Title: Dishonored: The Brigmore Witches DLC
Format: PSN(reviewed), XBLA, Steam
Release Date: August 13, 2013
Publisher: Bethesda Softworks
Developer: Arkane Studios
Price: $10
ESRB Rating: M
The latest downloadable content for Dishonored has been out for awhile, an Brigmore Witches wraps up the story arc of the infamous assassin, Daud. It proves to be the best out of the two main story add ons for the game, and it shouldn't be missed by any fan of the game.
Story, Presentation, and Core Gameplay:
The Brigmore Witches serves as a direct sequel to the Knife of Dunwall, so if you want the full narrative experience, you will need to play the first expansion. Luckily, you'll still be able to fully enjoy Brigmore, if you haven't played it. Daud, the legendary assassin, returns and he's given a bit more personality this time around. In the Knife of Dunwall, he wasn't really fleshed out at all, he was just a merciless killer. Seeing as how this is last mission, his character comes out. He's different from Corvo, other than the silent protagonist concept which I never like, I actually preferred Daud in the end. The Brigmore witches serve as the game's main enemy, as you try and foil their evil plans to capture Emily for their own personal use. It's a pretty strong narrative in bite sized form, it will only take you about three hours to finish it, but it still manages to pull you in for a hectic short ride. There aren't improvements, visual wise, but there are some new environments to explore.
The Coolridge prison was in the original game, but a new map named Draper's Ward. Just like most maps in the game, the art direction is astounding, the steampunk themes continue to shine. Once you get past the Drapers Ward, the Brigmore Manor is another great piece of architecture you can really appreciate. It's a detailed mansion, with tons of secrets to find. You're not getting any new music along with the DLC, but the new voice actors give a great performance, with Daud stealing the spotlight. I would recommend you play the first part of the DLC, not only for the narrative, but for the transferrable powers. The witches are a much tougher opponent than any of the enemies I've faced in the full game. They have powers of their own, which gives them a new dynamic different from gang members and assassins. Daud's new powers, Pull, which of course allows you to pull objects and even people to you. You can also call upon an assassin, to help you out in combat. The power returns from Knife, and it's still my power of choice. All of the encounters lead to your encounter with Corvo, where he will judge your fate. Your fate depends on whether you finish the game on high or low chaos, in which I'm sure you'll be able to guess what happens with each ending.
Final Thoughts:
The Brigmore Witches is Dishonored's finest DLC, and it's getting real anxious for the next big game out of the series. The Witches serve as a worthy opponent, and even though the last encounter is pretty anti-climatic, it still shouldn't be missed.
S&S Rating: 8.5/10
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