The Hitman thread

[James]

It is a stand alone - I believe it was released prior to the release of Absolution as a pre-order bonus of sorts.

Yep, it was. Had great fun playing through the Sniper Challenge many, many times last summer. I enjoyed it far more than the main game if for no other reason than its depth and significantly more robust scoring system.

Unlock the hidden challenge bonuses and you'll soon rack up some huge scores - my best is around 2 million (IIRC), but the top scores are up at 6.4 million or something daft. After you've run it to your heart's content just watch a YouTube high score video to see what's possible. Incredible!

[JaySevenZero]

Had great fun playing through the Sniper Challenge many, many times last summer. I enjoyed it far more than the main game if for no other reason than its depth and significantly more robust scoring system.

I'm kinda in agreement there in that I find it a little more diverting than the main game. That's not to say that I don't think the main game isn't pretty good, certainly does a better job of applying a narrative to a Hitman game (even if it is a few bricks short of a load) than previous efforts have done. My biggest criticism of it is the fact that I can only use upgraded weapons and choose load-outs in the Contracts mode and not in the main game as they used to - also I'm having trouble figuring out how the challenges work in the main campaign.

[James]

Challenges are pretty obscure, but worth sticking at. Once unlocked, they provide permanent modifiers that will affect your score on subsequent replays of that level.

Any challenges in particular causing you consternation, Jay?

I agree that the story is a more central feature, and that's why they don't allow customisable load-outs. I never used much besides what I found anyway, and guns are a no-no for me in Hitman. Must be infuriating if you do have some nicely upgraded Silverballers though.

[JaySevenZero]

Any challenges in particular causing you consternation, Jay?

All of them. I can see I've unlocked most of them but they appear to have a bar next to them that looks as if it requires X number of whatever to fill them. I've played through the game a couple of times and individual levels a whole bunch of times but as of yet there doesn't appear to any of them showing any sign of progression.

[James]

All of them. I can see I've unlocked most of them but they appear to have a bar next to them that looks as if it requires X number of whatever to fill them. I've played through the game a couple of times and individual levels a whole bunch of times but as of yet there doesn't appear to any of them showing any sign of progression.

The bars are empty even if you only have to do whatever the challenge is once. A lot of them are pretty obscure and either require some very creative experimentation or a guide to nudge you in the right direction.

An example:
On 'Terminus', Chameleon, Evidence Collector, Infiltrator and Suit Only are all self-explanatory. Hall Pass, however, requires that you wear the janitor disguise throughout the level (from as early as possible) and complete the level unseen.

Just had to clutch my frail, weak heart when I launched the game as my scores are all reading '0'.

Thankfully, they're all still there in the leaderboards. Glad to say that I'm still top of my friends list, but sadly still very high up on the UK and Global leaderboards too - a sign of the weaknesses of the scoring system that I mentioned.

[Electric Crocosaurus]

I've just finished the second Chinatown mission and I have to say that, despite the upgraded mechanics, I'm finding it to be the same old Hitman experience: when it works it's fantastic, when it doesn't it's frustrating as hell. The sticking to walls in particular is too floaty, and I find myself being rumbled too often because 47 has decided to carry on moving or detach himself from a wall for no reason. However when you're allowed a sandbox in which to experiment (such as the second Chinatown mission) it's great fun, even if I do find myself sticking mostly to the suggested challenge kills.

Agreed on the voice though. And 47 himself is well overdue a makeover; I can live with the bald head and physique, but the permanent scowl and barcode on the back of his head have always made the belief that I'm blending in with a crowd a bit of a stretch. Just give us a new avatar (something close to looking like Michael Fassbender but with the voice of Jon Hamm would be good.

[NokkonWud]

We're recording a podcast on Hitman: Blood Money. The show will predominantly be about the fourth title, but it wouldn't be right if we didn't reference the 3 titles prior and the one after, so if you have any feedback to leave, you may do so here and it may get read out on the show!

