Face-off: Dishonored: Definitive Edition

David Bierton has penned a face-off analysis of Dishonored: Definitive Edition that compares the two new PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions with the original PC port. In spite of some improvements over the PC version, Dishonored: Definitive Edition is apparently not the definitive Dishonored experience due to the lower framerate:

The Dishonored Definitive Edition delivers a clear upgrade over the previous console releases, giving us vastly superior image quality, smoother frame-rates and an overall visual experience very much in line with the PC game. It’s a nice step up for fans wanting an upgrade over the previous console versions without access to a decent gaming PC. The addition of parallax occlusion mapping and a stronger ambient occlusion implementation creates a more refined presentation, while the native 1080p framebuffer ensures sharp imagery on a full HD display.

Slightly better image quality and a closer lock on to the target 30fps update puts the PS4 version in prime position here, though the Xbox One game offers an almost identical experience for the majority of the duration. As such, both come recommended for those wanting to get another slice of Dishonored’s finely crafted and challenging gameplay. That said, we’re left feeling short-changed by the lack of a 60fps update on hardware that clearly has the capability to do so based on PC performance.

While the introduction of some new effects work adds to the core look of the game, doubling frame-rate has a much more tangible impact on the quality of gameplay and we can’t help but wish that the developers had focused on this instead. The Definitive Edition remains an excellent game, and the inclusion of the DLC is obviously welcome, but with the maxed-out PC experience available at 60fps on a wide range of hardware, we can’t help but feel that it remains the better option, with the existing Game of the Year edition available cheaply with the same content line-up.