Why Dishonored 2 doesnot have corvo as sole protagonist?
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Well, seeing as Corvo was largely silent in the first game, there's no reason to consider him an icon of Dishonored.
You brought up Snake, why is Snake the icon of MGS? Because of his personality, because he endeared himself to gamers, because we were given multiple games to learn about him and come to understand him. We go through a Nature VS Nurture struggle with him in MGS1 (well, more of a lack of one as he was a clone of a supersoldier raised to be a weapon) and he spends the second game mentoring us by proxy through Raiden, telling us to critically analyse all information and to make sure we understand what we're passing on to the next generation, not to simply imitate our heroes. In the fourth game we see him coming to terms with the fact that his status of a clone renders him almost incapable of living a normal life, but there's no reason he shouldn't try.
A character being iconic comes with us sympathizing with them and what we can learn form them. It's much more difficult for a character to become an icon than it is for an object, like just for the sake of example I'll pull something out of my ass on the spot.
It was easy for the Starship Enterprise to become iconic, it has a unique design, the camera eyefucks it at every convenient opportunity, and most importantly it doesn't have a personality, it can't talk. It can't be annoying to viewers. But Gene Roddenberry had to put titanic effort into making Kirk, Bones and Spock iconic, these characters had to hold the attention of viewers and leave a lasting impression. That ain't easy.
Now as for the diversity thing, yes it's obvious that Arkane are trying to score the easy brownie points with a female character. That was obvious from the time it was announced that Emily would be playable. Anyone who tries to deny that will be getting that cheeky smile. You know the smile. The one that says "You're bullshiting me. I know it, you know it. You know that I know it. And I know that you know that I know it. So stop."
But I ask, even if Arkane is doing this just to score points (which they are), what does that matter as long as the gameplay and characters are good?
At least they're giving Emily a new array of powers. Why not have a different protagonist in every Dishonored? A new protagonist with new powers every game? There's not that much in the Dishonored lore that really points to Corvo as being all that important in the world beyond his assassinations. Sure he has the Outsiders mark, but as far as I know, Corvo having the mark doesn't prohibit anyone else from having it.
You brought up Snake, why is Snake the icon of MGS? Because of his personality, because he endeared himself to gamers, because we were given multiple games to learn about him and come to understand him. We go through a Nature VS Nurture struggle with him in MGS1 (well, more of a lack of one as he was a clone of a supersoldier raised to be a weapon) and he spends the second game mentoring us by proxy through Raiden, telling us to critically analyse all information and to make sure we understand what we're passing on to the next generation, not to simply imitate our heroes. In the fourth game we see him coming to terms with the fact that his status of a clone renders him almost incapable of living a normal life, but there's no reason he shouldn't try.
A character being iconic comes with us sympathizing with them and what we can learn form them. It's much more difficult for a character to become an icon than it is for an object, like just for the sake of example I'll pull something out of my ass on the spot.
It was easy for the Starship Enterprise to become iconic, it has a unique design, the camera eyefucks it at every convenient opportunity, and most importantly it doesn't have a personality, it can't talk. It can't be annoying to viewers. But Gene Roddenberry had to put titanic effort into making Kirk, Bones and Spock iconic, these characters had to hold the attention of viewers and leave a lasting impression. That ain't easy.
Now as for the diversity thing, yes it's obvious that Arkane are trying to score the easy brownie points with a female character. That was obvious from the time it was announced that Emily would be playable. Anyone who tries to deny that will be getting that cheeky smile. You know the smile. The one that says "You're bullshiting me. I know it, you know it. You know that I know it. And I know that you know that I know it. So stop."
But I ask, even if Arkane is doing this just to score points (which they are), what does that matter as long as the gameplay and characters are good?
At least they're giving Emily a new array of powers. Why not have a different protagonist in every Dishonored? A new protagonist with new powers every game? There's not that much in the Dishonored lore that really points to Corvo as being all that important in the world beyond his assassinations. Sure he has the Outsiders mark, but as far as I know, Corvo having the mark doesn't prohibit anyone else from having it.
Hmm, Emily's gameplay looks a hell of lot more stylish. Flair and utility? Sign me up.
Corvo. Ehh, not a whole lot that's new on the table. Still not seeing why his existence in particular is justified. But hey, at least we have variety this time around.
Oh silly me! I forgot that Emily can't be a *badass on account of her royal status/pair of X chromosomes.
I must be seeing things, or Corvo possessed Emily for this portion of the gameplay shown.