[Woodfella]

Hitman Blood money is one of my most played games, I acquired for the original Xbox and played nothing else for a long time I also own it on the 360, I'm ashamed to say because I saw it and thought. " I could do with 1000g"

I have played it so much that I know every inch of it, no longer do I walk around the area, examining points of interest. No longer do I need to figure out how to get in to restricted areas without killing anyone. No longer is every level a wonderful multi-layered puzzle to be solved. The thing is though, when I play it now I don't enjoy it any less. It's become this glorious meta game where I attempt to complete the hit in the most awkward, difficult or funny way possible. Sometimes I'll attempt to kill everyone in the level without being detected. Sometimes I'll try and use nothing but a kitchen knife,a nail gun, or hedge clippers. My favorite thing to do though is attempt to kill every target in the game using nothing but my customised w2000 sniper, attempting this causes you to explore every inch of the levels as you hunt for a suitable, discreet perch. You discover things you didn't know were there, the intrigue and challenge returns and the tension as you try and assemble the weapon, take the shot, disassemble it and skulk away without being seen is fantastic. Evereything has to come together and it takes tremendous timing. It's really hard on some levels,but really fun. Doing stuff like this makes you realise how many good ways to go about doing the level there are.

I know it isn't the most polished game, it has problems, particularly with the AI but I love it!

As for the others not played the first but 2 and 3 are fine. 3 has some really interesting ideas in some of its levels, particularly one where you storm a ship disguised as SWAT and the country manor level is one of my favourites in the series, but falls the game down on even worse AI, sometimes they open fire for no discernible reason. As for Absolution I have been far too upset to play it for any more than 10 minutes. Blood money best of the bunch by a way

[AndyKurosaki]

Hitman used to be a series I held in very high regard, I played through Blood Money twice (PS2, then 360). Each mission was an exciting new challenge, encouraging you to investigate each level to figure out Silent Assassin opportunities. I also found it fun to do the exact opposite. In this, and the previous games in the series, I'd grab a knife, and see how many guards/civillians I could kill and dispose of before someone noticed. Then I'd crack a gun out and kill all the guards. Before hand-to-hand murdering everyone else in the level. Made me laugh anyway.

Then Absution came out, which utterly ruined the series for me.How does killing someone in front of a crowd still reward you with Silent Assassin? Ridiculous. With that and the god-awful Kane and Lynch series,i've lost all respect for IO. I read a next gen Hitman was cancelled, and I honestly couldn't give a fuck.

[FollowMyRuin]

I'd say that the Hitman series never fails to give me a great sense of agency. I find my body coiling as 47 wraps the piano wire around his hands and creeps towards a victim. I grit my teeth together and crush my fingers into my controller as I garrotte the target.

I think that this is achieved through the way the Hitman series presents the mundane, the banal. I feel that so much of each level is spent observing the choreography of the characters, what is where and trying to suss a weak spot. It's very much a puzzle you need to piece together.

As such, when I'm executing my plan, I'm invested in the tension and the risk, I'm achieving the hit, not simply performing it. I don't feel this is shared with other stealth titles. I'm not sure as to what extent I'm projecting this sensation onto the game, but I would say the game mechanics help to generate this sense of immersion and accountability. Of course, this is only achieved when you're playing Hitman in the manner where you're going for Silent Assassin rating, as if you play it like you're Rambo, it is woeful.

[AndyKurosaki]

I don't know, going all guns blazing can be fun too, frankly it's the only way I got through Absolution as it was an utter ballache and I wanted it over with. Going for a Silent Assassin rank was the ultimate goal, of course. But after a stressful day at work it was just as much fun to crack out an M60 and kill every motherfucker in the level. No witnesses.
On H2: Silent Assassin I particularly enjoyed firing up my Action Replay disc, giving infinite health, and a mod that caused people to float up into the air when killed. One office level I'd have half the people floating up against the celieng. Then turn the code off, and all 30/40 bodies dropped to the floor at once.

Fun times. Or "call a therapist" times. Whatever

[Woodfella]

A SIDE POINT...I also love how when playing the game, you see the world through the eyes of agent 47. Every character model in the game is exaggerated to the extreme, every male is a six packed hunk, every female an huge breasted skinny bimbo. This is how he sees humans and they are gross. Think that was in edge or summit.


Also a lot of the time is spent staring at the map, watching patrols, the guys are just pieces/ obstacles in the way of a perfect hit.


Sometimes. I like to imagine each guy has a family at home, that he has a name like Barry or Percy, maybe he's one day away from retirement. Then I murder him.

[FollowMyRuin]

I honestly didn't find absolution so offensive, it was more of the same to my mind.

[FollowMyRuin]

Fun times. Or "call a therapist" times. Whatever

Agreed! garotting a man to death with cheese wire shouldn't be as appealing to me as it is, I feel guilt and satisfaction in equal measure.

