The latest issue of Game Informer has a 14-page cover story on Dishonored 2, offering new details on Bethesda Softworks and Arkane Studios E3 2015-announced sequel recently dated for launch across PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC on November 11.
Dishonored 2 is set 15 years after the original game. Following the events that previously unfolded, Corvo Attano, the game’s protagonist, was concerned that people would attempt to assassinate empress Emily Kaldwin, the sequel’s additional protagonist, and spent 15 years training her how to be a magical assassin. You begin the game playing as Emily escaping a coup d’etat. Afterwards, you can choose whether to play as Emily on her quest to reclaim her throne, or as Corvo with the same objective. It is a single-player game. There is no co-op, as Arkane was unsure how they would design that into their story.
While the game starts in Dunwall, the majority of the game is set in Karnaca, a city inspired by Mediterranean European countries, and is the birthplace of Corvo.
The plot setup for missions is similar to the first game. There will be a public figure doing bad things, and you’ll get information or help from other characters to assist in your goal of assassinating them. Missions have various options for completion and progression throughout. Some have neutral areas where you can go around and talk to the citizens to get a feel for the city and hints toward your mission. Your base of operations is a boat.
Abilities are now unlocked via an ability tree. Emily, being a new playable character in the series, has a new set of powers to play with. Here are a few:
- “Far Reach” – A giant hand grappling hook that lets you physically move across spaces and swing around objects. Given the game’s greater emphasis on verticality, these movements are especially important.
- “Mesmerize” – Stuns multiple guards temporarily.
- “Domino” – Lets you link four guards together, and whatever you do to one happens to the rest. For example, stun one with a stun mine and they’ll all be stunned.
- “Doppelganger” – Creates a clone of yourself. You can use this together with Domino to link your clone to the guards, then blow up your own clone.
- “Shadow Walk” – Lets you slink into the shadows and squeeze into tight spaces.
Corvo has the same powers as he did in the first game, but upgraded and expanded. His “Bend Time” ability can now also fast-forward time, and his “Possession” ability can now be chained between creatures. His “Blink” can assassinate someone through a glass window starting at Level 1.
Both Emily and Corvo are equipped with a pistol, sword, and crossbow, but they look different. The items also have different end-game upgrades.
Stealth and non-lethal options have been expanded to be more up to par with the amount of lethal options, including non-lethal aerial take-downs.
Guards are a lot smarter this time, and can do things like vault around and scale objects to chase you. You can also use them as human shields, or put them in beds to avoid suspicion.
Here are some extra details:
- They’re trying to make the ending and morality systems better this time.
- There are difficulty sliders for things like how visible you are in cover.
- There is now quick saving and quick loading along with checkpoints.
- Dishonored 2 runs on a modified version of idTech 5 that they’ve dubbed “The Void Engine.”
- As far as PC mods go, there is a hint about downloading the Bethesda.net application.
For more information, including screenshots, pick up the June 2016 issue of Game Informer.
Thanks, NeoGAF.