Review: “Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in!” Didn’t you see The Godfather Part III?
By general consensus, the original Hitman was considered a good but awfully flawed game. Now several years after the release, Eidos is bringing back the Hitman series with Hitman 2: Silent Assassin on the PlayStation 2, Xbox, and PC, and it fixes virtually all the problems that gamers had with the original. Read on to find out why this is one of the best action games of the year.
You play as a contract killer only dignified by the codename “47.” Now in retirement, you’re attempting to be forgiven for the terrible sins you’ve caused during the years while living a peaceful life in an Italian monastery. With millions and millions of dollars in the bank, you have no intent on getting back into your former lifestyle. Well, not until one of the priests from your residing monastery is kidnaped. This leads you into your first mission taking place in Sicily, just one of the many many places you travel to in the world. If any game makes you feel like a real life James Bond, it’s this one. When your agency hears about your revived duties, they’re quick on the job to tell clients about your services, even though you have no meaning of continuing work after saving the priest. You’re now high in demand, and customers are willing to pay three times the regular price list for your duties. What’s an assassin to do?
Like mentioned above, missions take you to all corners of the earth and back (7 or so areas with 20 some missions total). I can’t think of very many games that have better planned-out missions than this one. Each one has excellent setup and structure. You can literally play the game however the hell you want. As the title “Silent Assassin” suggests, the goal is to be as stealthy and quiet as possible without being detected by the enemy. Every mission has one or two primary targets at which you must take out to complete the assignment, as well as secondary goals such as picking up information or rescuing someone. You can slowly pace yourself through the job without being detected whatsoever, or choose to go on an all out rampage and shoot every breathing target in sight. The game leaves that option up to you. Of course, you can do something in between those lines, but the stealth aspect of the game is recommended since certain primary targets will evacuate the area once they hear you’re in their perimeters leaving you with a big “Mission Failed.” This whole aspect of complete freedom is probably the best part of the gameplay. You might compare it to a game like Metal Gear Solid 2, but in no way does Hitman 2 ripoff from MGS2's (or any other game’s) elements, particularly because every assignment has a beginning, middle and end.
To be stealthy, you’re going to have to know when you’re being stealthy and not. In the top corner you have a “Stealth Meter” that’s more of a flashing bar than anything. When you’re totally undetected, the bar will be blank. In an emergency when something such as a shootout is taking place, the bar will be throbbing red. If that’s not enough, the DualShock 2 will rumble in possible events of danger such as an enemy coming around the corner or if a guards are suspicious. Hitman 2 also has an extremely convenient map. While it won’t show you the entirety of the area and inside all the buildings immediately, it will show you all the enemies in the area of which you’re standing. For instance if you’re outside, the map will show you all the oppositions outdoors. If you’re on the first story of a building, you will see all (or most) the enemies on the first floor, but never the second. Another convenient little power is the “Look Though Keyhole” ability. The name really says it all; before you open a door you have the option to look through the keyhole of a door to see if there’s any awaiting enemies.
47 has a neat collection of maneuvers as well. You can run by pressing L2, but that pretty much gives away your position since you’re easily heard. You can walk, but that can also easily give you away. If you want to sneak up on someone, you have a furtive walk that makes no footstep sounds and you’re virtually unheard no matter how close you are to someone (L1 by default). If you’re trapped a corner, and lucky enough to have a shadow near by, press and hole L1 and you’ll (somewhat) crouch on your knees. Crouching also gives you more accurate shooting by pressing R1. X simply let’s you choose options such as opening doors or picking up accessory objects.
I have to say, Hitman 2 is probably the most intense game I can ever recall playing. The computer-controlled enemies are extremely smart and suspicious of everything from what gun you’re carrying, to looks, and how fast you’re walking. Hitman 2 gives you the ability to do such other things as changing clothes to set off enemies so they won’t be so leery of your actions. You gain a rank at the end of each assignment. This primarily consists of an Aggression Meter and Stealth Meter. The higher the aggression, the worse. The lower the stealth, the better. Once the game’s added those up, as well as enemies killed, innocents killed, head shots, close encounters, alerts, and so forth, you’re given a skill title (similar to the game Way of the Samurai). Certain titles you can earn are Stealth Assassin, Professional, and so on. This therefore gives you a bit more motivation to be skillful just “completing the job right.”
Throughout time, 47 will also gain quite the hefty arsenal. Your trademark weapon is the “Silverballers,” those big silver pistols you see on the box cover, pictures, posters and such. Even though your Silverballers are an easy two-shot kill on an enemy, they can be heard for what seems to be miles which immediately alerts enemies. If you must use a gun, you should always have the 9mm SD in hand (for it’s silenced). It’s not the most powerful handgun (actually it’s the weakest), but an enemy has to be very close to actually hear it go off. To be completely stealthy with kills, you’re going to have to be competent with a nifty lil’ bugger called Fiber Wire. This dandy can’t be noticed by metal detectors or guards who frisk you for guns. Simply sneak up on an unsuspecting enemy and wrap it around their neck to literally choke them to death.
Hitman 2 has several categories of weapons. Close combat weapons consist of such things as knives, golf clubs, and even spoons. Handguns, such as the 9mm and Ballers mentioned above can be easily concealed and mostly convenient for close-range shots. Many times you’ll be using a Sniper Rifle to take out a primary target from long-range, but it can’t be hidden. Rifles such as an AK47 and Colt M4 are powerful and loud and can be used from far away--not the best choice for an assassin honestly since guards will hear them loud and clear. They also can’t be hidden. Neither can the shotgun, which probably doesn’t need an explanation. Sub-Machineguns (like Uzi or MP5) are great for shootouts and can be concealed as well. Altogether, Hitman 2 gives you an enormous gun selection. There’s everything from a basic 9mm pistol to a crossbow and 47 is skilled at each one of them. I’d have to say that there’s nearly 50 weapons you can get in the game, as well as individual ones only found on some levels.
Upon completing a mission, each gun you have in your inventory is put on your wall assemblage. Between each mission you’re sent back to the monastery where you can collect new weapons to equip (in the garden shed they hang on the wall), and go to your laptop to save and continue the game. Speaking of saving, Hitman 2 has the Save Anywhere feature. The lack of Save Anywhere has killed certain console titles such as No One Lives Forever. Oh thank the lord!
The soundtrack of Silent Assassin consists of some of the best orchestrated music I’ve ever heard in a video game. Often, it’ll truly define any given moment while playing. The game is suspenseful by itself, but the music just adds that extra spice that really gets your heart pounding. Sound effects come into play, such as when you’re sniping the gun bounces somewhat and you can hear yourself breathing--a nice little touch to the game. Each firearm and rifle has a different sound when shot. Silent Assassin is a fully voiced game, and you’ll even hear enemies talking in their native language.
Hitman 2's graphics are quite impressive. They’re sharp, clear, clean, and nothing feels too flat or fake. The only real negative thing I noticed is that 47 doesn’t always look like he’s really walking on the ground. Sometimes it feels as if he’s just floating an inch off the ground which at times looks awkward but you easily become oblivious to it, and it’s only conspicuous in particular levels. Each mission has cutscene leading up to your assignment, and occasionally a top-notch (such as the very beginning) CG cinema. Unfortunately (or fortunately to some of you), the visuals *sigh* pretty much back up the gameplay. Regardless, there shouldn’t be any reason for you to complain about these graphics, they’re realistically on the borderline of excellence.
