Dishonored 2
A sequel offering dual protagonists and nonlinear mission approaches.
Dishonored 2, released in 2016, is a first-person action-adventure game from Arkane Lyon and Bethesda Softworks, available on PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One. It follows up on 2012’s Dishonored. The story begins with Empress Emily Kaldwin being overthrown by the witch Delilah Copperspoon; players then choose to control either Emily or her father, Corvo Attano, the Royal Protector, as they fight to win back the throne. Both characters have their own set of supernatural powers, though the player can also decide to forgo these entirely. The game’s nonlinear design allows for many approaches to each mission, ranging from quiet, non-lethal stealth to outright violent combat. The concept for Dishonored 2 took shape during work on the first game’s downloadable content, which led to giving Corvo a voice—he had been silent in the original. The decision to advance the timeline came after Emily, a child in Dishonored, was suggested as a playable character. The visual style was shaped by art, sculpture, architecture, fashion, and technology from around 1851. The setting is the fictional city of Karnaca, based on Larnaca in Cyprus, with further inspiration from Mediterranean countries such as Greece, Italy, and Spain. Voice actors include Rosario Dawson, Sam Rockwell, Robin Lord Taylor, Jamie Hector, Pedro Pascal, and Vincent D'Onofrio. Critics responded positively to Dishonored 2. They highlighted improvements over the first game, including more demanding stealth, the way Emily and Corvo’s abilities suit both playstyles, the creativity of individual mission design, the world’s realization, and the artificial intelligence. Some criticism focused on the storyline lacking a clear direction, and the PC version had technical problems at launch. The game won Best Action/Adventure Game at the 2016 Game Awards and Costume Design at the 2017 NAVGTR Awards. It is now often considered one of the greatest games ever made. A standalone follow-up, Dishonored: Death of the Outsider, came out in 2017. Gameplay Dishonored 2 is an action-adventure game with stealth elements, played from a first-person view. After a prologue where the player controls Empress Emily Kaldwin, they choose to continue as either Emily or Corvo Attano (the protagonist of the previous game).
Quick Facts
- Developer
- Arkane Lyon
- Publisher
- Bethesda Softworks
- Engine
- Void Engine
- Series
- Dishonored
- Platforms
- PlayStation 4
- Windows
- Xbox One
- Released
- 11 November 2016
- Genre
- Action-adventure, stealth
- Modes
- Single-player
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Ideas for Dishonored 2 began while developing the downloadable content of its predecessor, which spawned the decision to create a voice for Corvo Attano after he was a silent character in the first installment. The advancement of the timeline was brought about once Emily Kaldwin, a child in Dishonored, was proposed as a playable character. The game's aesthetic was influenced by paintings, sculptures, architecture, fashion, and technologies around the year 1851; set in the fictional city of Karnaca, based on the Cypriot city of Larnaca, it also drew inspiration from other Mediterranean countries like Greece, Italy, and Spain. The game introduces non-lethal combat moves and features a chaos system where killing characters destabilizes the world. Each level is intended to have a unique theme, such as a level with time distortion where the player can shift between the present and three years into the past. Both characters wield a pistol, crossbow, retractable blade, grenades, and mines, all upgradable via blueprints and black market shops.
Reader's Guide
Dishonored 2 received positive reviews, with praise directed at the improvements made since the first game, including more challenging stealth, the adaptability of Emily and Corvo's abilities to both play styles, the creative design of individual missions, the realization of the game's world, and the artificial intelligence. Criticism was directed at the storyline's lack of focus, while the PC version became subject to technical issues at launch. It has since become regarded as one of the greatest games ever made. A standalone sequel, Dishonored: Death of the Outsider, was released in 2017.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can you play as in Dishonored 2?
Players choose between Empress Emily Kaldwin and her father Corvo Attano, the Royal Protector, each with their own distinct set of supernatural abilities. You can also opt to forgo powers entirely and rely on stealth and conventional weapons.
What is the main plot of Dishonored 2?
The story opens with the witch Delilah Copperspoon overthrowing Empress Emily Kaldwin and seizing the throne of Dunwall. From there, the player embarks on a nonlinear campaign to reclaim the empire, with multiple approaches available for nearly every mission.
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