Wanna see some new Dishonored 2 screenshots and snazzy GIF’s?
At QuakeCon this week, not only did we get to see the first gameplay footage of the PC’s Quake Champions, but we also got two new trailers for the recently rebooted Prey. However, they were also not the only Bethesda games on show, as they had some new gameplay footage for Dishonored 2 which showcased some of the new in-game powers.
Sadly, it seems at this time Bethesda has not released that sure-to-be awesome gameplay footage, so for now we’ll just have to make do with some brand new screenshots, art work and some snazzy GIF’s. Though if Bethesda does release that gameplay footage, we’ll update this very article.
The brand new screenshots can be found below, along with the stunning pieces of art work. Also, direct from the Bethesda blog, you’ll find details on some of the new and enhanced powers utilised in the game, along with some GIF’s showcasing some of those said powers.
Dishonored 2 will be set 15 years after the events of the original game and will see you play as returning hero (or villain depending on how you played the game) Corvo and (SPOILER WARNING )the daughter of the assassinated empress and his very own daughter, Emily Kaldwin.
Dishonored 2 will release for PC, PS4 and Xbox One on November 11th.
Powers Revisited
While Corvo’s original powers are back, they’ve all been extended and enhanced. A high-chaos jaunt through the Dust District revealed just how brutal combat continues to be – but now with new tools at Corvo’s disposal.
And it all starts with Blink – Corvo’s signature traversal power. Our first glimpse of Blink shows us exactly what we expect to see: Corvo teleports from the ground to a balcony and ducks into a sealed building; Corvo instantly transports himself from a second-story window to some exposed ductwork across an alleyway. But Blink isn’t just for movement anymore. Twice we saw Corvo use his signature power in newly aggressive ways: blinking into a foe and immediately stabbing him in the neck, and later using it to slam into an enemy, shoving him back with deadly force. Corvo’s Blink also includes the “stop time and redirect” improvement from the Dishonored DLC The Knife of Dunwall (often called “Daud’s Blink” by the community and YouTubers), giving him more flexibility in traversal and stealth.
Likewise, Bend Time has been upgraded to allow for powerful new uses. Early in the demo, we see Corvo using this power like he did in the original Dishonored, slowing time to face off against a Nest Keeper (a creepy new bad guy who fusses over Bloodfly nests). While time is at a near-standstill, Corvo literally shoots both arms off the Nest Keeper with his pistol, then pulls out his crossbow to fire an Incendiary Bolt at a nearby nest. When time returns to normal, the disarmed Nest Keeper briefly writhes in agony, the nest bursts into flames… then the Keeper’s body rips in half at the torso, releasing a fresh swarm of Bloodflies. Corvo then escapes the dangerous infestation, transferring himself into a Bloodfly with Possession. (While we didn’t see it in action, we also know that Corvo can now upgrade Possession so he can transfer from one host to another.)
Bend Time can also be upgraded so Corvo can not only fully stop time (like in the original game) but also slowly advance time in order to set up a sequence of events. Late in the demo, Corvo is carrying the incapacitated Howler leader Paolo, his target in this mission. From a balcony above the street, he spots a hostile Howler gang member. Stopping time, Corvo tosses Paolo into the air, where he hovers in suspension while Corvo leaps down to deliver death from above to the Howler. Corvo then advances time just enough so Paolo’s body moves into reach, then grabs his target in mid-air before continuing on his way.
We also saw Bend Time used to strategically clear a courtyard of foes, with Corvo peppering the crowd with Sleep Darts and an Incendiary Bolt before cleaning up the remaining enemies in real time.
Windblast also makes a return as a highly effective way to blast back enemies. And, of course, Corvo still has all his combat moves and tools, including a Spring Razor that he used to eviscerate a couple of Howlers. Corvo’s sword and pistol also came in handy as he sliced, stabbed and shot his way through several other members of the gang in the proverbial blink of an eye. While the focus was on Corvo’s deadly new moves, he also has an arsenal of new nonlethal attacks, including combat choke, nonlethal drop attack and more – perfect for the player who prefers a quieter journey through Karnaca.
Go Your Own Way
While Smith returned to the Dust District level that he debuted at E3 2016, we saw a completely different way to tackle the mission. And we’re not just talking about the choice of playing as Corvo instead of Emily.
Dishonored 2 will deliver the signature elements of Dishonored mission design: multiple ways to find and eliminate a target; the ability to tackle any obstacle using non-lethal stealth, deadly combat, or any combination of the two. But this time, each of the missions has an additional thematic layer. In the case of the Dust District, Corvo has a choice of targets: Either Vice Overseer Byrne, the local leader of a militant religious faction (and the target that Emily pursued in the E3 demo), or the head of the Howler gang, Paolo. At QuakeCon, Corvo chose to chase down Paolo, and in the process revealed new areas both outside of and within hostile Howler territory.
The most striking location might be the Crone’s Hand Saloon, a portion of which has been condemned due to a Bloodfly infestation. Nest Keepers, who roam around protecting and maintaining the Bloodfly nests, can be formidable enemies once agitated. While the game showed of a high-chaos approach – slicing through the insects and killing the Nest Keepers – we also saw that Corvo could Blink past nests without disturbing the flies… which will certainly come in handy for those who prefer sneaking over stabbing.
Urban Chaos
Also on display in the QuakeCon demo: more of the game’s new setting, including some intriguing interiors. Once again, the verticality of Karnaca was readily apparent, with towering buildings closing in on all sides. But beyond the dizzying heights, the buildings themselves had a much warmer, more southerly feel. Even in the condemned areas of the Crone’s Hand Saloon, the wrought iron banisters and plantation-style doors stood out. And when Corvo confronted Paolo inside an open courtyard, the warmer ambiance was striking, with clay-tile rooftops, interior facing balconies and lush vegetation climbing up the columns and cascading down from the ornate railings.
