However, if you want to actually slay your foe, expect to come across a vast array of enemies that span the gambit from basic guards to mechanized monstrosities. Bloodflies have replaced rats this time around and are far more aggressive to players wandering into their territory. Combat is more nuanced than it was before, with enemies trying to parry your strikes and occasionally locking swords with you. Even with your powers, it’s hard to feel as if you are god slaying insignificant foes, as the A.I. is more than willing to gang up on you.

Yet, you won’t be relying on just your sword and powers to fight — Dishonored 2 has a fair number of tools both new and old. Items such as Howler Bolts blind enemies and open them up for attack, while fan favorites like the Spring Razor trap make their bloody return. The only problem is that outside of finding loot in the world, the only way to restock on tools is by visiting a black market in the city. Since you are dropped off at a new section each mission, you will have to scour often to resupply. While I understand wanting to encourage players to visit every nook and cranny, the lack of waypoints for these vital stores can be frustrating at times. Especially if you’re running low on key items or elixers to restore your mana.

In terms of powers, Emily received the bulk of new abilities, most focused on giving her a multitude of engagement options you previously didn’t have with Corvo. While her Far Reach acts as a pseudo Blink at first, once you start upgrading her skills, key differences begin to appear. Her abilities feel like scalpel, each one used to precisely take down key enemies or even the odds of a fight. Powers like Doppelganger can be used to lure foes away from key areas or into traps you’ve set, while Domino allows you to clear an entire room with one move. Many of them feel far more adaptable for stealth gameplay, but using them in chaotic fights can be liberating.

Corvo, on the other hand, is rocking the same suite of powers from the original Dishonored, with them receiving only minor adjustments. This is perhaps Dishonored 2’s biggest disappointment, as he doesn’t really get anything new to play around with. Sure, using Bend Time and Possession to make opponents shoot themselves is amusing, but it would have been nice if fresh abilities were on the table. Playing through Dishonored 2 with Corvo made it feel less like a full sequel and more of an expansion to the core game.

The same cannot be said for the Bone Charms, which have gotten a complete redesign for the better. While you still have to go out into the world and find these rare items, the abilities they offer can actually be fused together. If you collect enough raw whale bones, players are able to construct their own charms by infusing various powers they’ve collected. However, the more powers you add, the higher chance you have of creating a Corrupted Charm, which have a very high risk, high reward philosophy. This can allow for Corvo or Emily to gain a plethora of passive abilities, which can compliment virtually any playstyle in interesting ways.

Yet, Dishonored 2 doesn’t get away completely unscathed, as the game does have a few technical issues. During my time with both Emily and Corvo I experienced some dips in the frame rate, a few problems with the audio from NPCs overlapping each other, and the occasional quick save file that had me instantly killed upon beginning. However, most of these were few and far between, and I had no hard crashes or massive problems that took away from the experience.

Dishonored 2 is the bigger, badder, and bolder version of the original game, thanks to its densely packed world and wonderfully enjoyable mechanics. Even though the experience only has nine main missions, the amount of replayability and exploration offered allows this title to always feel exciting. This is only enhanced by the interesting characters and story that string each level together, which makes Dishonored 2 a more than worthy sequel to the first title. Even with a few technical hiccups and lack of new powers for Corvo, this trip to Karnaca is one worth taking again and again – just make sure to steer clear of Bloodflies.

 Score: 4.5/5 – Great