IO Interactive·Released Mar 11, 2016·Single player
As Agent 47, you perform contract hits on powerful, high-profile targets in exotic locations. With the Intro Pack you'll get an introduction to the world of HITMAN.
All in all, Hitman is a very promising start to the reboot series. The visuals are good, the voice acting is excellent, and with the longevity promised in Contracts mode it should be a series that runs and runs. The issues with the AI can be addressed in future episodes, we hope, and if that happens then the game will certainly hit a higher score than we can give it this time. With five further episodes to come in 2016, the future's looking bright for our shiny-headed assassin.
Despite being a smart progression of Blood Money's ideas, Hitman feels unrefined and unfinished in lots of small but important ways.
The first episode of Hitman is a very strong start, and it's a return to form for a series that some were worried had begun to wander.
There's only so much fun you can get out of playing the same level over and over again
At the end of the day, Hitman's buzzword is freedom. There are so many things to do – and so many ways to do them – that you'll never have to persevere to find something fun to do. It's all in front of you: a bloody, disturbing playground rife with opportunity. The trial and error gameplay brings back memories of older Hitman titles, while new ideas such as the excellent Escalation mode keep things fresh. Simply put, the Intro Pack is a great buy for old fans and new blood alike – there aren't many stealth games of this calibre.
One thing's for sure: The more I've played Hitman's debut "episode" the more I've enjoyed it. Despite the often boneheaded AI and dire loading times, Hitman has definitely combined the best of both worlds. There's scope for it to improve in some areas as the levels are released throughout the year but this is a fun, confident start.
[T]echnical issues aside, it's a relief to be playing a Hitman game that is built around the idea of social stealth. The execution may be flawed but it's aiming in the right direction and the disguise system, which now tips you off when a particularly canny NPC is able to look past your clothes and see the face of a stranger, is as good as it's ever been.
The first episode of Hitman has a lot to offer creative assassins, but enjoying it requires you to look past an array of inconsistencies.
Hitman rediscovers its agency in this strong start for IO's episodic series.
