Hitman 2 is the keenly-awaited follow-up to the IO Interactive and ex-Square Enix franchise reboot, Hitman. A direct sequel in terms of style and story, Hitman 2 is the first release in the franchise that sees IO in direct control of the property, leaving many fans excited to see the results of the move away from the former publisher. With a launch event featuring everybody’s frequent die-er, Sean Bean, and exciting maps ranging from an F1 circuit to a more close-quarters, heavily guarded, beachside home-come-complex, there has been plenty of clever marketing to get excited about, too. So how does the game hold up?
The weird thing is, you may as well be playing Hitman (as in, the first of the rebooted games and this title’s direct predecessor). The tutorial levels are literally ripped from the first game, with not even the slightest change in sight. The gameplay style, mechanics, storytelling and visuals are nigh-on identical to the first game too, which is both beneficial to returning players and potentially disappointing. On the one hand, there is little-to-no learning curve; you can effectively dive back into the action without a button change to worry about. On the other hand, the lack of any clear difference on the face of things, and the direct inclusion of levels from the first game, leaves Hitman 2 feeling like something of a re-hash from the off…
What Hitman 2 certainly does have going for it is its style. In all aspects of the game, the style really works. The game is everything that it promises to be, and everything fans of the first game would be expecting it to be. The levels are complex, intelligent and challenging, with a realistic AI that makes planning your approach a pleasure. Every scenario has a wealth of replayability, turning a couple of handfuls of levels and targets into several hundred, if not thousand, experiences to be enjoyed. A lot of care and attention has clearly gone into the design elements of the game; whether your focus is on visuals, audio, level design or story. It is a strong offering from this perspective.
Gameplay, too, is highly enjoyable. Heavily stealth-focussed, but with a helping hand when you may need it, the game allows you to make your kills in any way you can imagine. It hands you the tools, offers you some advice, and then lets you loose into the world. In the main story, this adds to the thrill somewhat, as you can really make the story your own. In terms of the first illusive target, Mr (Sean) Bean himself, this freedom can be a gift or a curse depending on how patient you are willing to be. Indeed, an interesting set of developments await players who are willing to prolong their experience in favour of a quick kill. It is an exciting, and sometimes an intense, experience to be a part of. That is why the game’s overarching problem is such a disappointing factor…
For new players, especially, Hitman 2 feels like a marketing campaign for Hitman (the previous game). To the extent that there are pop-ups advertising the first game and that you can even launch that title from the menu of Hitman 2 if you have it installed on your system, there is far too much focus on making sure players have experienced that title first, rather than promoting Hitman 2’s own individual merits. For returning players, this will be little more than a nuisance which is easily ignored. New players, however, may feel bullied into purchasing yet another title before they have even had a chance to see if they like the one they just bought. It is a large misstep for the new owners of the franchise, and one that is not easily ignored.
If you have played the first game, and you thought it was damn-near perfect, you should pick up Hitman 2. It is, effectively, more of the same, so if you are more interested in continuity than an updated model, this game is probably for you. If you felt there were problems with the first game that you didn’t get on with, this game is probably not for you. If you haven’t played the first game at all, then prepare yourself for more adverts than British television beyond the BBC. Hitman 2 feels like a game which is very good and very worth your while if you belong to a very specific demographic of existing fans who liked the first in the series.
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