Dishonored [PS3/360/PC] review

[Golgo]

Thanks crocky-chocky. Sounds good. The occasionally lunatic AI in the Hitman games spoiled the immersion for me more than anything. Anyway, I'm in the market for a new game this weekend and this may be it...

[rmoxon]

You can play it however you want. Depending which way you go it will effect how your game goes though.

This is what I'm worried about most. If I decide to slaughter everyone will I get a bad ending? If so that makes it seem like the developers want me to stealth it.

[Golgo]

If I decide to slaughter everyone will I get a bad ending? If so that makes it seem like the developers want me to stealth it.

From what I've read: yes. You'll get the bad ending and the game adjusts itself ( e.g. NPC support/hints, enemy placement, etc.) to make it harder for you to get there.

[rmoxon]

Well that's daft.

i mean I understand that these aren't actually bad guys you're killing, they are just doing their job and you shouldn't want to kill them, but then you might as well give the player a bad ending in a Star Wars game if they kill too many storm troopers.... It's frustrating and makes me feel uneasy about playing the game the way I want too, even though I thought the openness to the combat was one of the games biggest selling points.

[Golgo]

If you create more 'chaos' than you need to, you've got to take the consequences. It's perfectly defensible in narrative terms. It would be strange if wildly divergent courses of action generated the same results. Such is the thinking behind this, I understand. But I admit I haven't played it yet, so...

[rmoxon]

If you create more 'chaos' than you need to, you've got to take the consequences. It's perfectly defensible in narrative terms. It would be strange if wildly divergent courses of action generated the same results. Such is the thinking behind this, I understand. But I admit I haven't played it yet, so...

I get that it terms of narrative it may make sense (though I don't believe it's completely needed)

However in terms of gameplay it means if the player wants the good ending they need to play the game a certain way. I feel that this goes against the fact that the game is very open in how it lets you tackle situations. Having played the game now the open nature of the gameplay is very impressive, however since only a non lethal approach will net you the good ending it is clear that there's only one true way to play the game, which pretty much defeats the purpose of having a game that's so full of choice.

[QualityChimp]

you might as well give the player a bad ending in a Star Wars game if they kill too many storm troopers....

It depends if you're just killing Stormtroopers or if you're also killing Industrial Sub-contractors.

[prinnysquad]

I see no problem with the game ending set up.

As far as I can gather (from an admittedly limited exposure):

- If you play stealthily and knock people unconscious, then there's less bodies, less carnage and less fuss. The ease of progress is therefore adjusted.
- If you pelt around like a madman, killing all and sundry, then the bodies mount up, and you attract more and more attention. The game gets slightly tougher.
- The story is based around a rat-based plague. If you're adding to the body count every ten yards, then there's going to be more food for the rats, more to carry the disease, and the plague will spread.
- As such, if you play the game as some psychopath moxonator, you're going to get a grimier ending, as your actions are contributing to the spread of the crisis. It's perfectly defensible, in narrative terms. How on earth could they justify such a path leading to a happier ending?

You can play how you want, just be prepared for tougher consequences if you add to the death and carnage.

[EvilBoris]

Depending on how you play actually has little effects on the story and dialogue with characters, I think in an ideal world playing through once or twice will let you see more of the game.

[rmoxon]

I see no problem with the game ending set up.

As far as I can gather (from an admittedly limited exposure):

- If you play stealthily and knock people unconscious, then there's less bodies, less carnage and less fuss. The ease of progress is therefore adjusted.
- If you pelt around like a madman, killing all and sundry, then the bodies mount up, and you attract more and more attention. The game gets slightly tougher.
- The story is based around a rat-based plague. If you're adding to the body count every ten yards, then there's going to be more food for the rats, more to carry the disease, and the plague will spread.
- As such, if you play the game as some psychopath moxonator, you're going to get a grimier ending, as your actions are contributing to the spread of the crisis. It's perfectly defensible, in narrative terms. How on earth could they justify such a path leading to a happier ending?

You can play how you want, just be prepared for tougher consequences if you add to the death and carnage.

I'm not sure it does make sense, could one man really send an entire country into chaos just by slaughtering a few hundred people who were chasing him about? There are dead people laying about all over the place for the rats to eat anyway my body count should have little impact on matters.

Anyway I seem to be going more the death and carnage route so far, I'm finding killing people a lot more enjoyable than avoiding them. Hopefully the "grim" ending concludes the story in a satisfying way becuase it's doubtful I will get any other one.

[EvilBoris]

There are dead people laying about all over the place for the rats to eat anyway my body count should have little impact on matters.

WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAT!

Next you'll be telling us that you can't get luminous blue oil from whales!


Also, it wouldn't surprise me if the dead bodies are a result of all the killing. The game generally becomes darker the more you kill

[rmoxon]

WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAT!

Next you'll be telling us that you can't get luminous blue oil from whales!


Also, it wouldn't surprise me if the dead bodies are a result of all the killing. The game generally becomes darker the more you kill

Nope. there's dead bodies all over the sewers and other places from the very beginning of the game.

[prinnysquad]

Yeah, plague victims. You're making it worse! Rmoxon - spreading dishonourable carnage since 2005.

The country is already in chaos, and you're a badass psycho is leaving free meals around for plague carriers. Well done!

[EvilBoris]

I actually thought the guards at the sewers were as a result of my rampage in the prison

[nonny]

How long is this game? Is it a nice short say 10-15hrs?

I'm interested in picking it up but with 5-6 other titles preordered and arriving shortly I am worried it'll get lost in the deluge. Plus from the sounds of it two playthroughs might be required?