HITMAN, another game hit by the Reboot bug, after what many consider a low point in its Career with Absolution HITMAN looks to go back to its roots with its newest release. Developed by IO Interactive and published under Square Enix, HITMAN switches from the full game release style to the more coveted style of Episodic releases with the first episode in March, second in April and so forth till the end of the year for 7 episodes in total. Everyone wants to be a TV show nowadays…
Story
(This is for episode 2, for episode 1 go here)
Continuing on from episode 1, the story doesn’t really “continue” on, instead you are given a new contract to take out a previous Client Silvio Caruso, a somewhat detached stem cell researcher. Along with his mental problems and great scientific mind he also has something quite dangerous to your business as a whole, a new weapon that can target specific people through their DNA, killing them with ease, something the Agency does not want circulated.
Along with Silvio you are tasked with taking out his head research scientist Francesca De Santis, who could possibly continue the research if Silvio was out of the picture. With those 2 targets taken care of you have an additional task of destroying the only Virus prototype they have, with some plans scattered around for to mess with as well.
Episode 2 is a lot shorter than the first episode, only containing 1 mission this time, however the map itself is bigger as well as holding quite a lot of variety, both in design and tools for you to use. Similar to the first episode in Paris, Sapienza has 20 levels of mastery which unlock new drop locations, starting suits and hiding places, tools of the trade etc. The level itself is more intricately designed, so the length can differ depending on the routes you take. Around 20-30 minutes for the first playthrough.
Gameplay
There isn’t much change in gameplay between the episodes, the items you can obtain remain mostly the same, poison is still hidden around for food and throwing weapons are scattered about. You can however interact with a few NPCs depending on your disguise, preparing a meal for Silvio or masquerading as a priest. You can find an explosive Golf Ball within the ICA safe house, if you’re into an explosive approach to Silvio’s death. You can also shoot through a Telescope, bouncing the bullet within the telescope itself and landing right into someone’s eye, they never saw it coming.
The way the level is designed it seems you are pushed towards using the verticality, going inside of buildings to go up a level or two will be the main way you travel, the city having around 4-5 levels of height. It is a nice change of pace, becoming almost maze like in the way you approach each side. However there is a lot of empty space that seems to be unused, seemingly designed more for aesthetic and adding to the Flow of the level.
Overall Thoughts and Feelings
Episode 2 improves on the ways you can approach the target, there wasn’t one party where you were forced down 1 way. You can skirt around the castle walls, go through the front door, side door, back door, climb up, go through the kitchen that is connected to the house staff building and more. You don’t even have to enter the castle for most the level, once you unlock the sniper rifle there is 1 definite sniping spot for both targets along with a few other high roofs and balconies you could potentially take them out.
With the Paris level it was a bit easier to do a few playthroughs in one sitting, though it could get rather tiresome doing the same thing over and over. Sapienza has a lot more opportunities for things to go wrong, having to clear the castle of its targets, gain a keycard and then making your way into the basement that is full of Shotgun or Uzi using guards, you have to change outfit quite a few times as so many of the NPCs will recognise you. Due to this difficulty it could put few players off from playing more than once.
HITMAN episode 2 gets an 8/10, the story still doesn’t get explained much, pretty much just giving you the contract and an ending that only sets up the next episode. Gameplay is improved a little with the level design but it feels like it can’t really improve much more. Sapienza didn’t really have the same pull as Paris did, the level wasn’t as lively or energy filled, though this could be due to Paris having a fashion show going on and Sapienza being fuller of people and that everyday life feel to it.
