Inside the Epic, Themed Missions of Dishonored 2

Bethesda has published a new dev diary and trailer to explain the approach to “epic, themed missions” of the team at Arkane Studios for Dishonored 2. In other words, we learn how the developers attempted to add more twists, thematic, aesthetic or mechanical, to their own missions. An excerpt from the write-up:

“We wanted to do classic Dishonored missions where it’s a highly defended location, it has its own character, it has its own nature, and you’re going after a high-value target,” says Creative Director Harvey Smith “But we also wanted to give them some sort of epic theming, either fictionally or game-mechanically, so that it created a completely memorable space to move around in.”

Take the Dust District, for example. Not only do you have to contend with randomly occurring windstorms, which obscure the field of vision for your enemies and yourself. But you also have two possible targets – with the choice to pursue either one, and the option to finish the mission with a lethal or non-lethal approach as well. In the Clockwork Mansion, players must puzzle their way through a house where they can literally change the configuration of the rooms – and even move through the space between the walls. Crack in the Slab lets players travel between two time periods, switching back and forth at will, in order to reach their goal. And other missions, like the Royal Conservatory, offer players a deeper view into the alt-Victorian world on display in the Empire of the Isle.

And the trailer: