Dishonored is a multi-platform computer game in the stealth action genre from the first person with RPG elements. The developer of Dishonored is the French studio Arkane Studios (known for games such as Arx Fatalis and Dark Messiah of Might and Magic). The publisher is Bethesda Softworks, and in Russia – "1C-SoftClub".
The story of the game unfolds in a fictional world where the fates of people are decided from the heights of a dictatorial throne. Human civilization sprawls across the vastness of four giant islands, but everywhere one can observe the same emotions – hopelessness, melancholy, and indifference. The population lives in constant fear of the powerful, not even trying to resist tyranny in any way. Revolutionaries, of whom there are only a handful, are ruthlessly destroyed by the regent's army. The situation is particularly grim in the city of Dunwall, where true anarchy reigns – it has become a bloody battlefield among high-ranking officials. Trees are felled, and the splinters fly, but the people are no better off. Horrific poverty, mass repression, and oppression are, unfortunately, far from the complete list of woes. The plague is the main scourge of Dunwall. Rats swarm the city, and with them comes a terrible disease. Infected people die in their own homes, and the rats are only pleased by this – a constant food source is ensured.
It is worth noting that the settings of Dishonored are executed in the style of a genre known as "steampunk." Steam-powered machines, robot-like mechanisms, and giant factories coexist with palaces of the Victorian era and elaborate clothing styles. Firearms and rockets are used alongside sabers and crossbows. Additionally, magic has a place in the world of Dishonored.
The main character is a man named Corvo – a former bodyguard of Her Majesty the Empress. The most royal personage was brutally murdered by unknown assailants, and all the blame was placed squarely on Corvo, although one could not find a more loyal person throughout the Empire. The hero, of course, was thrown into a dungeon in the hope that he would rot there alive or be eaten by rats, but luck turned to Corvo's favor – a certain benefactor pulls the prisoner from the dungeon in exchange for certain services. The antagonist orders him to eliminate all those who were either directly or indirectly involved in the Empress's death. Corvo was, in fact, more than happy – he wanted to restore his tarnished honor and avenge the death of his idol.
Thus, Corvo became a stealthy killer, a scourge of officials of all ranks. The stranger who released the hero from prison endowed him with magical abilities, which, coupled with Corvo's skill with weapons, transformed the newly minted avenger into a true killing machine.
The developers of Dishonored motivate gamers to play the game in stealth mode, as gameplay is tailored for covert resistance against enemies, but no one forces players to adhere to this rule constantly. At any moment, one can engage in open combat with an enemy, and then Dishonored turns into a real dynamic action game, with shootouts, explosions, and blood. Corvo is a jack of all trades, so the gamer is free to choose which path he will take.