Arkane Studios is not a stranger when it comes to producing great video games. They are best known for the creation of the Dishonored series which has received many Game of the Year nominations and has won numerous awards including The Best Action Game of 2012 by IGN. Arkane Studios has recently released a new stealth-video game called “Deathloop” which reached a peak of 20,000 concurrent players after its release. Many people have dubbed Deathloop as a “copy” of Dishonored because of the striking similarities of both games. We will compare the two to know whether Arkane has brought something new to the table. Will Deathloop live up to Dishonored’s reputation?
Gameplay
Dishonored and Deathloop are both stealth role-playing video games. However, you still have the choice whether to play surreptitiously or go in through the front door guns blazing. Majority of the gameplay aspects of Deathloop are similar to Dishonored, with both games having supernatural powers, guns, and masks. Even some of these powers are imitations from the original game. For example, Shift (Deathloop) and Blink (Dishonored) are exactly the same, which allow players to move around the map by teleporting. The only lead that Deathloop has to offer is that the game has more guns—A LOT.
These games also have a sandbox type of gameplay which offers a huge and open environment. These give players multiple options to explore and complete their missions.
Graphics and Style
The graphics of Deathloop are BREATHTAKING. Well, it is expected since it is the latest game Arkane has to offer. However, it doesn’t mean Dishonored is so far behind compared to its successor.
These games have opposite art styles since Deathloop has a vibrant design while Dishonored has a dark and ambient style. I can’t say whether one is better than the other, so pick your poison.
Characters
I have to give it to Arkane though, they make great character designs. Both games have well-written characters and provide a great experience to its players. Deathloop’s protagonist, Colt, is probably one of the funniest protagonists ever made. On the other hand, the protagonists of Dishonored, Corvo and Emily, have a sorrowful background after experiencing a tragic event in the story. The polarity of their personas makes it difficult to tell which is better than the other. Each character fits perfectly in their respective games.
In my opinion, even though Deathloop definitely feels like a Dishonored “copy”, the predecessor is still one step ahead of its successor since I prefer a stealthier gameplay and it has a better plot and design. Despite this, I suggest giving Deathloop a chance because it still brings something new to the table. Deathloop is extremely fun to play and offers a new and interesting story, well-written characters, a vivid and fun art style, and a slightly modified gameplay of its predecessor.