MANIPULTION:
questions
- Can you manipulate the gameworld ? (levers, buttons, secret doors,…)
yes
- Can the gameworld manipulate your character(s) ? (traps, teleports, …)
Yes, there are traps, but that's mostly it.
- Can you pick up items, herbs, raw materials and then mix new potions, make new weapons,… ?
No, items can either be valuable or they can be weapons/ammo
No: 0 points:
-Almost no action possible besides walk/run and combat, except maybe a very few items.
-Game-world itself is very static.
Ultra light: 1 points:
-Very few limited interactions besides walking and combat.
- A few chest barrels is scattered through the game.
Light: 2 points:
-There are a few weapons, armours, items in the game.
-Traps, levers, keys and alike is available in it's simple presence.
Medium: 3 points:
-The game-world have a considerable amount of weapons, armours, items, skills, spells in significant variations.
-The things to do will quickly fill up more than one page in your journal, AND keep it that way for most of the game.
-Custom items must be available. (Custom items are items that can’t directly be found in the game-world, the player needs to either combine more items or process an item with (Fire, acid, poison, magic, tool-masters etc (repairing items don’t count)). It’s not limited to weapons and armour only)
More: 4 points:
-You can see /influence changes in the environment, OR use it either to create/ manipulate things or get strategic possibilities in combat. (Summarised: Game-world environment itself offers several interactivity possibilities: (Chopping trees, make fire, diving in water, hide behind objects, move/destroy/manipulate objects, etc.)
– A few different ways of making custom items must be available. (See above).
Heavy: 5 points:
- Many different ways of making custom items must be available. (See above).
-Alchemist, spell-casters, smiths, herbalist and other item collectors are in heaven due to the tons of items for manipulation.
-Game-world environment itself offers many interactivity possibilities: (Chopping trees, make fire, diving in water, hide behind objects, move/destroy/manipulate objects, etc.)
Dishonored : I'd give this a 1.5
COMBAT:
- how many tactics, strategies, spells/counterspells you have to use to survive in combat ?
(remark: this has nothing to do with real time vs. turn based combat. example: Rage of Mages: Real time and very tactical)
It is important to use the right fighting style, the right potion(s) and the right magic sign aginst one specific enemy ->
Most enemies fight in similar ways, some enemies add variety like dogs and music-guys. Several different types of spells can be used. Tactics however are not that complex.
- Are there many different monsters, enemies …
4-5 types I think, so no.
- how good/complex is the enemy AI ?
medium
- Is it critical for combat to have a good equipment management ?
Yes, but only if playing as a combat-type character.
- Do you need resistances against poison, fire, … to survive ?
Depends on difficulty levels. If playing on very hard every point of life matters, so yes, otherwise no.
- is the combat balanced ?
Quite balanced as your character is already supposed to be a proficient fighter. On easier or normal difficulties, winning fights is quite easy. Playing on very hard can be a challenge.
No: 0 points:
-You put your character(s) into position and they solve combat on their own, or the combat result is only affected by your skills on the keyboard.
Ultra light: 1 point:
-Real-time combat only without any pause options.
-Options are limited to the choice of the opponent to attack.
Light: 2 points:
-Character skills and/or players strategic abilities have a noticeable more impact on the outcome of the battles too.
Medium: 3 points:
-Players can more decide the pace of the battle,
-Strategic positions of the party is more vital, and the options for each character is more plentiful.
-At this point it's also important that monsters offers some diversity not only in numbers, but also in strategies necessary to win.
-Monsters AI are more than attacking the closest enemy!
- There must be more issues for your characters during combat, than loosing or giving hit-points. Ex. Poisoning, paralyse, curse etc.
More: 4 points:
-Their must be alternatives to swing your sword and cast a spell during combat Ex. Skills, traps, spells, treats, or items to use in battles.
-Different strategies are necessary for survival.
Heavy: 5 points:
-Each characters can be controlled individual down to the smallest detail and in any pace wanted.
-The monsters must offer a lot of difference both in numbers, abilities, battle environment, which must offer quite a diversity in battle approaches.
- Monsters AI are considerable.
Dishonored : I'd give this a 1.5
OTHER NON-RPG RELATED INTERESTING CATEGORIES:
GRAPHICS:
An “Year” of evaluation should follow the graphics score!
We try not to express how beautiful the graphics is (It's difficult to separate entirely), just how many specific graphic technology elements it contains (Like shadows, lightning etc), and it's standard compared to others at the time of the review!
