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Hitman (2016)

Posted: January 13th, 2019, 2:03 pm
by JaySevenZero
Here's where you can contribute your memories and opinions of Hitman (2016) for potential inclusion in the forthcoming podcast.

Friendly reminder to all that where feedback for the podcast is concerned, we love it - but self-editing (brevity) is appreciated. We do want to include a breadth of opinions where appropriate, but no-one wants a discussion podcast that’s mainly reading. Better to save yourself time and cut to the chase if you can.

Re: 354: Hitman (2016)

Posted: January 14th, 2019, 4:13 am
by Magical_Isopod
Hitman is a game I fear I'll never finish - its episodic structure means each level is a room full of toys, and the player is a caffiene-addled child told, "Have at 'er, do whatever you please". I bought the complete edition not long after its retail release, and I spent nearly 20 hours just on the tutorial missions, playing around with all the little possibilities they had to offer.

Now here we are, 2 or 3 years later, and I only recently tried the third map - Sapienza - for the first time. There's a second game out now, but at the glacial pace I've been working at the first, I doubt I'll ever pick it up. For me, the "Complete Season 1" of Hitman may as well be the entire series. I'll come home from work in a rut, pop Hitman in for a couple hours, kill some rich dude I've internally personified as the digital embodiment of capitalist wage slavery in the most creative way possible, and then drop it for another few months.

Thing is with Hitman though, the overall story and setting are kinda ho-hum, so it's more of a side attraction in my gaming library than something I'd class as an all-time must-play masterpiece. But nevertheless, I do love it - it scratches a certain devious itch I can only liken to a raccoon sneaking into a house and escaping with pilfered goodies.

On a final note, I leave you with the wisdom of my Parisian friend, Veronica: "If you're playing the Paris level, be sure to dump the body in the Seine, because the pollution will dissolve it before anyone finds it." That tip really embodies the spirit of Hitman for me.

Re: 354: Hitman (2016)

Posted: January 18th, 2019, 11:12 pm
by Mechner
Hitman 2016 is an absolute return to form after the abysmal "Absolution", and whilst at first I was a little annoyed and scared of the episodic nature of the release, I must say, it kept the game fresh all throughout that year for me as I regularly returned to play new missions and try out the exclusive targets.

Long may this gameplay and mission style continue into the future of the series.

Re: 354: Hitman (2016)

Posted: January 23rd, 2019, 9:28 pm
by Rich Uncle Skeleton
All I want from the Hitman series is for the AI to acknowledge when I am dressed like a clown, and Hitman 2016 delivers this in spades. Doesn't matter that the plot seemed like an afterthought, or that only about three of the episodes are worth replaying...In each one of them, and from various characters, my clown costume received validation.

(Except Hokkaido. Don't think I unlocked the option to get out of my bathrobe, there...)

Re: 354: Hitman (2016)

Posted: January 26th, 2019, 8:22 am
by Simonsloth
Apologies if this is too late and for the rambling.

Hitman is a strange beast to me. I previously played and loved every game in the series with Silent assassin being the first game I ever played with dual analog stick control rather than change the button configuration. I replayed each previous iteration multiple times to improve my run and emulate the perfect silent assassination. Often there was little reward for doing this other than my own silent satisfaction.

Roll on 2016 and this entry was Hitman’s last throw of dice after the mixed reception of Absolution. The words season and episodic rang alarm bells to me with the fear of microtransactions and buy to win enhancements. I played the sniper mission teaser and although fun decided I would await reviews before diving in.

It was slow at first. There was some chitter chatter and whispers that the game might actually be ok. That it encouraged multiple replays and rewarded creativity and each level was a mini sandbox bursting with potential. Then seemingly every podcast and media outlet was talking about it. It was a sensation. Gifs, memes, lets plays, youtube videos like the infamous exploding toilet assassination were everywhere. The hype grew as the content was drip fed over the year and the game was featured on multiple game of the year lists and lauded with all the superlatives under the sun.

I think it’s fair to say no-one could have predicted this would be such a phenomena. The manner in which the game was released and supported was a winning formula. So it was with little surprise when hitman 2 came out last year as a complete package it barely caused a ripple.

To me this is the quintessential Hitman product. I say product because it is more than just a game. I had never watched anyone stream games and (forgive my naivety)considered “let’s play” videos pointless compared to the experience of playing the game. Throughout its year of release at any free moment I would be streaming or watching YouTube as homework for my evening of stylish comedic murder. The featured “elusive target” assassinations were a stroke of genius as you were allowed as many practice runs as you wanted but only one actual shot at it for real. Poor Gary Busey. These required planning, luck and flying by the seat of your pants. The stuff of my teenage hitman loving dreams.

Crazily I have never finished this game as the release of new levels came before I had ticked off every box of the previous ones. I wanted to milk each level of all it’s trophies and rewards so I got left behind and I was no longer riding on the crest of the hype wave but left behind treading water and I lost interest.

It’s presently sitting on its own in a folder called “ need to finish”. I had planned on finishing in time for the show but I think it’ll stay there for a good deal longer. After all I don’t think this is something that you can truly finish because there’s always a better way.

Re: 354: Hitman (2016)

Posted: January 27th, 2019, 1:47 pm
by James
Sorry simonsloth, we recorded on Friday night. I can't remember how to rename forum topics, or I'd've renamed and moved this out of here. Hopefully our discussion will make up for your post not making it into the recording. Apologies!

Re: Hitman (2016)

Posted: January 27th, 2019, 2:19 pm
by Simonsloth
Oh that’s a shame. It’s my fault for being late posting anyway.

Re: Hitman (2016)

Posted: January 27th, 2019, 2:25 pm
by KSubzero1000
Oh no, it's done already?! I wanted to post something too and I didn't realize the recording was gonna be so soon! :(

Re: Hitman (2016)

Posted: January 27th, 2019, 2:34 pm
by Simonsloth
KSubzero1000 wrote: January 27th, 2019, 2:25 pm Oh no, it's done already?! I wanted to post something too and I didn't realize the recording was gonna be so soon! :(
Did you complete the whole game with just a knife? :D

Re: Hitman (2016)

Posted: January 27th, 2019, 2:38 pm
by KSubzero1000
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