New game of the legendary series Hitman was waiting for many. And I including. However, shortly before its release in the heads of fans started to creep in quite reasonable doubt. This was facilitated by the unexpected news that the game will be released in episodic format, and sufficient curve pre-release beta version, which further discouraged players. But then came the day of release, and all with relief sighed: the developers have fixed most of the flaws of the game, so it is able to deliver a lot of pleasure to fans of the series.
Given that the game is now out in a new episodic format, March 11, on sale the so-called “Starter kit” that includes a training component and a mission in Paris. The price of this set relatively low, so that the user himself decides for himself – to acquire subsequent episodes or to stop and to abandon the additive. Those interested can also purchase the “Full version” of the game for the standard price, after which the remaining episodes of the game they will receive as they are released. At such scheme of distribution has its pros and cons. If the main disadvantage is quite obvious — you have to wait for the final episode until fall of this year, the advantages include the fact that the game can first try and if you will like to purchase its full version.
The plot of Hitman takes us back in time when Agent 47 is still just beginning his long collaboration with the international contract Agency ICA. Diana Bernvud takes it out of many applicants for the position of killer, Rochas for his ward before the command. Then start a training mission and then the first job in real combat conditions. I’m not going to spend time describing the course as long as they told us in detail about it to share with you my impressions from the pre-release beta version of Hitman. Just remember, this is two missions (one of which will have to go twice), during which the player must learn the basics of the game mechanics and explore some of the nuances of the main character.
And what Agent 47 might be the subtleties, they know everything, without exception, gamers familiar with the previous games in the series. Given that in beta your humble servant has spent a decent amount of time and well-oriented on the ground, the training mission I flew literally 20 minutes, sinking both of his goals in the toilets (read – “wasted in the outhouse”). But the first combat mission in Paris has demanded from me a careful preparation and a long period of time exploring the game locations. And location this truly spacious and full of different surprises, which during the first passage you will notice not all players.
Speaking of replay value: here the new Hitman everything is in order. You can, and most importantly, will want to replay each mission several times. Each time I will discover something new and amazing. The levels are densely populated by various characters with unique character, history and personal problems. Here you run for again, noting to himself security gaps and nooks where you’ll be able to hide a corpse, and vaguely hear the fascinating and sometimes very funny stories from the life guards, bartenders, cooks and other professions in the game. What is most interesting to listen to them is not boring, as you can feel that the scenario developers have written with full responsibility and sense of humor.
Before each mission the player is free to choose the weapons and support gadgets. For example, a syringe of poison, the master key lock, radio controlled explosives or a coin to distract someone’s attention. You can also specify what items specifically for you should hide the ICA staff in one of the caches on game locations. This is especially useful in the case when at a certain point in the game the main character will be searched by the guards and there should not be any weapons. In General, the lack of funds for killing in Hitman I didn’t notice. You can always come up with something of such things, and at worst resorting to time-tested stranglehold, which for some reason is not detected during the search.
During the mission in Paris, Agent 47 must eliminate the Russian oligarch Viktor Novikov and his companion, a former Israeli fashion model Dalia Margolis. This couple heads the secret organization IAGO, trading in stolen classified information. The next auction, in which Novikov and Margolis offer influential buyers to purchase such a valuable commodity, is held under the guise of a fashion show. And while the Parisian elite with delight examines a shocking dresses on the models defile, on the third floor of this mansion is actively trading secrets of politicians and security forces.
Immediately struck by gustosamente the game world. At the same time on the screen can contain up to 300 characters, and it will agree, much more than in previous games. And if you kill in front of someone, the whole crowd in panic starts to leave the building. Frightened people will become right before your eyes, trample each other, that only makes the game more realistic. But personally, I’m most pleased with the new Hitman system “Opportunities” when Agent 47 could eavesdrop on someone’s conversation and thanks him for the chance to eliminate his target particularly clever way. It is possible not to resort to such tips, and to just walk my mind is that every player decides for himself.
Methods of killing really quite a lot. You can strangle their victims, shoot them with different weapons, stabbing with knives and screwdrivers, to cut with an axe, hammering and other instruments, to drown in the toilet though, at least in the French Seine, you can bring down on the victim’s head the heavy chandelier, poison, blow up or throw her from the balcony. If ordinary murder not enough for you and are drawn to experimentation, you can resort to more complex in terms of implementation plans. For example, don’t just reset the victim from the balcony, and do it at a time when, under the balcony will be your second goal. Who is it that talked about the futility of chasing two hares? In this case, you will need to always be on two or even three steps ahead of his opponents. Always keep in mind that the number of variables is not easy, but the achievement of a goal brings great satisfaction.
