Style Case Study #3: Dishonored

Style Case Study #3: Dishonored
Genre: Action-Adventure, Stealth
Developer: Arkane Studios
Publisher: Bethesda Softworks
Platform: PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
Engine: Unreal Engine 3
Release Date: October 9, 2012

Image Source: http://www.ps3hungary.hu/e107_images/newspost_images/2011/dishonored1.jpg

Released in late 2012 to near universal critical acclaim, Dishonored was something of a welcome surprise for many gamers at the time of its release. Featuring a surreal, steampunk world akin to Victorian London and gameplay that allowed players to not only choose how to proceed but also how the story progressed, it was an interesting new intellectual property for gamers to sink their teeth into.

Image Source: http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/images/12/mar/dis/dis04.jpg

However, the most striking thing about Dishonoured is it's art style; while it is rendered realistically, the visual design has a painting-like quality, with characters being designed with slightly exaggerated features and proportions. This gives the game a distinct look that compliments the grim, distorted steampunk setting it takes place in.

Image Source: http://img.gawkerassets.com/img/18327bj08sx1vjpg/original.jpg

Image Source: http://www.creativeuncut.com/gallery-23/art/dh-character-concepts.jpg

So now for the Verdict; did Dishonored's art style result in better character design?
Yes