It’s always refreshing to see a new IP among the avalanche of sequels that smothers gamers this time of the year.

While most look forward to the comfortable return of triple-A titles like “Call of Duty,” “Assassin’s Creed” and “Halo,” it’s nice when gamers can give something new a shot.

It’s sad that still many people won’t experience “Dishonored” simply for the fact that it’s the new kid on the block when plenty of already familiar titles are in the works. The people that do play it, however, are in for one of the most progressive gaming experiences this year.

You play as Corvo, the Lord Protector of the Empress of Dunwall, a city being eaten alive by a rat plague no one knows how to stop.

The emphasis behind “Dishonored” is the option to let the player choose how to get even with those who wronged you.

There are limitless ways to tackle any situation, whether it is a fight in the street against the City Watch or the assassination of the key target at a fancy party. It’s even possible to complete the entire game without killing or alerting a single person, and choosing to do so has different consequences once you beat the game.

The creativity behind the game is astounding. Armed with supernatural powers given to you by a being known as the Outsider, Corvo has more than just a knife and pistol at his disposal. The player can freeze time, teleport, possess the minds, and summon a swarm of rats to devour enemies. The fun of “Dishonored” isn’t simply running and gunning, but also devising unique ways to beat missions.

A minor gripe I have with the game is that once you’ve beaten it, it’s not possible to start the game over with your current powers and gear.

There is a mission select option to replay chapters of the story, but it’s almost pointless to use it considering you start missions over with the equipment and abilities you had when you originally started them, meaning the only way to retry chapters with a different build of your character is to start the whole game over.

I understand the developers want players to feel like their choices mean something and not give them the option to be unstoppable super heroes for early missions, but at the same time, is it worth starting the game over because you wanted to do a specific late mission with a different set of powers?

Another issue is the game’s length. While many will claim the game can take 20 hours to beat if you explore everywhere and do everything, many could finish this title in just a few days of play.

The game is meant to be played multiple times to see the alternate endings and try different combinations of powers, but for many, one play through is enough, and for a single player game, the length doesn’t necessarily justify the price.

Even with these annoyances, the game shines in its respective field. The amount of choice presented to the player is almost intimidating for those who want to see everything “Dishonored” has to offer. Whether you rent or buy the game, it is for everyone who not only loves a good revenge story, but wants to wield the power to see how it all plays out.