4. So Long As You Are Given A Choice...
Many games boast an engine that allows you to make choices that ultimately affect the outcome of your game, from Metal Gear Solids torture sequence to Deus Exs dialogue and mission options. Dishonored offers its own unique choice system but, at least to this gamers knowledge, never before has a game made the consequences of your actions as apparent as in this one. Throughout your game play, you will pick up side missions from other people - for example (MINOR SPOILER ALERT) when you get your first mission you are approached by a young girl who asks you not to kill her Uncle if you find him whilst trying to take out your next target, but ultimately it is your choice on whether you do. This in itself is nothing new, side missions usually do have the freedom of choice factor and choosing to do or not do ultimately doesnt affect the overall way the game plays out usually. In Dishonored though, if you choose to be brutal in your engagement of missions, killing anyone that stands in your path and decimating your target will result in the city becoming much darker, poisoned and unsettled - more guards will be on patrol, more people will be dying in the streets and all because of how you carried out your missions - almost as if the city is a mirror reflection of the person you become in game (nice bit of imagery there for you...). So, if you want to have to deal with less guards and not cause any more suffering to the poor citizens of this metropolis then you would do well to holster your weapons and find a way of disabling your target non-lethally, along with any obstacles, but ultimately if you dont care and welcome the challenge then make sure your blade tastes blood tonight...