The debut cinematic trailer for Dishonored was released early this morning. Dishonored is being developed by Arkane Studios and published by Bethesda Softworks, and from the looks of this trailer, the game should be a welcome departure from the types of games we’ve come to expect recently. Though there is no gameplay, the trailer does provide a nice look into the setting and style of the game.
Set in a steampunk-styled fantasy city named Dunwall, Dishonored presents steampunk without throwing it in your face. From the looks of things, steampunk is the accent to the world, not the full flavor. This works well because it doesn’t ooze so much steampunk that it makes it feel ironic—unlike that other upcoming steampunk shooter set in the sky. Dunwall is also heavily influenced by arcane culture, lacing magic into the mix. The combination of industry with arcane looks to give Dishonored a very appealing design language.
Though the trailer is nothing but cinematic, it does lend credence to the style of game it is going to be. It looks to be a mix of Thief and Deus Ex. If the comparisons seem uncanny, it’s because Arkane Studios has Harvey Smith on board as a lead designer. Smith is known for his work on Thief: Deadly Shadows and the first two Deus Ex titles. Though Dishonored is labeled as an action game in the first person perspective, it will have heavy stealth vibes with the capability to complete the entire game with non-leathal confrontations.
You play as Corvo, a man framed for the assassination of the Emperess that he once stood guard for. Armed with a mix of swordsmanship and supernatural arcane abilities, the course of the game follows Corvo as he vows revenge on those who framed him in an effort to clear his name. Some of the arcane abilities shown in the trailer reveal abilities such as freezing time, super speed, and a sort of Ironman-like power blast.
Dishonored will be released some time this year on the PC, PS3, and Xbox 360.
Articles RSS