Path of Exile 2 vs Dishonored

• Perspective: Isometric (Top-Down)
• Multiplayer: 6-Player Online Co-op, 2-Player Couch Co-op
• Setting: Wraeclast (20 years after PoE1)
• Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
• Early Access Release: 2024-12-06
• Unique Feature: A complete overhaul of the original's core systems, featuring a new Skill Gem system, a dedicated dodge roll, and a dual-specialization passive tree.

• Unique Items: Dropped by monsters throughout the game. Each of the 700 new equipment base types has its own unique item variant, leading to thousands of powerful and build-enabling items to find.
• Gold: A new currency type that drops from monsters. Gold is used for various NPC vendor interactions and for respeccing passive skill points, providing an alternative to Orbs of Regret.

• Runes: Hidden throughout levels; used to acquire and upgrade supernatural powers. The Heart reveals their locations.
• Bonecharms: Found in various hidden spots or carried by specific NPCs; provide passive buffs to Corvo's abilities. The Heart reveals their locations.
• Sokolov Paintings: Collectible artworks by Anton Sokolov hidden in each mission level. Collecting them provides coin and contributes to completion.
• Outsider Shrines: Hidden shrines dedicated to the Outsider, usually containing a Rune and offering lore insights.
• Books, Notes, and Audiographs: Scattered throughout the world, providing lore, character backstories, hints, and world-building details.

• Dark Fantasy
• Eldritch Horror
• Deep Character Customization
• Loot Hunting
• Complex Economy
• Action RPG
• Survival
• Post-Apocalyptic

• Stealth
• Revenge
• Supernatural Powers
• Plague
• Oppression
• Political Conspiracy
• Moral Choices
• Whalepunk Aesthetic

• New Weapon Types: Spears, Crossbows, Flails
  Path of Exile 2 introduces several new weapon archetypes alongside returning favorites, each with their own dedicated skills and passive tree nodes.
• Returning Weapon Types: Swords, Axes, Maces, Bows, Wands, etc.
  All weapon types from the original game return, but with updated animations, sounds, and interactions within the new combat system.

• Corvo's Folding Blade: Melee
  Corvo's signature collapsible sword, used for lethal combat, stealth takedowns, and parrying attacks.
• Pistol: Firearm (Ranged)
  A flintlock-style pistol. Can be upgraded for damage, accuracy, and reload speed. Standard and explosive bullets available.
• Crossbow: Ranged (Stealth)
  A silent ranged weapon. Fires standard bolts, sleep darts for non-lethal takedowns, and incendiary bolts.
• Grenade: Throwable (Explosive)
  Standard fragmentation grenade effective against groups or for creating diversions.
• Spring Razor: Trap (Lethal)
  A deployable trap that, when triggered, unleashes a whirlwind of sharp wires, shredding nearby enemies.
• Sticky Grenade: Throwable (Explosive)
  A grenade that adheres to surfaces or enemies before detonating.

• Equipment Base Types: The game features 700 new equipment base types. Armor continues to provide a foundation of defenses (Armour, Evasion, Energy Shield) and serves as the housing for sockets, though the linking mechanic has been moved to the gems themselves.

• Cosmetic Microtransactions: Path of Exile 2 shares its cosmetic microtransaction system with the first game. Any armor sets, weapon effects, pets, and other cosmetics purchased in either game will be available to use in both.

• Royal Protector Uniform: Corvo's signature dark, masked attire. Not customizable beyond its inherent design.
• City Watch Uniform: Blue and grey uniforms worn by Dunwall's guards, varying slightly by rank.
• Overseer Uniform: Distinctive masked uniforms of the Abbey of the Everyman's militant order.

Corvo gains supernatural powers like Blink (teleportation), Dark Vision, Bend Time, Devouring Swarm, and Possession. These powers are unlocked and upgraded using Runes found in the world. Bonecharms provide passive buffs. Weapons and gadgets like the pistol, crossbow, grenades, and rewire tools can be upgraded using money at Piero Joplin's workshop.

