Status:
Complete and Play Tested
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Dishonored 2 Limited Edition (Xbox One) Review
Arkane Studios 2016 sequel returns to the steampunk city-states of the Isles with two playable assassins, sprawling clockwork sandboxes, and freedom to be as ghost-likeor as ruthlessas you wish. The Limited Edition bundles the base game with a digital copy of Dishonored: Definitive Edition plus the Imperial Assassins Pack (extra bonecharms and gear), making it the most complete console offering.
Gameplay & Mechanics
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Dual Protagonists: Choose Empress Emily Kaldwin or her father Corvo Attano, each with distinct power sets. Emilys Domino links fates; Corvo reprises Bend Time and Blink.
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Play-Your-Way Design: Non-lethal stealth, lethal stealth, or guns-blazing are all viable. Mission stats grade you on kills, detections, and chaos.
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Verticality & Mobility: Far-reach/Blink, spring-razor traps, and chain-link climbing let you exploit rooftops and vents.
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Upgradable Powers: Runes and bonecharms unlock skill treese.g., Emilys Shadow Walk evolves from rat-form stealth to lethal monstrosity.
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Adaptive AI & Chaos: Bodies left in the open, bloodfly nests, and civilian fear raise global chaos, altering dialogue, endings, and even level geometry.
Standout Levels
| Mission | Why Its Brilliant |
|---|
| Clockwork Mansion | Rotating walls & shifting floors create a lethal Rubiks Cube. |
| A Crack in the Slab | Instant time-travel device lets you solve puzzles by hopping between past and present. |
Story & World
Set 15 years after the first game, would-be usurper Delilah Copperspoon stages a coup, forcing Emily or Corvo into exile in Karnaca. Themes of power, legacy, and moral cost permeate the narrative. Multiple endings hinge on chaos level and key character fates; New Game+ lets you mix both protagonists powers for fresh runs.
Graphics & Presentation
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Void Engine Enhancements: Hand-painted textures and exaggerated art direction shine at 1080p with improved draw distance over last gen.
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Performance: Xbox One targets 30 fps; minor stutters occur in dense particle scenes (Dust District storms).
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Environmental Detail: Whale-oil machinery, blood-fly-infested tenements, and golden-hour coastal vistas craft a lived-in world brimming with lore objects.
Sound & Voice Work
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Score: Daniel Lichts melancholic strings mix with industrial ambience, evolving dynamically with stealth or combat.
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Voice Cast: Rosario Dawson (Emily), Vincent DOnofrio (Luca Abele), and Stephen Russell (Corvo) deliver grounded performances. Guards remain chatty, offering world lore and tactical hints.
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Audio Design: Spatial cuesclanking clockwork soldiers, muffled footsteps on carpetsaid stealth planning.
Final Verdict
Dishonored 2 perfects Arkanes immersive-sim formula: intricate levels, flexible powers, and reactive storytelling reward experimentation and replay. The Limited Editions inclusion of the remastered original sweetens the pot, though occasional frame dips and a still-middling melee system keep it shy of perfection.
Score: 9/10 A masterclass in player-driven stealth action that every immersive-sim fan should experience.
Pros
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Two distinct playable characters & New Game+
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Ingenious level design (Clockwork Mansion, Crack in the Slab)
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Deep systemic gameplay encouraging creativity
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Limited Edition packs in Dishonored 1 and bonus gear
Cons
30 fps cap with sporadic drops on Xbox One
Sword combat lacks the weight of its stealth systems
Storys mid-game pacing sags before the finale
Recommendation: Essential for fans of stealth sandboxes and narrative choice. If you own an Xbox Series console, the FPS Boost patch (60 fps) elevates it furtherbut even on base Xbox One, the Limited Edition is the definitive way to stalk the Isles.
