Gordon Freeman from Half-Life is one of the most iconic characters ever designed, but there are people out there who don’t like him, or the way Valve has designed him. One of them would be Dishonored’s lead writer Austin Grossman, who has mentioned that Corvo–the protagonist of Dishonored–is a better silent protagonist because the game is a lot more personal.
“I hate what Valve does with the silent protagonist. I find it incredibly awkward and really creepy. I find Gordon Freeman creepy as hell,” he told Kotaku. “It’s people talking at him, about him and sometimes even for him. He just happens to be in the middle of this whole thing.”
He also explains why Dishonored’s Corvo holds a distinct advantage over Freeman. He says the game offers players a more personal experience, and from what I’ve played of the game, he’s right. It does put you in that revenge mood making you attached to the character. But will Corvo be as iconic as Freeman in the minds of people who’ve played both games? I guess it’s too early to decide.
“The difference between Dishonored and how it works in Half-Life 2 is that it’s a lot more personal. I think you get that involvement because the character has personal relationships with people from the beginning. And it’s very clear that people have fucked with you in a very personal way,” he said.
“I’m biased, of course, but I think Dishonored grips you much more viscerally, more emotionally.”
So why aren’t you playing Dishonored? Go borrow money or whatever but play this game immediately. The entire stealth genre will thank you for it.