Hitman: Absolution

The fifth run in baldie's franchise, Absolution packs new features and even a competitive leaderboard mode.

As in previous installments, you play the scary man with the lustrous head. In case the name is not clicking yet, the story follows 47 as he tries to right some wrongs and protect a kid with a mysterious past tied to the Agency. A babysitting contract killer. Fancy that. Being the sequel that it is, if you've never played at least one of the other games in the series before, you're probably going to miss out on a lot of references, but the narrative is still entertaining enough by itself that you don't *have* to.

The thing that stands out the most is how the general presentation and vibe have changed. Better art style, atmosphere and level design make for a much more cinematic experience. Simultaneously, Absolution favors more linear stages than its predecessors (something that's gotten a lot of flak for), but that's not necessarily a bad thing.

The most significant difference is the tweaking of structure in assignments. Where before you had one big level per mission, in Absolution, each level is broken down into separate screens, each one with their own objectives. It's true that this compromised the freedom that, say, Blood Money gave the player, but it also helps in not getting overwhelmed in huge maps if exploration is not your thing.

There are also quite a number of mechanics that have been introduced to 47's repertoire, most notably, the Instinct feature and upgrades tied to your mission performance. While we've all seen sequels that basically add new features to make an extra buck, all of the additions in this one are actually well thought out and make gameplay much more varied and interesting. They feel organic to what the game needs, they're well executed and are just plain cool to engage in. Mix this with the fact that the HUD is very clear plus contextualized commands (a la Heavy Rain, sort of) and you get something that is extremely easy to sit down and play. Regrettably, they also took some neat things out, such as choosing your loadout before each mission, the ability to buy equipment and hiding weapons within other portable items. My uncle Bob used to say: 'if it ain't broke..." and he was a wise man.

The cool bit about all of these new things, though, is that you're not forced to use them. There are five difficulties when starting (or continuing) a save that range from a very easy mode, where the Instinct gauge regenerates automatically and guards have Down's, to a 'Purist' mode, where not only you lose the Instinct button and checkpoints, get a more snappy AI and a much less forgiving damage threshold, but you also don't even get a HUD. If you're worried about the challenge, Purist will keep you busy for a long time.

Lastly, the prominent Contracts mode is a mix of create-your-own-murder and some multiplayer competition. Basically, Contracts lets you load up an objective-free level and 'create as you play'. Kill whatever mark you choose, under whatever conditions (murder weapon, disguises, exit path) you choose and make a mission out of your choices. Through an online voting system, other players can tackle the contract you designed and try to beat your score fulfilling the criteria you set. While I can appreciate the effort to add some online competition to the game and the idea behind a reverse whodunit is certainly great, it would've been nice to have some more variety when setting up your own contracts.

The core and substance of the game are basically left untouched: you sneak around, kill stuff in whatever way you so choose and walk away.

Of course, there are some faults.

Besides the occasional getting stuck in a wrong angle when trying to move behind cover, a corpse bouncing about because the physics engine decided to be naughty and some other seldom glitches, I've seen a lot of reports on low performance, poor FPS or instability, usually coming from people with nVidia cards. I myself (an ATi user) haven't experienced a single stutter with everything on max but it seems to be hit or miss in terms of performance.

Glitches aside, there are some other issues. It's weird because the sum of Absolution's parts make up a very robust and polished product. Yet, there are aspects to design, like baddies spotting you in disguise from a mile away, certain missions sort of pushing a balls-to-the-wall, guns-blazing approach while at the same time penalizing you in rating for not being stealthy enough or the constant crutch on the new Instinct feature, that detract from the overall enjoyment. The way the scarcely-available checkpoints work are also a bit of a problem. While the general direction seems to build upon the good stuff from the previous games, some sections could've been fine-tuned better.

Summing up, Absolution is a more accessible and linear mix of what worked in its predecessors plus some decent new features, a much cleaner design and pretty visuals to boot. The caveat is that the franchise seems to be taken in a different direction, so don't expect a second Blood Money. It could've been better, but it still is a high quality title.

Quite an anomaly in the Hitman catalogue, Absolution plays very differently to the previous games. You'll experience action sequences and level designs that would better fit the Arkham games, and it's hard not to notice that Agent 47 is forcibly steered down many more courses of action than we're used to seeing. Still, there's enough of what we enjoyed about the earlier Hitman games to please fans of the franchise.

