Contracts is the only game to date in the series that seemed to have the AI really planned for every setting in the game. Just playing the first level forces you to play a different way between Normal and Professional playthroughs, and I'm simply talking about walking and getting out of the asylum. Blood Money was full of goons that seemed really eager to not fight you, and Silent Assassin was loaded with guards who were keen and ready to shoot at you. Granted, both types really seemed to compliment the settings they had. I think a cop in Vegas would be less keen on blowing a hole in someones skull when compared to a group of Afghan soldiers guarding a nuclear bomb.
First Hitman: Absolution reviews hit
- Thread starter Messi
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Contracts is the only game to date in the series that seemed to have the AI really planned for every setting in the game. Just playing the first level forces you to play a different way between Normal and Professional playthroughs, and I'm simply talking about walking and getting out of the asylum. Blood Money was full of goons that seemed really eager to not fight you, and Silent Assassin was loaded with guards who were keen and ready to shoot at you. Granted, both types really seemed to compliment the settings they had. I think a cop in Vegas would be less keen on blowing a hole in someones skull when compared to a group of Afghan soldiers guarding a nuclear bomb.
Depended on the level for me, but I usually would agree. Something like House of Cards is EXTREMELY easy to SA on just playing normally due to the way the targets use the elevators, while Death on the Mississippi is probably the hardest level in the game due to the amount of targets and lack of hiding spots.
To explore the ways to kill a target.
Edit, and cutting players off isn't what this series is about.
Dyni Crippler
Member
Yes. Plus, Contracts had some of the best levels in the series IMO. The ship with the special forces? Brillant.
I'm ashamed to admit I never got SA in neither of those. They're the only ones I'm missing along with Amendment XXV (which is more due to lack of time than to actual problems with the level).
LeadenStride
Member
Ah, thank you. Now I just realised why Death on the Mississippi is one of my favorites in BM
I hold Contracts as an ideal Hitman game in many regards. It just has a couple of really boring levels and there are some really unfortunate glitches. Longtime Hitman fans were also disappointed that most of the missions were remakes from C47, but I love all of them.
Ravensmash
Member
Eh, the first one would be a concern but a narrative led reason wouldn't be too awful if it serves to progress the plot.
I'm hoping that the more linear sections lead to a nice varied selection of locales.
keltickennedy
Member
Certain levels are split into sections, each with there own score ratings. So for the hotel level, you first objective is to get to an elevator. There are multiple routes to get to the elevator. Once 47 gets into the elevator that section is over and the new section begins inside the hotels upper floors. I have to double check but I think then at the end of the entire level all the different section scores are tallied up to a grand total.
OT's are posted a week before the release date, so it should be up sometime tomorrow.
Interfectum
Member
Tomorrow.
The perfect Dark
Banned
Someone from the hitman forum already got his copy (ps3) and took a picture of it. I hate this. 8 days early, damn it.
Interfectum
Member
<---
and people trust this magazine.
Wow.
And Splinter Cell: Conviction an 87.
Although, I highly doubt that the guy who wrote the Conviction review also wrote the Hitman review.
The Wizard
Member
The PC gamer review is well written and by a different author, not sure what relevance the DA2 review has.
Ah. Can we expect a normal OT or a mock one? I really have no interest in a mock OT for this game.
Red Blaster
Member
I hated how in Murder of Crows the police would *always* look at you suspiciously if you walked past them regardless of what outfit you had on.
Interfectum
Member
I'm going for a basic normal one. Maybe some fun here and there but not mocking it. My first OT so we'll see how it goes over.
NotTheGuyYouKill
Member
I'm going for a normal one. Maybe some fun here and there but not mocking it. My first OT so we'll see how it goes over.
I'm sure that Derrick will be there to provide the mocking.
Should be a great OT
iNvid02
Member
Wait, what?
Much better than what they offered for that section in Codename 47. That was one of the number of levels where you were expecting to kill tons of mooks, as even entering the ship without alerting anyone still alerts Boris. I think adding the SWAT invasion was far more exciting, as you were on a timer to take out Boris and get out of the area before you became a target. All while potentially disabling the arming of the nuke too, if you wanted.
Dyni Crippler
Member
Yes, I remember that from Codename 47. Contracts' version was waaay better.
That + 55 Max Payne 3 are inexcusable.
But different reviewers are different and Hitman seems to be a well written review with valid criticisms.
He did do the max payne review I believe, and he was right on the money with that score.
Actually if anything he still overrated it since technically a 5/10 is average and MP3 is more like a 2. But I guess for how the review scale is actually handled in the gaming industry a 5 is just as damning as a 2.
That + 55 Max Payne 3 are inexcusable.
But different reviewers are different and Hitman seems to be a well written review with valid criticisms.
That's hilarious.
Ravensmash
Member
Can't say I agree with you there, I absolutely loved every second of Max Payne 3 (apart from a few tricky sections where I got quite frustrated) and thought it's single player campaign was great fun - cutscenes and all. Not to mention some of the most satisfying gun play I've experienced in a game - no hyperbole intended.
That being said, I haven't read the Hitman or MP3 review yet so I'll get round to that at some point.
I am truly shocked that you didn't like MP3
Outside of the insufferable cut scenes MP3 was a good game. Obviously not on the level of 1 and 2 but by no means a 5/10
Dyni Crippler
Member
Gameplay-wise it was actually better than 1 and 2 in my opinion.
Something is wrong, because I agree with you. Max Payne 3 was definitely not worth more than 55, which was generous to begin with.
Dyni Crippler
Member
Combine that with good level design and Max Payne's trademark gameplay and you've got yourself a dealer.
Writing was worse, though, I think that's undeniable.
Oh, come off it, Contracts gives you tacked on kills. The levels aren't designed around your targets. There are no extra accidents set up for them.
Here: Blood Money tutorial level "contract" - kill every guard not wearing a white vest with a melee weapon in the Lawyer's suit.
Did that make it more fun for you?
Interfectum
Member
Ok, done with the OT. I'm open for a few more ideas for the subject line if you guys want to throw your hats into the ring.
Guerrillas in the Mist
Member
On the other hand, Max Payne 3 is easily in my top 5 for the year.
iNvid02
Member
the current one is really good so keep it, but i just came up with this and made myself chuckle
Hitman Absolution |OT|- You can't ever go back 47
It's a play on both the linearity of the game and the fact that once you go dumb the series is lost forever.
If ever there was a clearer comment on why 2012 was so bad.
hitmanforum.com is on damage control
If the level percentages are correct, then bye bye hitman. Over half of them don't have a target? Oh wait, the target is an object or a door. omg. They can't be serious.
Hitman Absolution |OT|- I'm going to my shed. Time to bury the past.
If the level percentages are correct, then bye bye hitman. Over half of them don't have a target? Oh wait, the target is an object or a door. omg. They can't be serious.
Hitman Absolution |OT|- I'm going to my shed. Time to bury the past.
The perfect Dark
Banned
Hitman Absolution |OT|- 62 is the new 47
TheSpoiler
Member
Yeah! I totally agree. This year was awful. Fuck Tokyo Jungle, Soul Calibur 5, Tekken Tag 2, Dust Force, The Darkness II, Binary Domain, etc.
Fuck'em.
Revolutionary
Member
Hitman: Absolution |OT| Better than Max Payne 3