The game features distinct, large, and intricately designed mission levels rather than a single continuous open world. Key locations in Dunwall include Dunwall Tower, the Hound Pits Pub (hub area), Kaldwin's Bridge, Boyle Estate, and the Flooded District. Each level offers multiple pathways and secrets.

• Samuel's Boat: Watercraft (Transport)
  Samuel Beechworth's small motorboat, used to transport Corvo to and from mission areas along Dunwall's waterways.
• Whale Oil Powered Rails/Carts: Automated Transport (Environmental)
  Some levels feature automated rail carts or lifts powered by whale oil, which can be used for traversal within specific areas.

• Rat: Rattus norvegicus (Plague Rats)
  Environmental Hazard (swarms), Can be possessed, Source of Devouring Swarm power
• Hagfish: Fictional Aquatic Creature
  Aquatic Hazard, found in water bodies, can be possessed.
• Wolfhound: Canis lupus familiaris
  Enemy Type, Guard Animal, often accompanies City Watch.

• Warrior (Str): Playable Class
  A new melee specialist who excels with maces and clubs.
• Sorceress (Int): Playable Class
  A new spellcaster who can seamlessly blend different elements like fire, cold, and lightning.
• Monk (Str/Dex): Playable Class
  A martial artist who uses a quarterstaff and his fists to deliver swift, mobile attacks.
• Huntress (Dex): Playable Class
  A spear-wielding warrior who excels at hit-and-run tactics, throwing her spear and recalling it.
• Mercenary (Dex/Int): Playable Class
  A crossbow specialist who brings shooter-style mechanics to the game, using different types of bolts for various effects.
• Returning Archetypes: Playable Classes
  The six original classes (Marauder, Ranger, Witch, Duelist, Templar, Shadow) return with new models and animations, alongside six entirely new classes for a total of 12.

• Corvo Attano: Protagonist / Royal Protector
  The Empress's loyal bodyguard, framed for her murder. Granted powers by the Outsider to seek revenge and clear his name.
• The Outsider: Supernatural Entity / Narrator
  A mysterious, amoral god-like figure from the Void who grants supernatural powers to individuals he finds 'interesting', observing their choices.
• Empress Jessamine Kaldwin: Ruler of the Isles
  The beloved Empress murdered at the start of the game, setting Corvo's journey in motion.
• Emily Kaldwin: Heir to the Throne / Damsel
  Daughter of Empress Jessamine, kidnapped after her mother's assassination. Rescuing her is a primary objective.
• Hiram Burrows (Lord Regent): Primary Antagonist / Usurper
  The Royal Spymaster who orchestrates the Empress's assassination and seizes power as Lord Regent.
• Daud: Antagonist / Assassin Leader
  The infamous 'Knife of Dunwall', leader of the Whalers assassin gang, responsible for carrying out the Empress's murder.
• Samuel Beechworth: Ally / Boatman
  A loyalist boatman who ferries Corvo to and from missions and offers moral guidance.

• The Main Campaign
  A brand new, six-act storyline that takes players across Wraeclast to stop a new wave of Corruption. The campaign is designed to be a more curated, single-player-like experience compared to the first game.
• The Atlas of Worlds
  The shared endgame between both Path of Exile games. After completing the campaign, players unlock the Atlas and can run thousands of procedurally generated map areas to challenge pinnacle bosses and acquire the most powerful loot.

• Dishonored (Prologue)
  Witness the Empress's assassination, get framed, and escape Coldridge Prison.
• High Overseer Campbell
  Eliminate High Overseer Thaddeus Campbell or find a non-lethal solution to neutralize him.
• House of Pleasure
  Infiltrate the Golden Cat bathhouse to deal with the Pendleton twins.
• Lady Boyle's Last Party
  Infiltrate a masquerade ball at the Boyle Estate to identify and eliminate one of the three Boyle sisters (or find a non-lethal alternative).
• The Loyalists
  Return to the Hound Pits Pub only to face betrayal.
• The Light at the End
  Infiltrate Kingsparrow Island lighthouse for the final confrontation with the Lord Regent and to rescue Emily.

**Dunwall City Trials:** Challenge maps. **The Knife of Dunwall:** Story DLC playing as the assassin Daud. **The Brigmore Witches:** Continues Daud's story. **Void Walker's Arsenal:** Pre-order bonus pack with additional bonecharms and resources.