[small](*Note: Boys only club! Girls have cooties!)[/small]
Corvo is the royal protector, the city watch and guards make comments in the game about him training them, and training with them, he was an official guard in Kanarka as well before being sent to the emperor.bastardofmelbourne said:
His main use was as an elite bodyguard, but we get into the hinkiness of the outsider powers here. I don't mean he should stay solely in the rear echelon, but it is absolutely video game protagonist centered morality that leaves Corvo as basically the only active member of the conspiracy that does all the killing of high level targets.
Even with his skills, he gets his ass beat by Daud and his men in the beginning, so the outsider powers are what set him, and Emily in 2, so far apart from everyone else, what the game uses as the justification for why these 2 are the only ones that can assassinate all these well-protected figures. In any sort of realistic scenario where an extra dimensional entity isn't purposely handing out protagonist powers to people in dreams, having the conspiracy hang so much of its plans on Corvo is not very realistic, he can still be on the front line, just like real important figures have ruled and fought from the front lines in the past, but his non-combat skills are squandered in the name of narrative flow within the first game.
Corvo and Emily being one man armies is mostly justified through their superpowers from an entity that purposely hands them out to people who have the highest chance of causing chaos, so I agree that this argument is largely pedantic as the game universe itself has a quasi-god set up to justify why the protagonist, Corvo or Emily, are the only ones capable of pulling off their respective goals solo. The discussion of how superpowered assassins should "realistically" work is ultimately kind of a silly one.
Trust me, I know.Gordon_4 said:
Never said you had to like them. You asked me which games are well known and have female protagonists. So I gave them to you. Like them or not, they're real, and they're popular/loved by many. Maybe not you (Cause god knows you hate everything with a XX chromosome), but loved by many others. Enough to make them into popular hit titles and franchisesB-Cell said:
Ahh, but Y chromosomes are strictly male. He doesn't hate males. He seemingly slurps the badass off the males with every bit of his tongue, so I don't think'd be correct. I'll edit my post thoughHawki said:
Am I a terrible person for thinking B-Cell is probably some of the best entertainment you can get on the Escapist nowadays?
I think this has been the most humorously him thread so far. The staff should let him write columns. It'd be amazing.
I think this has been the most humorously him thread so far. The staff should let him write columns. It'd be amazing.
You're not alone. The part of my brain that enjoys Dumb and Dumber definitely perks up at the sight of his threads lol.Chimpzy said:
Here's an explanation that is both easy and plausible: Corvo taught Emily himself so in the event he isn't there, she isn't defenceless. Boom, done. Can I get my writers credit now?Fischgopf said:
Oh come on, why would a father want to teach his daughter how to protect herself? That's clearly never been done before in fiction or real life. This scenario is far too unrealistic and will surely destroy my immersion.Gordon_4 said:
If you're a terrible person by that criteria, then I'm a terrible person as well.Chimpzy said:
Or maybe we're both not terrible, and can take fun in seeing either a) B-cell's twisted sense of preference in games/fiction, or b) some of the best trolling out there.
At this point I'm starting to think he's some kind of plant with a directive to reinvigorate the forums. He seems to be slowing down a bit now though, doesn't seem to have had many multi thread days recently. I must admit to enjoying some of his work though.JohnnyDelRay said:
OT - I'm guessing the decision to keep Corvo was more of a continuity thing than anything else. A totally unnecessary gesture given how devoid of personality he was in the first game.
I've been trying to stay away from the preview vids, but I can see myself doing a playthrough with each character just to see the difference in style and story, as opposed to any lasting attachment to Corvo.
As Nomotog said, literally Magic. Remember how Corvo went from "the guy who failed to protect the Empress" to "The Vengeance Machine that took down all the usurpers on his own"? The Outsider gave him literal magic powers. So Emily gets couped, gets a visit from the Outsider and gets magic powers (I am willing to bet money that this is how the plot will go down for playthroughs with her). All out of sudden Corvo can be killed off or become a recurring NPC and the story works just as well, if not better.Fischgopf said:
Let's face it, keeping Corvo in but still as the Lord Protector means that Dishonored 2 will basically be a rehash of Dishonored for him in terms of his personal story. The woman he loves is murdered/usurped and he goes on a revenge spree against those that hurt the woman he loved.
Did anybody else have this thread intersect with the "No reason to have an option for female Link, just use Princess Zelda" argument in their head?
My brain can work in some odd ways. Fortunately, I find it hilarious.
My brain can work in some odd ways. Fortunately, I find it hilarious.