when replaying. Absolutely it is an excellent game worth purchasing.

This game suffers one of the worst possible fates; You will become good at cheesing the game before you become good at playing it the intended way. I have played low chaos and high chaos, and most recently a no-powers run. In all cases I resort to just using the nonlethal combos that work in combat. That is, drop attacks on stairs, sliding takedowns, and hopping on enemies heads to temporarily stun them so you can just choke them from the front.
Even on easy, the stealth doesn’t earn my respect. Running in the second floor of a building will sometimes alert a guard outside on the street level. Detection is way too fast, particularly vertically, and as a result I still don’t fully understand what each level of the meter means; this system explains itself in Dishonored 1. I just use throwable objects and darts as a “sonar ping” to reveal every guard in a room and move them to one side for me to walk by. Feedback about the level of noise you’re making is not there (I know there’s a power that shows this; no-powers run).
Any situation where you’re spotted results in what I call a “staring contest” problem. The AI cant stop you from just running off and returning after 30 seconds, but their positions will be scrambled and the level will feel much less curated after that point. This means you either tolerate the rote, unstructured disassembly of the remaining level or suffer the annoyance of save-scumming. Having NPCs go back to where they were would be cheesy but push this decision towards not scumming.
All this said, the game manages to be near-flawless on the exploration side. The joy of finding new places and resources is just too severely undercut by the feeling that these resources cannot be deployed effectively. Each level is a divinely inspired instrumental space full of mindless wasps, both the NPC guards and the actual plot wasps.

I love this game, it is so much fun and everything game mechanic is phenominal. The creative ways to take down enemies, the achievements that incentivize different playthroughs. This is a blueprint on how to make a great game. There are no unnecessary cutscenes, the story is told by playing through the game. Little hidden objects hidden in each level that build your characters skillbank make you want to explore each area thoroughly. There are all these little subplots going on in each level that add immersion in bunches. This game deserves so much more credit than it gets. Trying the speedrun strats is a ton of fun too.

9.5/10 as the time travel level is a kinda boring at the start and kinda frustrating at the finish (still a well executed level). GG's all around.

Best stealth game ever. A solid 10/10, a worthy sequel that builds on the first title without going overboard. It's fantastic!

That time travel mansion level was very cool. The only problem I have with this game is a universal stealth game problem. If I want to, I can beat a level easily in like 10 minutes. You dont have to be stealthy at all. Maybe Ill try the highest difficulty next time.

The gameplay alone is probably the most fun a Bethesda game has ever been, and i think the game is definitely worth playing, but damn they really fumbled the stealth (I'm saying this as someone who played most of the game in stealth and who has had much better experiences with stealth in other similar games), and no, "kill enemies or dont kill enemies" is not an interesting moral dilemma or gameplay mechanic, it turns the "play your way" into "play our way or be punished." My last but possibly the most important complaint is that the game makes the player rely on quicksaving and reloading at the slightest inconvenience, obviously i wasn't forced to use it, but the game is made in such a way that it genuinely feels crippling not to use it whenever you get detected or accidentally kill someone. I'm sure i would have a lot less complaints if i didn't pay these mechanics as much mind as i do, which is completely doable and a valid point, but i guess i'm a perfectionist who wants to do missions flawlessly if i can, and why even write a review if i'm just gonna ignore the problems.
On a more positive note, its a lot of fun exploring the beautifully crafted locations for bonecharms and runes, and doing the little side quests that every mission offers, even if they award basically nothing most of the time.

Dishonored 2 is a master class of level design. The clockwork mansion level is so unique. This represent some of Arkane's best work. Unfortunately, the void engine issues remain unresolved years later. the game just randomly crashes to desktop without an error report. It happens so infuriatingly often that it is making playing the game a chore. Unresolved issues like this is poison for a video game. I wouldn't pay $5 to experience this mess.

if you like stealth gameplay , this is for you . amazing game and amazing mcs

Assasins creed, but far better. First of all it's not made by ubi-softpp. There are many creative ways to play the game. Lethal or non lethal, stealth or guns blazing loud. Great satisfying kill animations. Varying ways to eliminate your enemies. Two playable characters with each having equally unique and beautiful skill trees. Abilities such as freeze time, teleport, mind control, cloning yourself and many more. Maps are designed with great attention to detail. You can play the same level more than once and take a different path for replayability. Your actions like killing effect the ending. Just like the first game, the art style of this game with these graphics make it a timeless classic. Despite being 8 years old, it still looks beautiful. All these I just listed make up for a banger game. Definately a must play.

One of the best games I've ever played. A wonderful world of indistinguishable ways to play through the game. RECOMMEND and will definitely come back for more.

A great sequel of an amazing game with many improvements.

