Hitman, Absolution
Producer: Square-Enix
Release Date: November 13, 2012
Platform: Xbox 360, PS3, PC
Rating: Mature
Genre: Third-Person Shooter
Contract Killer
Written by Jesse Seilhan
Stealth games had a bit of resurgence in 2012, with great titles coming small and large, in the form of Mark of the Nina, Far Cry 3, and Dishonored. While all of these are relatively new entries into the stealth universe, Hitman has been killing fools since the year 2000 and Danish developers IO are back with potentially their most polished game yet. Hitman: Absolution is the combination of every great idea they have had over a decade’s worth of Hitman work, especially when it comes to level building, graphical power, and replay value. For those sick of Assassin’s Creed’s yearly phoned-in sequel and want more variety than almost any stealth game I’ve ever played, then this is the game for you. You fulfill the revenge-fueled vendetta of Agent 47, a professional hitman and all-around nice guy. You kill, you disguise, you infiltrate, and you complete the hit, all while feeling like a total badass.
Hitman is a game designer’s worst nightmare. After creating both the stealth and action mechanics, environments must be built to house dozens to thousands of characters, all while allowing multiple traps, hiding spots, and interactive opportunities for the player. Some missions do this better than others, offering various ways to get your assassination on, while others force players down extremely narrow points that often require gunfire to solve. The balance is acceptable, however, as unloading a few clips is fulfilling after being sneaky for a long time. The ability to instantly replay a level and try out one of the other valid methods makes Absolution a rewarding experience. Each attempt to solve the puzzle from different angles opens up new dialogue, disguises, and unique moments that would be impossible to experience in a single playthrough. Hitmanoffers a sandbox full of sadistic surprises all manipulated in infinite ways by the user.
The story goes down some pretty twisted paths, but it should when you control the world’s most stylish killer. The voice acting, particularly from Keith Carradine and Powers Boothe, give Hitman the type of presentation prior releases never even came close to achieving. The narrative is a bit hokey, but it is the story your particular brand of Agent 47 creates throughout his campaign of carnage that really matters. The graphics are beautiful, as is the engine’s ability to handle hundreds of characters on screen at once. A few of the levels that have you hiding within hundreds of fully animated and lifelike NPCs is stunning. The game offers zero multiplayer, but you can create “contracts” wherein you play through a level, choose your mark and choice of murder, then send it to your friends and see if they can replicate your carnage. Think of it like the most violent version of HORSE possible. Throw in a lengthy single-player campaign and more weapons than a Cartel gun runner, and you have the making of a fantastic title. Really, the only flaws lie within some of the more punishing missions that you nearly have to cheat your way through, and a disguise system that fails to truly disguise your character. None of that should keep any gamer that enjoys a challenge away from this excellent game.