Unit 6 Assignment 2 Task P4 Analysis of a Computer Game.

Analysis of a Computer Game: Dishonored 2

Narrative structure:
The series takes place in the fictional Empire of the Isles, with the majority of Dishonored 2 set in the coastal city of Karnaca. After Empress Emily Kaldwin is deposed by an "otherworldly usurper" the player may choose between playing as either Emily or her Royal Protector and father Corvo Attano as they attempt to reclaim the throne. Bother Emily and Corvo employ their own array of supernatural abilities. They can alternatively decide to forfeit them altogether. There are a multitude of ways to succeed in each given mission, from stealth to purposeful violent conflict. Representation of characters.
Their powers can allow alternative roots to an objective and can make stealth or conflict much easier depending on the powers you choose.

Through the game you can either choose to be good or evil by either killing or making your enemies unconscious. These roots change the story at the end of the game.
History of series- Dishonored 1:
(Corvo was a body guard to the Empress of the Isles. He was then framed for her murder and Corvo was forced to become an assassin and find those who conspired against him).
Returning from a foreign voyage to seek aid with the deadly plague ravaging the city, Corvo Attano travels to the tower of Dunwall to meet the Empress. After delivering a message, they are attacked by "teleporting" assassins, which they restrain Corvo and kill the Empress and abducts her daughter Emily.
Corvo is thrown into a cell, six months later the spymaster has taken control of Dunwall as Lord Regent, which then he meets Corvo and interrogates him, the Lord Regent confesses that he was the mastermind of the assassination of the Empress. Corvo is then left to await his execution in his cell. After some period of time a letter giving instructions and the means to escape, Corvo escapes and heads to the "Hound Pits Pub" to meet the Loyalists.

Corvo is then given the mark, which gives him powers. Corvo then travels to the people that conspired against him and neutralises them. Corvo then heads back to Dunwall to find the Lord Regent to finish him.

Story Endings:
When stealth games are involved this is a unique feature.
This varies depending upon the level of chaos the player has caused throughout the game. If Corvo saves Emily, she ascends the throne as Empress with Corvo at her side. If only a small amount of chaos has been caused, a golden age dawns and the plague is finally overcome. After many decades, Corvo dies of natural causes and Empress Emily Kaldwin I the Wise buries him beside Empress Jessamine. If much chaos is caused, the city remains in turmoil and is overrun with the plague. If Corvo fails to save Emily, Dunwall crumbles and Corvo flees the city by ship.

Representation of Characters:
Corvo:

Corvo the original character of the series, was a bodyguard to Empress of the Isles. He was framed for her murder and he was forced to become a assassin, seeking revenge on those who conspired against him. As the player is aware the character is innocent it makes the character seem more likeable. Also making him and the Empress of the Isles have relations makes some emotion for character.
Corvo is given powers shortly after the Empress murder, which makes him in combat and in stealth someone not to mess with. As you have a range of ways to kill or subdue enemies it makes his skills more impressive. Although his beloveded Empress died he still can go through the entire mission without killing anyone (important), showing he is merciful. In Dishonored 2 he is one of the two choices you can be, this makes the game more relatable to the first game and can make all the original fans enjoy this game. It also makes the play gain a bond straight away as they know who the character is. In Dishonored 2 he has a daughter called Emily which is the new leader, which he protects. This makes the character have more of a human like to him as before he was an assassin who wanted revenge, now he is a father protecting his rightful Empress.

Emily Kaldwin

Emily Kaldwin is the new character of Dishonored and is the new empress and daughter of the last Empress and daughter to Corvo. She hasn't go much personality to go with at the start, however being the daughter to Corvo makes her a likeable character straight away. She is deposed of by an otherworldly usurper. She has similar powers to Corvo but can be used in different ways to make better use in different situations. It also shows that she was trained by her father so that she could protect herself if she had too. This then gives us similar feelings to this character to Corvo. She is given the same choices to either kill or subdue a enemy which is the players choice and has alternative endings. When you play as Emily you have a second choice at the end, either to save your father or to sit on the throne. Sitting on the throne would result her having the throne but her father Corvo being still stone, or she could choose to save her father which in turn still gives her the throne and lets her father continue to be in her service. The first choice could be seen as a character that isn't very liked and could make the character seem like she is evil herself if you took that root and killed your enemies rather than subduing and saving your father.

Delilah

Delilah is the main enemy in Dishonored 2 which is Emily's Aunt. Delilah is first introduced in the throne room which she explains that she has the one true right to the throne, which she than turns the character that you dont choose into stone. This makes the character already an unlikable character. The character then locks the chosen character into there room for some time before their execution. Not having really explained much and using dark magic makes the character seen as evil and not someone you can debate or reason with. She surrounds herself with witches and experiments with dark objects showing that she isn't someone that can give a good future for the city of Karnaca. Later on she explains her back story and how she was abandoned as a child and was forgotten, which makes her character have more reason to behave in that way. It can also give her some sympathy as a character, however as Corvo and Emily are heavily liked characters the information isn't strong enough. At the very end you can find many people that have turned into stone, which shown that who decided to up-rise against her reign was silenced.

Define the Audience/Target demographic
18+ The game contains violence, graphic content and some strong language. The game wanted to give the feeling of a real assassin that has powers. The game also wants to keep the original fan base so they kept the original character and also included another choice so that the audience could play multiple times.  
Although the game contains powers and a "painterly" art style that many people would consider for more of a younger audience, yet the target audience is perfect. Due to the game only focusing on the story, the storyline is much more in-depth and has many secrets and areas that the player can explore. This makes players that like to make their moneys worth in games enjoy it even more, usually 18+  .
The game is expected to be played around 2-3 times in order to complete all of the achievements and choices the game has.

How is the audience addressed

Emily Kaldwin is said to be the character to lead the way for women in video games
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/dishonored-2-emily-kaldwin-female-protagonists-in-video-games-tomb-raider-a7507586.html
"Emily marks a new breed of female playable character that's helping to better diversify the gaming sphere - and create better games in the process"
Emily is one of the two characters that the player can choose from which gives female players the chance to feel involved in the story to another level. The character is strong and has many abilities and is seen as the main character for the story. As female gamers are around 42% the game grabs that percent as its audience.
Due to them having Corvo and Emily (male and female) characters it allows both male and female gamers to enjoy the game as much as each other.

The chosen games genre analysed

Dishonored 2 is an action adventure, stealth game.
The game uses alternative roots by doing different objectives and using powers as way to access roots that wouldn't be possible before. The game also gives you the option to kill or subdue the enemy which could allow you to finish the game with 0 kills, on the other hand you could just kill anyone in site.
When upgrading powers you can either go more aggressive or more stealthy depending on what root you want to play.
The game gives you the choice on how you want to play the game, however doing stealth is the best way to go.
Dishonored 2 also gives you the option to have no powers this makes playing much harder, however the gameplay isn't a problem without it and can make the game feel like a casual stealth game.