Review: Hitman series

Series Overview

Developed by Denmark based IO Interactive ( www.ioi.dk ), the "Hitman" series is comprised of 3rd-person action/stealth, where the core of the gameplay is to assassinate a multitude of downright evil or corrupt targets. Throughout the games, you can take several different paths to your target(s) and generally accomplish your goals in any order you choose. You may also general clothing disguises to con your way through potentially troubling situations. Additionally, and definitely one fun-factor of the series, is that you have a multitude of ways to take out your targets. Up close and personal with a knife, inconspicuously by poisoning their food or drink, in a blind rage with semi-auto guns and pistols, or from a shadowed distance with a sniper rifle. Such is the selling point of the Hitman series.

The general plot begins as a seemingly anonymous person ("Agent 47", your role) wakes up in a mental institute of sorts. Soon he learns his one true role is that of a hitman. Throughout the series, Agent 47 will question the depths and true reasons of his origin, the morals of his duties, and will encounter a dangerous and personal conspiracy.

This series review is more of an overview, with bottom-line points.


Hitman 1


Resources
Platform(s): PC CD-ROM
Official Site: www.hitman.dk
Screenshots & Demo: 3dgamers.com/games/hitman/

Overview
In "Hitman: Codename 47" we arrive to the beginning of Agent 47 and work for a contract agency known as "The Agency". Details are scarce on who is completely behind The Agency, but 47 is guided by a particular member known as Diana. Level progression begins at the initial starting level of training, onto the broad day streets of Hong Kong and the center of a gang war, to the deep jungles of Columbia and the drug trade, or the arms deals going down in the gloomy Rotterdam harbor, and more. The first Hitman is a diverse experience, and your choice is to go complete your missions with strategy or with all-out brutality.

Memorable Moments
"Traditions of The Trade" mission, in which you must assassinate two terrorist targets planning to bomb a very important world leader conference. The hotel is a fair sized place of three stories with metal detectors and guards about. If you want to use a weapon other than your fiberwire, you're going to have to look around. This mission is very fun because it puts you in a very public place where no one suspects anything of you. From the inviting and elaborate swimming pool room, to the multitude of rooms to hide in, and room balconies to jump along, the hotel is done very convincingly.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Pros
- 13 sizable missions: approach them how you wish - slowly and strategically, or all-out one man army.
- myriad of weapons from melee, to handgun, to semi-auto, to rifle - or even poison.
- fairly replayable
- weapon buying system - perform your mission better, and earn more money
- great moody and catchy electronic/ambient score by Jesper Kyd. It really supports the atmosphere well.

Cons
- no save system. If you mess up, you've got to start all over.
- a few more missions would be nice, but with so many approach avenues it's not a big deal
- AI can sometimes be easy to get around
or deal with


Hitman 2


Resources
Platform(s): PC CD-ROM, Gamecube, PS2, X-Box
Official Website: www.hitman2.com
Screenshots & Demo: 3dgamers.com/games/hitman2/

Overview
In "Hitman: Silent Assassin", we find 47 has tired of his violent past and decided to give it up - for gardening at a monastery. Although unfortunately (or even fortunately perhaps) for 47, his priest friend has been abducted by the Mafia - who seemingly, know about 47's past. Throughout Hitman 2, 47 will once again travel the world, employed by The Agency, to return his friend to his rightful place at the monastery. Upon his journey, 47 will also once again combat terrorism and lethal cults. Hitman 2 will bring the player through Italy, Russia, Japan, Malaysia, India and more. This time around, the missions are definitely tougher and quite interesting - such as the Japan missions where you will encounter ninjas, and get to use weapons such as a crossbow or katana. Or get brutal with a fire axe in the "Basement Killing" mission, a corporate building in the country of Malaysia.

Memorable Moments
"Jacuzzi Job" mission, standing several stories up on the outside of some very tall Malaysian towers, outside a wealthy man's apartment. Wait for the fat-man's bikini-clad mistresses to leave his jacuzzi, take out the power, and in the dark - go for the kill. Headshot? Wire? Drown? It's up to you. Just don't forget about the local tower maintenance man coming up the elevator to restore power and thusly the apartment's lights.

Rating: 3 out of 5

Pros
- 20 riveting, varied missions again with multiple avenues of approach
- more interesting mission goals, such as: fatal heart surgery, placing a tracking bug within a victim's food, or narrowing down a group of generals to the correct target, before you take that him out
- updated graphics, including optional first-person mode
- cinematic and orchestral score by Jesper Kyd
- mission rank - earn the ultimate rank of Silent Assassin and unlock new weapons

Cons
- the AI this time is atrociously unfair - they now suspect disguises much, much easier
- Personally I preferred the more electronic and moody score ala Hitman 1
- weapon buying system is not implemented


Hitman 3


Resources
Platform(s): PC CD-ROM, PS2, X-Box
Official Website: www.hitmancontracts.com
Screenshots & Demo: 3dgamers.com/games/hitman3/

Overview
"Hitman: Contracts" finds 47 near-death in an apartment in France, nursed back to health by an unknown man. Due to the gunshot-inflicted wound, Agent 47 experiences a series of flashbacks, and in these instances the player will replay them as missions. Some flashbacks are recollections of 47's missions in Hitman 1, except this time around when you play them, there are a few twists thrown in. Other flashbacks recall missions exclusive to Hitman 3. The AI is not nearly as problematic as in Hitman 2, and a graphical upgrade has been thankfully implemented - such as the post-filter option, giving the game an even more gloomy but cinematic aesthetic. The darkest and most serious of the series, Hitman 3 is a slightly familiar but rewarding addition to the series.

Memorable Moments
"The Meat King's Party" mission set in a butcher house. When I first played it I was kinda disturbed, and it takes a lot to disturb me. From the pools of blood along the floor from the decaying animal carcasses, and the S&M/goth dance party featured inside, this is quite a different mission from your standard set of Hitman missions. One of your targets: a very obese and probably immobile "fat bastard" known as the Meat King. Investigate the butcher house a little further and you'll find a gruesome and twisted shrine of a particular missing girl - of which you'll need to retrieve some... evidence from. This mission just evokes "horror movie" everywhere. Oh and, have fun with the meathook.

Rating: 3 out of 5

Pros
- 12 interesting experiences of 47's past missions through flashbacks, makes you wonder about the conspiracy within the entire Hitman story
- the updated graphics are very welcome and help the dark tone throughout
- first-person mode is here again
- a few more fun ways to take out your target (like shoving a pool cue through their abdomen)
- along with mission ranking and Silent Assassin weapon awards
- Jesper Kyd's best Hitman score to date

Cons
- could've been more original missions, rather than mildly different retakes on familiar Hitman 1 missions
- the gloomy and depressive atmosphere may get tiresome as there is no variation upon it
- only 12 missions, c'mon IOI give us 5 more!


Overall

The Hitman series overall is a very worthy, varied and replayable set of single-player games with minimal dissapointment. Try out the demos, but be aware each game has much more to offer. It's usually hard anyways to judge a complete game by playing just 1 or 2 missions. If you like the gameplay despite the aging graphics, you should not pass up Hitman. Although if you're waiting for something more current generation and a lot of improvement to the series, then take a look at the upcoming 2006 release, "Hitman: Blood Money".