Giving you options of how to resolve your mission isn’t anything particularly new, but Dishonored does it in a pleasingly organic way. Your arsenal never gets very large – a pistol, a crossbow, some grenades – and while you can buy upgrades like faster reloads or better range, trying to succeed by just running and gunning will almost assuredly spell your demise.

Your enemies are smart, plentiful, well armed and want nothing more than to take you down. Combat doesn’t require technique much more advanced than aiming and shooting, but don’t think that means combat is easy. Each ability costs a certain number of collectible Runes to activate, but before long you’ll be facing missions armed not just with guns, but with the power to see through walls, teleport across great distances, summon wind gusts or possess animals.ĭishonored takes a two-fisted approach to confrontations, putting a sword in your right hand and leaving your left hand free for another weapon or magic. Your experience has made you handy with all manner of weaponry, including pistols, crossbows, and razor traps, but a visit from a curious figure known as The Outsider has given you access to magical abilities as well. Simply getting to the object of your attack will be difficult enough, as the City Watch and Overseers are no bozos, and you’re a very wanted man. The Loyalist forces will give you a variety of targets – some political, some personal – that need removal. Shortly before you’re due to be executed, Loyalist forces help you escape and set you on the path to restore the Empress’ daughter, Emily, to the throne. You play as Corvo, former bodyguard to the Empress and unjustly accused of her death.

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