Zero Punctuation Season 10 Episode 47 Dishonored 2

Zero Punctuation is a video game review series hosted by Ben "Yahtzee" Croshaw, known for his eccentric and humorous style of critique. For episode 47 of season 10, Yahtzee reviews the highly anticipated sequel to the immersive stealth-action game, Dishonored, titled Dishonored 2.

In typical Zero Punctuation fashion, Yahtzee starts the episode off with a sarcastic quip about the game's title, stating "I guess we've really come full circle now, we've gone from assassinating dishonored to assassinating the 2nd dishonored." He goes on to provide a brief overview of the game's storyline, which takes place 15 years after the events of the first game, and allows players to take on the roles of two new protagonists: the deposed Empress Emily Kaldwin, and her father and former bodyguard, Corvo Attano.

Yahtzee praises the game's visual design, specifically mentioning the game's unique art style, which he describes as "like if Tim Burton and Terry Gilliam got together and started making video games." He also notes the game's attention to detail, stating that "every character and environment feels like it has a history." However, he does criticize the game's performance issues, mentioning his experience with frame rate drops and occasional crashes during his playthrough.

When it comes to gameplay, Yahtzee notes that Dishonored 2 offers players a bevy of options when it comes to completing objectives, allowing for multiple play styles such as stealth or all-out combat. He also applauds the game's new abilities, such as the ability to control enemies and make them fight for the player, stating that "it's like being able to turn your Fisher Price toys into Power Rangers." However, he does lament the fact that some of the abilities from the first game have been removed or redesigned, making the game feel less balanced than its predecessor.

One major aspect of the game that Yahtzee zeroes in on is the AI, which he describes as being the "most incompetent bunch of dullards a hero could hope to skulk past." He notes that enemies will often fail to notice the player even when they're right in front of them, and that they're easily distracted by random objects in the environment. This lack of AI awareness, he states, makes the game's stealth sections feel trivial and unsatisfying.

Overall, Yahtzee sees Dishonored 2 as a decent sequel that improves upon the first game in some areas, but falls short in others. He praises the game's visuals and attention to detail, as well as its wide range of gameplay options, but criticizes its performance issues and uneven balancing of abilities. While he enjoys the game's aesthetic and narrative, he does express disappointment with the game's lackluster AI, which undermines the immersion and challenge of the stealth gameplay. For fans of the original Dishonored, Yahtzee suggests that Dishonored 2 is worth checking out, but warns that it may not be the flawless successor they were hoping for.