They could teach that masque party in level design courses. The attention to detail in that level is just incredible. The buffet, the whale ice sculptures, not to mention the little things - actual people at the party, for example, mingling and moving from room to room. The roped off areas and polite guards saying "this room is not open for tonight's festivities, sir," or whatever. It really felt like you were at a party, rather than in a house level with a half-dozen extra models walking in figure eights.

I actually had to look back and confirm I gave Dishonored a mention in my 2012 Games of the Year. Maybe that actually sums up the complaint about it better than anything else: I loved it, but it just wasn't memorable. Here's a game I've been calling "Thief for the 21st Century" but very little of it remains in my mind. That compliment is still accurate, but it's sad that nothing lingered. They have to address that with Dishonored 2: Dishonorevengeance.