• Q: Is Path of Exile 2 an expansion?
  A: No. Originally announced as an expansion, it is now a completely separate, standalone game with its own campaign, classes, and game mechanics. It will exist alongside the original Path of Exile.
• Q: Is Path of Exile 2 free to play?
  A: The game launched into a paid Early Access on December 6, 2024. The full 1.0 release of the game will be completely free-to-play, just like the original.
• Q: Do my purchases from Path of Exile 1 carry over?
  A: Yes. All cosmetic microtransactions and convenience items (like stash tabs) purchased in either game are shared and can be used in both Path of Exile 1 and Path of Exile 2.
• Q: Can I play with my friends from Path of Exile 1?
  A: No. Because Path of Exile 2 is a separate game with different characters and balance, you cannot party up with players who are playing Path of Exile 1. However, PoE2 has full cross-play between its own PC and console versions.

• Q: What is the Chaos system in Dishonored?
  A: The Chaos system tracks Corvo's lethal actions. Killing more characters increases Chaos, leading to a darker world, more plague victims (Weepers), more rats, pessimistic dialogue, and a bleaker ending. A low Chaos playthrough (minimal kills) results in a more hopeful outcome.
• Q: Can you complete Dishonored without killing anyone?
  A: Yes, it is possible to complete the entire game, including eliminating all main targets, without killing anyone (non-lethal playthrough). This often involves finding alternative methods to neutralize targets.
• Q: What are Runes and Bonecharms used for?
  A: Runes are used to unlock and upgrade Corvo's supernatural powers. Bonecharms are trinkets that provide passive buffs, such as increased health/mana, faster movement, or enhanced stealth.
• Q: Is Corvo a silent protagonist?
  A: For the most part, yes. Corvo has very few spoken lines in the base game, primarily making choices through player actions. He is more vocal in the DLC and Dishonored 2.

Utilizing a heavily modified Unreal Engine 3, Dishonored features a distinct 'whalepunk' art style characterized by exaggerated Victorian-era architecture, industrial elements powered by whale oil, and painterly textures. The game is known for its strong art direction and atmosphere rather than raw graphical fidelity by modern standards.

Score by Daniel Licht, creating a dark, atmospheric, and memorable soundtrack. Sound design is crucial for stealth, providing auditory cues for guard patrols and environmental hazards. Features iconic voice acting, including Stephen Russell as Corvo (though Corvo is mostly silent).

• OFFICIAL EARLY ACCESS PC SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS from the game's Steam page. These specifications may change as development continues towards the full 1.0 release.
• Laptop Performance Note: Laptop performance will vary based on the specific model's cooling and power delivery (TGP). Path of Exile 2's new engine and complex combat encounters can be demanding.
• Laptop Consideration: G P U T G P Impact: Total Graphics Power (TGP) is critical for laptop GPU performance. A higher TGP allows the GPU to perform closer to its desktop equivalent.
• Laptop Consideration: Advanced Cooling Thermals: The game's intense combat can be graphically demanding. A robust cooling system is essential to prevent thermal throttling and maintain consistent performance.
• Laptop Consideration: C P U Performance Sustain: A strong mobile CPU with high single-core performance is important, as the game's core logic can be CPU-bound, especially with complex builds and numerous calculations.
• Laptop Consideration: R A M Configuration Speed: 16GB in a dual-channel configuration is the recommended minimum. The game can utilize more, and faster RAM can improve performance.
• Laptop Consideration: Display Panel G P U Pairing: Match the GPU's capability to the laptop's display. The game's fast-paced combat benefits from a responsive, high-refresh-rate panel.
• Laptop Consideration: M U X Switch N V I D I A Advanced Optimus: A MUX switch or Advanced Optimus is beneficial for reducing latency, which is crucial for the timing of the new dodge roll mechanic.
• Laptop Consideration: Driver Updates O S Optimization: Keeping GPU drivers updated is crucial for performance and stability, especially for new content patches.
• Game Name: Path of Exile 2