Also, my favourite 'murder' came from dropping a jerry can down a chimney in Contracts. Subtle!

[NokkonWud]

Hitman:Blood Money(PC)-

Not gonna lie this game is amazing it remided me of why I liked the original Assassins creed so much but this picks that formula and takes it to the next level only this was made before Assassins creed so that game doesnt look all that good anymore,unlike other Stealth games like Metal Gear or Splinter Cell where the focus is infiltration the focus here is on "social stealth", blending with the crowd and carrying out your objectives with nobody realizing you were there,I think having that as the focus allowed the developers focus alot on level design,which is friggin amazing by the way,that allowed multiple aproaches and cenarios to play out instead of enemy placement or AI so much so that the game is kinda of easy to complete I played on the second harder difficulty and just getting the objective done was never too hard once you got a good grasp on your surroundings,the goal here though isnt about completing objectives but how well and creatively can you do them and that's where the challenge lies and why this game is so fun,I'd replay the same mission several times just to see all the ways I could've taken a target I'd then choose the one I found most interesting and carry out the deed.I've even found the story interesting,yeah agent 47 is still the most boring protagonist ever but he's very well characterized here and fits completelly in this spy vs spy game with politics mixed in.I do have a few minor nitpicks like how the AI can be very bipolar at times acting ultra violent to minor things and being passive when you're doing something wrong or how the limited number of saves can be a pain in the ass in higher difficulties especially when you have multiples objectives to take care of and that isnt so much of a problem but I just wished I didnt have to sacrifice AI behavior to have saves.But like I said these a minor things and this is an overall fantastic game that any Stealth fan owes himself to play,it makes me sad though knowing that Absolution was such a step back for this series in comparison I just hope Square Enix realizes the potential of this series after stuff like MGSV coming out and gives it another shot.

[magicjoef]

Bloody Money is definitely my favourite in the series. Quick three word review:

Perfectly sized sandboxes.

[The_Rooster]

I love the Hitman series and hitman blood money is the best of them. Originally played on the ps2 played through it recently on 360. Better graphics and controls being sharper only improved the experience. The thing I love about all hitman games is the waiting and watching till you find that perfect moment to strike. I didn't really listen to the storyline much, I was to interested in finding out who was the next victim to find themselves in my crosshairs I didn't care why (as any good Hitman wouldn't ).

Certain missions stand out the opera, the Xmas one and mardi gras were highlights. I remember one Misson where I was meeting my victim in restaurant I struggled with it for ages turned off the console and went to bed. I couldn't sleep and ways of doing went through my head all night finally (at 3am) I had that eureka moment it was totally worth it.

All in all a great game with perfect designed levels to challenge the player into thinking different ways and not just shooting everyone in sight. Loved every second.

Three Word Review:
Perfectly Executed Challenge

[InsrtCoins]

I have played it so much that I know every inch of it, no longer do I walk around the area, examining points of interest. No longer do I need to figure out how to get in to restricted areas without killing anyone. No longer is every level a wonderful multi-layered puzzle to be solved. The thing is though, when I play it now I don't enjoy it any less. It's become this glorious meta game where I attempt to complete the hit in the most awkward, difficult or funny way possible. Sometimes I'll attempt to kill everyone in the level without being detected. Sometimes I'll try and use nothing but a kitchen knife,a nail gun, or hedge clippers. My favorite thing to do though is attempt to kill every target in the game using nothing but my customised w2000 sniper, attempting this causes you to explore every inch of the levels as you hunt for a suitable, discreet perch. You discover things you didn't know were there, the intrigue and challenge returns and the tension as you try and assemble the weapon, take the shot, disassemble it and skulk away without being seen is fantastic. Evereything has to come together and it takes tremendous timing. It's really hard on some levels,but really fun. Doing stuff like this makes you realise how many good ways to go about doing the level there are.

I enjoyed reading this Sounds like it'd make for a fun let's play, if you were ever so inclined.

[Todinho]

Well if you're looking for a excellent Hitman Blood Money Let's Play I'd check this guy: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=P ... 9B34863032 he hasnt posted any videos in a year or more but this Hitman LP of his is among the best LP's I've seen quick,informative and fun to watch.

[Woodfella]

ah didn't really like that guy. The play was cool but he's a bit loud and sweary he also said "faggot" which I hate. I will do one and be a polite, dignified mass murderer