As a longtime Hit-man fan, I was eager to play the follow-up to 2006's "Blood Money," but as the years ticked by, I began to think it wasn't going to happen. Either that, or the programmers would take too long and we'd end up with a product like "Duke Nukem Forever." Luckily, the time spent making this latest installment of the Hit-man franchise was well worth it! The graphics are amazing, the music is haunting, and the possibilities are endless. 47 has never looked more real, and his character development is both realistic and engaging. The storyline might be more in-depth than previous Hit-man games (which some critics have scoffed at, strangely), but it just engrosses the gamer even more into this dark, awesome world.

Without giving too much away, the gameplay is basically the same as "Blood Money," but with a new focus option that allows you to see through walls and focus in on the patterns of the AI around you (think of it like Batman's sonar vision from "The Dark Knight" - it's basically the exact same thing). There's also an option to "point shoot," which is identical to the "Dead Eye" target-shooting from "Red Dead Redemption." Hey, if another game made it cool, why not put it in Hit-man? The only real complaint I have is that it's very, very difficult - even on the "normal" mode. The AI are extremely aware, and if you disguise yourself, chances are someone will notice. You can use your "instinct" to blend in and avoid detection, but it's hit-or-miss. And if you blow your cover, you're going to have a hell of a time finishing the mission. Still, it's a blast! And I can't wait to go back and complete every mission in every which way possible!

As a longtime Hitman fan, I have journeyed from the series' somewhat flawed beginnings to its more polished entries, all while reveling in the thrills of stealth and strategy. So, when I came across trailers for Hitman Absolution, I was immediately hooked. I bought it right at release, and honestly, the mixed reviews from some self-proclaimed fans caught me off guard.

Absolution shifts the focus slightly while retaining the core essence of Agent 47. This time around, the story revolves around our genetically engineered assassin protecting a teenage girl with similar enhancements from various nefarious entities, including a private military company and criminal syndicates. This narrative twist adds depth and urgency as you try to stay one step ahead of those who wish to exploit her potential.

Unlike previous entries that sent you globetrotting through diverse locations to eliminate high-profile targets, Absolution connects its levels through a cohesive story arc. You're now not just a cold-blooded killer; you're on the defensive, which dramatically changes the gameplay dynamic. The level design reflects this new approach, where covering tracks and eliminating threats become paramount in your mission to keep the girl safe. I found comparisons to Splinter Cell: Conviction fitting, as both games encourage a more reactive, strategic style of play.

What I appreciated most was the preservation of the series' trademark mechanics. Sure, you can expect action to be part of the experience, but Absolution doesn't stray into over-the-top territory like Gears of War. Rather, it still respects the delicate balance of stealth, where one wrong move could mean the end for Agent 47. It also felt refreshing and original, which is no small feat for a franchise with such a storied history.

Visually, Absolution holds up well, even over a decade since its release. The graphics, while dated, still deliver an immersive experience, and the sound design is stellar. The gun effects are particularly impressive, even if, in my stealthy playthroughs, I didn't get to enjoy them as much as I would have liked.

Voice acting remains solid, with Agent 47 once again being brought to life by the same iconic voice, contributing to the character's stoic and detached demeanor. While some might argue that the evolution of the series should keep it in a more traditional rut, I liken it to a band that has changed its sound while still retaining their identity. Absolution, in my opinion, is the pinnacle of the series, combining nostalgia with innovation in a fantastic way.

It's unfortunate that Hitman Absolution didn't receive the recognition it deserved; I often find myself craving a direct sequel that expands on this experience. For its refreshing gameplay and thought-provoking story, I give Hitman Absolution a solid 9/10. If you're looking for a stealth game that allows for clever tactics and engaging narratives, look no further.

I'm not a huge fan of stealth games, nor have I played the other Hit-man games, being a guns blazing kind of gamer. However, I gave this a try and I was amazed at how much fun it was to skulk around and being rewarded for killing only your target. The stealth isn't particularly difficult, especially on easier difficulties. Regarding the other aspects, I loved the atmospheric environments, the interesting conversations you can eavesdrop on and the dozens of ways the game presents you with for eliminating your targets and eluding everyone else, including the guns blazing way. Running and gunning takes all the fun out of it though and you'd miss out on the great rewards. All in all, solid game that I'm proud to own.