I am real bad at stealth games, but I can’t tell you how many times I died in Dishonored, or fell right into a bunch of guards in Assassin’s Creed. While I’ve played a bit of the older Hitman games from Square Enix I am usually not to subtle with all the killing. Hitman is back for the new generation of consoles and like its predecessors, it is trying something different. Is this good? Well that’s all up to the person playing of course.
For those of you that didn’t know that this version of Hitman is now going episodic and to be honest, I couldn’t be happier. This review will cover the basics of the game then will go into this first episode.
The gameplay is still Hitman at heart. Find your target and try to find different ways to assassinate them. The game itself has smooth controls and plenty of opportunities are there to ensure you eliminate your target your way. Now for those of you playing your first Hitman game this may be just for you. This first episode starts off as a bit of a prequel to the events of Hitman: Absolution as Agent 47 is given a couple of test jobs. This tutorial covers all the basic skills you will need as you progress forward. Everything from hiding a subdued body to escaping unseen will be covered. After a “by-the-book” exercise you are given free rein to take care of your target anyway you want.
Fast Forward to present day and you are now in Paris with a contract to assassinate a pair of siblings at a fashion show. The environments in this game really shine. There are over 300 NPCs in the level that all act differently depending on what you do. The level is massive and at times I found myself lost trying to figure out where I was.
Within the game itself (not the story more) are contracts and challenges. You can logon and see a new target in a level you’re already familiar with and attempt to assassinate them with the challenges provided (use a pistol while dressed as a guard, for example).
Square Enix has mentioned that the game will have monthly new location DLC packs and a disc version in 2017. There’s enough content to keep you busy each month and I would definitely recommend this game as it’s a nice break from everything else that is currently out there. While this is just a review on Episode 1 you can expect more from me as each episode releases and a final review on the full game itself. Until then have fun taking out your enemies in Hitman.