Fun game. I'd recommend Corvo for a violent playthrough and Emily for a stealthy/ghost playthrough.

I think it's slightly better than 1 because of more interesting levels and more powers. NG+ is fantastic.

please do not pay 30 dollars for this buggy piece of shit im forcing myself to play only because i loved the first game get it when its on sale

This is one of my favorite games of all time, in my top 3 for sure. I played it on Xbox many times way be when. Time for a play through on PC. The DLC is a lot of fun too. The different power set changes up the game for a new challenge. Great sound design and a unique character design give the would a good feel. Lastly you can approach each mission as you choose, stealthy & quiet or loud & violent. This game is always fun. I wish they made a 3rd one. But the state of AAA gaming these day ensures there will not be one and if there was it would be DEI'd to Death. Rest in peace Arkane, and know that you are missed.
P.s.
You walk around this game with your dead lovers heart in your pocket. If you take it out and point at things or people she will tell you what she thinks of them... and she is often unimpressed : )

Watching a guy shocked himself before straight up drowning to death, while nabbing the guy beside him with far reach will never not be funny. This also counts as a no-kill, apparently.

I'm sure its great but doesnt run on any amd hardware just what I'd expect from a bethesda studios title. played about 5 hours the puzzles are great the non lethal path is super fun and rewarding. but I can't play it without running an amd utility cleanup everytime i try to start this game. not worth the hassle unfortunate because the first game was a masterpiece

Great game with a few patch's when it came out. Now in 2024 shows just how much jank we would have to put up with from so many other triple a games.

This review has nothing to do with the actual gameplay or anything, this is purely tecnical.

As of right now, Oct 2024, if you have integrated AMD graphics and an NVIDIA GPU, this game will NOT run without you uninstalling your AMD drivers. In short, if you're like me and have a dual monitor setup and one screen uses your AMD graphics and the other your NVIDIA GPU, you're going to have to sacrifice whichever screen is using your AMD graphics because you have to completely uninstall your AMD drivers for this game to even run. I dont know the actual details as to why this happens, im not that tech savy. But I did actually uninstall my AMD drivers just to see if that would actually allow the game to launch and it did.

Maybe theres another fix for this, but from what I saw and tried, that is the only way to get this game to run and it's not worth it IMO.

Great game, this game is really just dishonored 1, the only thing i didnt like is that the chaos level doesnt seem to change the game as much as it did in the first game. However this game has two levels that has such incredible depth it is beyond, it may sound little, only two missions, however these two missions alone has so much attention to detail and depth that most games dont have in its entirety! I definetely recommend this if you liked the first game.

Overall: Upgraded the original in every way. Quite unforgiving for a purist no-kill walkthrough.

+ upgrades the original in every way
+ your choices (including how violent you are) affects later levels and overall outcome
+ amazingly optimized graphics while looking gorgeous
+ tying your choices to the outcome make you invested and care about the story
- its own "time travel" level akin to Titanfall 2 is very hard to navigate

Parental guide: no language, but gore and graphic violence. The player is left to be nonlethal or gruesomely violent. You can go through the game without killing anyone (although some outcomes are still pretty dark).

Another Bethesda story game. Same type of gameplay as prey or dishonored one.
Stealth is just as viable as face to face combat.
The story can be played any way you like it.
You have the right to kill nobody or kill everybody

nice story and many possibilities to end levels.

Deeply satisfying with rich worldbuilding and atmosphere. Tempting to replay it repeatedly to try different choices and different powers.

more of the same great gameplay and actually more non-lethal options which I think is great

Dishonored 2 is a return to form that amplifies the successes of its predecessor whilst not being afraid to try new things. The new city of Karnaca is a wonderfully refreshing juxtaposition to Dunwall and the ability to play as both Emily and Corvo (and later on, unlock abilities from their respective pools for use as either character) appeals to fans of the original as well as those seeking something different.

Game: Press “F” to release the corpse
Me: “F”
Corpse: It shoots at the speed of light in the opposite direction from where I was looking, everything in the room breaks, the walls collapse, four people die, sirens are heard in the distance and World War IV begins.

Absolutely incredible game. After loving Dishonored so much, I wonder why it took me so long to play the sequel. Maybe I was put off by the people who said it wasn't as good.

I totally disagree with that statement. Dishonored 2 takes what made Dishonored great and improves upon it. Some missions, like the Clockwork Mansion or A Crack in the Slab, are among the best video game levels I have ever played (and I doubt anyone will make anything as good anytime soon).

10/10 would Ghostcleanhand again.

Double the pleasure, double the fun. That's the statement of the assassin in Dunwall having ALL of the fun. 9.5/10 FP Stealth Gameplay. It's the king of it's genre.