It should be noted that the developers has pleasantly surprised me in terms of work on the appearance of the Hitman. The game’s graphics have considerably tightened since pre-release betas. Though the visual component and not enough stars from the sky, looks very decent, and the work of artists and interior is impressive. Even at the exhibition “IgroMir 2015” Hitman developers proudly told us about how carefully they labor over the creation of interiors, and I must say, they are our expectations are not deceived. Paris mansion really looks great with all of these crystal chandeliers, ornate moldings on the walls and exquisite architecture.
Also, if you compare release version with the beta, has removed many errors and omissions. Take, for braking during playback of videos the storyline. They have left no trace. For some reason I started to slow all game menu. Sometimes I click, the game freezes in place, and only after a few seconds you show the menu. Download in Hitman is also quite long, but it motivates the player to make fewer fatal mistakes for themselves. Although, of course, if a good rummage in the game – you can stumble upon quite ridiculous bugs. For example, after I killed Dahlia Margolis, Viktor Novikov called her on the phone and started a conversation, and she answered it. Wonders will never cease!
Even if you prefer to play alone, the game will prompt you to connect to the Network. When connected to the Internet, you will have player ratings and “Tests” — a sort of in-game achievements unique to each individual mission. Without a Network, you are also available bleeding of the main character, for which it receives a tangible bonuses such as new weapons and alternative start points mission. Surprisingly, the connection to the game servers works very badly. It is constantly broken, and to connect to the servers again Hitman is not the first time. By the way, by registering in a special online service SEN Japanese publisher Square Enix, you can get access to additional material like interviews with developers and prizes.
Fans of the Hitman series will surely appreciate the fact that the developers decided not to continue with Hitman: Absolution, which many fans in 2012 torpedoed. New Hitman sample 2016 looks more like Hitman: Blood Money and it is, in my opinion, wonderful. Generally, the game took the best from its predecessors and polished it to a Shine, making the gameplay was close to perfect. Well, then, that one mission someone “enough” — it’s a temporary inconvenience. Because in front of us waiting for another five episodes, which will unfold in Italy, Morocco, Thailand, USA and Japan. Leaving these episodes will be every month, and the final episode will be on sale in autumn 2016.
The game has become more tactical, and less stelsovoj “ekshenovoy”. If you like to enter the house that hides your victim, on horseback and violently shoot from the grenade launcher – this is not gonna fly. Brute force in the new Hitman to do it will be extremely difficult, as Agent 47 makes a security just a couple of shots. It’s for the best, because the game automatically weeds out gamers who give the next crazy shooter. And here it is necessary to think, to plan carefully, to study, to disguise and constantly Dodge, not to get into a desperate situation.
A few words about the disguise. As before, the 47th dressed up in his victims. However, in the new game, some characters can reveal his disguise. Woven into the game mechanics it’s actually quite logical: the head of security knows all his players in the face, so if you fall into his eyes in the costume of a security guard — to be trouble. This is especially suspicious of the NPC are arranged by level so that the player constantly had to change their roles and try to cheat. It makes the game more dynamic and encourages the player to action.
In Hitman, the player can create their own contracts by choosing among several purposes NPC on the level, then killing them in a certain order. After you save the mission and upload it to the server. Other players will have to repeat your progress, and to do so in the same disguise as you. Unfortunately, apart from masking and target selection, you don’t allow to set up, but who knows, maybe in the future, the developers will release a full-fledged task editor, and then turn around!
The game also has a mode of “Elusive goals”, but he still blocked, so to test it I could not. The essence of this mode is to get to find the pictures and destroy a target that appears in the game for a limited time only. In case of failure to restart the level will not work, and the target got away from Agent 47 forever. For winning in this mode will give various pleasant bonuses such as costumes from previous games. The second bonus mode called “Escalation”, and in it the player will have to perform a chain of increasingly complex and sophisticated jobs.
Pros:
- The series returned to its original concept that much will please fans.
- Carefully designed levels will allow you to reach your goal dozens of ways.
- Mission want to go again and again. The replay value is just huge!
- A wide variety of characters with their unique stories.
- The system of “Opportunities” will come to the rescue if you have exhausted your imagination.
- You can create contracts and complete quests created by other players.
- Modes “Aggravation” and “Elusive goals” is a good Supplement to the main game.
Cons:
- A new Hitman is not always impressive from a technical point of view.
- Annoying constantly breaking connection to the game servers.
- The game will be published by episodes, so stocked with patience.
- AI opponents sometimes causes issues.
Whatever anyone says, but the new Hitman is a very good game. To be sure, let’s do a brief inventory. Cool main character? There is one thing. Elegant cushions for sandbox killers? Eat for health. Dozens of sophisticated ways of killing? Receive and sign. Close to perfect game mechanics, which absorbed all the best from previous games in the series? Yes here it is! What more could the man, the heart of which is particularly close expensive suit, red tie and barcode on the back of the head? Put the game 8 out of 10 points.