When I was first getting into stealth-oriented video games like Assassin’s Creed, I found a name in the mix of games online. That name is Dishonored. Originally released in 2012 by video game publisher Bethesda and made by Arkane, Dishonored is an amazing title that I never knew I’d actually enjoy as much as I did.
I was able to play this game through the PC Game Pass and I have refused to uninstall it. There are few video games out there that get me so dedicated that I spend hours upon hours on, but Dishonored was an exception.
And here’s why…
Dishonored Synopsis
Dishonored is a video game about a man named Corvo Attano who works for the Empress of Dunwall as the Royal Protector. The Empress is assassinated in a coup by officials of the city and Corvo is framed for the murder and is set to be executed. However, he’s aided in getting freed by loyalists to the Empress who are trying to get her daughter, Emily, to the throne.
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Without giving too much away, Corvo is dispatched to assassinate key figures in the coup and help restore Emily to the throne. The missions take place in Dunwall and there are many stakes at hand. Actions you take within the game, as well as your interactions with others, can change character interactions later on in the story. There is a lot of peril as the city is gripped by the Black Death, so you can imagine that there’s a lot of infected people and rats ready to destroy you.
There are several endings possible depending on how much chaos the player inflicts on the city. I don’t want to spoil these endings in case you haven’t tried this game before, but I recommend going ahead and playing it. It’s actually very cool to see how the game can end in several ways.
Dishonored has some Great Features
The neat thing about Dishonored is the chaos level. Basically, depending on how violent you are, the chaos level changes. So, in my first playthrough, I went full-blown berserker on the enemy and was consistently at high chaos levels. And this game can be quite graphic at times, but the stealth assassinations are just loads of fun. There are many ways to go about completing a mission, but I continued to choose more undercover ways to walk into things. I tried to outsmart the enemy and utilize different tools to my advantage.
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Dishonored also combines a fantasy element in the game. In each mission area, you can collect runes that allow you to obtain special powers. For example, my favorite one was being able to travel long distances very quickly. Another slightly morbid but very useful one is a power-up that allows you to summon a swarm of rats to attack an enemy near you.
There are also bonecharms that let you get certain abilities that you can add or remove depending on what’s needed. For example, there was a bonecharm that lets you breathe underwater for a longer period of time (which is useful for a mission for sure).
Lots of weapons to choose from
Dishonored features many different kinds of weapons that you can use to your advantage. Some were made for lethal action and others were made for non-lethal action, so it really depends on what you want to do in the game.
The main weapons you get are the assassin blade and the pistol. I personally used the blade a lot because it’s the default weapon, but there are also weapons like the crossbow and even some cool stuff like traps that you can use to play through the missions.
Beyond weaponry, you can add upgrades to your mask that can let you zoom in to do some recon on certain mission areas. There’s just a lot of ways to customize your gameplay experience.
Stealth I was looking for
I’m someone that loves stealth in video games and experiencing the suspense that it comes with. I have purchased games before just for the idea of being stealthy. However, I felt like Dishonored was a whole other level of stealth that I just lived for.
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The stealth was great and actually made sense. Being able to sneak around Dunwall and different buildings all while commandeering some cool magic powers that allow for the stealth to be even more elevated.
Plus, the fact that you can be lethal and non-lethal is great as well. You can just simply knock out your enemies or you can brutally slaughter them–it’s all up to your play style. You can combine stealth and you can also go in guns blazing, but honestly, if you’re not playing Dishonored in a stealthy way, you’re not enjoying the full experience it has to offer.
Overall thoughts
If you’re on Game Pass (and even if you’re not), you need to try Dishonored if you haven’t already. Yes, it’s not a newer game, but it’s certainly timeless. In my eyes, graphics are not everything a game has to offer. One of the gripes I have about modern gaming is the fact that video games are looking really good these days, but they’re forgetting what makes it a game: The actual gameplay.
Dishonored may not be the prettiest looking game by modern standards (though I loved the atmosphere and the vibes of the city), but it’s a fun gaming experience that was refreshing and provided the proper stealth gameplay experience.
Want to try Dishonored out? Check out these links below:
- Get Game Pass for $1 today and try out Dishonored! (for Xbox and PC)
- Get Dishonored (standard edition) on GameBillet on sale today! (PC Only)
- Get Dishonored (ultimate edition) on GameBillet on sale today! (PC Only) –> BEST DEAL!
- Get Dishonored on CdKeys on sale today! (PC Only)
Let us know what you think in the comments below. Remember to keep all discussions polite and respectful.
Zainah Yousef is a writer for The DZSH Group. She is also the author of “The Fallen Age Saga.” Her areas of focus are on psychology, politics, public security, and war. She is also a frequent contributor in articles on video games and entertainment news.
Zainah Yousef
Zainah Yousef is the author of The Fallen Age Saga and specializes in gaming, social media advice, and reviews. She's been writing all her life and she probably won't stop anytime soon.