• Official system requirements as per Bethesda/Arkane Studios' documentation at launch (October 2012). The game is relatively light by modern standards. An SSD will improve loading times.
• Laptop Performance Note: Dishonored runs very well on a wide range of laptops, even older ones with dedicated graphics. Modern integrated graphics (e.g., Intel Iris Xe, AMD Radeon Graphics) can often run this game adequately at lower settings. Any modern discrete GPU, including an RTX 3050 Mobile, will provide extremely high framerates.
• Laptop Consideration: G P U T G P: Not a major concern for this title on modern hardware; even low TGP modern GPUs will excel. For period-appropriate cards, ensuring they weren't severely underpowered was key.
• Laptop Consideration: Cooling Thermals: Most modern laptops should handle Dishonored without significant thermal issues. Older laptops might still get warm.
• Laptop Consideration: C P U Power Limits: The game is not very CPU demanding. Any modern dual-core or quad-core mobile CPU will be more than sufficient.
• Laptop Consideration: M U X Switch Optimus: Beneficial on older Optimus systems to ensure the dedicated GPU is used, though less critical with powerful modern hardware.
• Optimization Detail: Upscaling Tech: No native support for modern upscaling technologies (DLSS/FSR/XeSS). Standard resolution and anti-aliasing options are available in-game.
• Optimization Detail: Key Settings Impact: Shadow Quality, Light Shafts, Texture Details, and Anti-Aliasing (MLAA/FXAA) can impact performance on very low-end hardware.
• Supported Video Cards: NVIDIA: GeForce GTX 460 or better, GeForce GT 500M series or better (GT 555M for min) | AMD: Radeon HD 5850 or better, Mobility Radeon HD 5000 series or better (HD 5770 for min) | Intel: Intel HD Graphics 3000/4000 (Not officially recommended, but may run at very low settings/resolutions) | General: Laptop versions of discrete cards may work if their performance is on par with the desktop minimum. Integrated graphics were not a primary target.
• Sound card: DirectX 9.0c compatible soundcard (Standard requirement for audio output.)
• Peripherals: Windows-compatible keyboard, mouse, optional controller (Xbox 360 Controller for Windows recommended) (Supports standard PC input devices and gamepads.)
• Game Name: Dishonored

• Upscaling Tech: No native support for modern upscaling technologies (DLSS/FSR/XeSS). Standard resolution and anti-aliasing options are available in-game.
• Key Settings Impact: Shadow Quality, Light Shafts, Texture Details, and Anti-Aliasing (MLAA/FXAA) can impact performance on very low-end hardware.

• G P U T G P Impact: Total Graphics Power (TGP) is critical for laptop GPU performance. A higher TGP allows the GPU to perform closer to its desktop equivalent.
• Advanced Cooling Thermals: The game's intense combat can be graphically demanding. A robust cooling system is essential to prevent thermal throttling and maintain consistent performance.
• C P U Performance Sustain: A strong mobile CPU with high single-core performance is important, as the game's core logic can be CPU-bound, especially with complex builds and numerous calculations.
• R A M Configuration Speed: 16GB in a dual-channel configuration is the recommended minimum. The game can utilize more, and faster RAM can improve performance.
• Display Panel G P U Pairing: Match the GPU's capability to the laptop's display. The game's fast-paced combat benefits from a responsive, high-refresh-rate panel.
• M U X Switch N V I D I A Advanced Optimus: A MUX switch or Advanced Optimus is beneficial for reducing latency, which is crucial for the timing of the new dodge roll mechanic.
• Driver Updates O S Optimization: Keeping GPU drivers updated is crucial for performance and stability, especially for new content patches.

• G P U T G P: Not a major concern for this title on modern hardware; even low TGP modern GPUs will excel. For period-appropriate cards, ensuring they weren't severely underpowered was key.
• Cooling Thermals: Most modern laptops should handle Dishonored without significant thermal issues. Older laptops might still get warm.
• C P U Power Limits: The game is not very CPU demanding. Any modern dual-core or quad-core mobile CPU will be more than sufficient.
• M U X Switch Optimus: Beneficial on older Optimus systems to ensure the dedicated GPU is used, though less critical with powerful modern hardware.