0 points: Text only.
1 point: Static pictures, and/ or low 2D resolution in relation to other games in the year of evaluation.
2 points: Higher 2D resolution in relation to other games in the year of evaluation.
3 points: Mediocre 3D or 2D with up to date standard compared to others in relation to other games in the year of evaluation.
4 points: Fully 3D with up to date standard compared to others in relation to other games in the year of evaluation.
5 points: Fully 3D. Absolute among the best in it's category, with a few ground breaking content compared to others at the time it is reviewed.
Dishonored : I'd give this a 3 (maybe 3.5) (year 2013)
SOUND:
This determines the amount and the degree of acoustic technologies in the sound, not directly the quality or realism of the sound, and not how many different sound boards it covers.
0 Points: No sound.
1 point: Mono sound.
2 points: Very sparse and basic Stereo sound
3 points: Plentiful Stereo sound
4 points: Support of more than 2 speakers, and considerable environmental sounds.
5 points: Fully real surround sound support (At least 5.1), with ultra real 3D feeling
Dishonored : I'd give this a 3.5 even though I only played with stereo sound, I assume it supports more than 2 speakers
LENGTH:
An average length is used for calculation, a second score in “( )” for maximum hours searching under every stone and solving every quest could be mentioned if it brings the game into another score-area.
0 points: Under 8 hours.
1 point: 8 - 20 hours.
2 points: 20- 50 hours.
3 points: 50- 80 hours.
4 points: 80 - 150 hours.
5 points: over 150 hours.
Dishonored : Can only talk about my gamestyle, but I played for about 20 hours on the main campaign. I didn't finish the DLC campaigns in part because it felt samey. I assume it doesn't last longer than the main one.
So let's say say 20-50.
2 points.
DIFFICULTY:
0 points: No brain teasers at all, only walk /run and hack 'n slash
1 point: Easy brain teasers that don't slow the game pace down considerable.
2 points: Some problems (Riddles, events, combat, NPC's etc) can make you stop for a short while until you find the relative easy solution!
3 points: Not all problems are obvious in solution, but there are more possibilities to get help. The amount of problems must also be considerable.
4 points: Some problems can't be solved without help/things from other places or without some in vain tries first!
5 points: The game is loaded with more or less hard problems, and many problems can only be solved by extensive brain use!
Dishonored : I'd give this a 2 due to some of the possible special treasure finds and one mission which was a riddle.
PERSPECTIVE:
A Non-score category:
TXT: No perspective (e.g. no graphics), text games.
FIX: Fixed viewpoint (Not changeable).
FLEX: Flexible distance/orientation . The viewpoint distance can be changed and/or the screen can be rotated.
ISO: Isometric view ( Any angle between vertical top-down and 1.st person view, but still seen from above the party/ characters.
SHOULDER: The close overhead / shoulder view, where the gamers viewpoint follow the character(s) heading, with a look just above the head/shoulders of your character(s), and the character(s) can be seen in the button of the picture.
FP: The 1.st person view where gamers viewpoint is the same as looking out of the eyes of the character(s)
BIRD: From the sky the players has a vertical down view point on the game-world.
SIDE: View points like Platform games or the elder Kings/Space quest games
Dishonored : FP
PLAYSTYLE:
A non-score category.
SP: Single player
MP: Multiplayer
OP: Online play possible
MMO: Massive multiplayer online!
Co: Co-operative multiplayer possibility
PvP: Player versus player mode in multiplayer mode.
P: Parties possible.
S: Single character game
Dishonored: SP/S
TECHNICAL STATE
Dishonored: Didn't test on anything but my machine and didn't do the research. Runs fine on mine without any stutters though :
Win 8.1
i7-4700MQ
GT 765M
8GB RAM
Conclusion Dishonored:
RPG Factors: Story: 2.5-3, Character: 2-2.5, NPC-Interaction: 2, Gameworld: 2, Manipulation: 1.5, Combat: 1.5.
RPG Score:= 2.5+2+2+2+1.5+1.5 = 1.92 => "CRPG ultra light" or with higher scores "CRPG light"
Other Factors: Graphics: 3-3.5 (2013), Sound: 3.5, Length: 2, Difficulty: 2, Perspective: FP, Style: SP-S.
Bottom line:
A very good game for stealth and adventure fans. Cool main character, very good story with different paths to objectives, a few interesting npcs,
I would certainly suggest a stealth play through before playing it as a combat character.
Thanks go to HiddenX for this.