STORY
Absolution picks up with Agent 47 on assignment to take down his former handler, Diana, after she goes rogue and steals agency property. After completing the contract, a letter from his former handler informs 47 of the nature of the stolen property, a girl named Victoria, and the treachery of the man who ordered the contract, Benjamin Travis. After rescuing the girl and going rogue himself, 47 stumbles upon a plot by dubious business-man Blake Dexter, to kidnap Victoria and sell her back to the agency for millions.
Over the course of the narrative, Victoria's true value is revealed, and 47 will kill any who threaten the girl to whom he has committed his services.
Hitman games have always been on the line between serious and goofy, but Absolution seems to completely commit itself to the grindhouse style. Over-the-top, cartoonish villains, contrasted by the stone-faced viciousness of Agent 47. I can guarantee that you've never wanted any gaming character dead, moreso than some of Absolution's baddies.
PRESENTATION
Few games have ever looked as good as Hitman: Absolution does. It's slick graphics present the grimy, gritty world in which 47 inhabits perfectly, and characters receive the same treatment, from Agent 47's trademark scowl and suit, to the giant man-beast Sanchez. Hitman: Absolution is filled with so many cool and interesting characters, that you'll be eager to meet the next one. And murder them viciously.
The soundtrack is suitably atmospheric, but nothing too special to write home about. The use of Ave Maria near the end adds a nice touch, but otherwise, it's pretty average. The voice acting on the other hand is brilliant. 47's monotonous drone is perfect, while Travis sounds like the controlling bastard that he is. Really, the cast sell their parts perfectly.
GAMEPLAY
Now here's where Hitman: Absolution will be divisive. Old fans may be put off by it's simplistic gameplay changes, but newcomers to the series should feel right at home. Now, at it's core, Absolution is still a Hitman game. It's still about picking off your target it any way you choose.
Now onto the changes. Alot of Absolution's levels are very linear, and don't have you assassinating specific targets Some have you trying to get to your target, or escaping an area. I suppose if you took out the mid chapter checkpoints, they could all be seen as one huge level. As it stands though, each chapter is split into four or so levels.
Also added to the formula for this game are the cover system and the instinct system. Now, this might just be me, but I feel that all stealth games need a cover system. It makes it so much easier to know when you're hidden by cover and when you're not. The instinct system on the other hand, I could take or leave. It's reminiscent of Eagle vision or Detective Vision in Assassin's Creed and Arkham City respectively.
It's handy to know where NPC's are moving, or where they're located in the area, or what is special nearby, but overuse of it feels like cheapening the experience. Along with this is the point shooting ability, which is much like mark and execute from Splinter Cell. I can see a lot of players just forgoing this feature, apart from the moment's when using it is actually required.
All these changes aside, Hitman: Absolution still feels like a Hitman game. Scouting the area you're in, finding objects that can be used to form elaborate assassinations, and tailing your mark until the situation lines up perfectly, then BAM! Electrocuted while pissing! Or pushed into a storm water drain! Or crushed by building equipment! Or scorched by sabotaged Barbeque! Or Sniped into a grave so no-one finds the body! It's a nice level of freedom. Also, you can do it all dressed as a chicken.
REPLAYABILITY
The addition of challenges, as well as a more visible score tracker, the ability to choose a level from the list becomes more inviting because, hey, I'll just kill those guys a different way, or hey, I'll just shotgun everyone in the area. Because I can.
But if replaying story scenarios isn't your cup of tea, Contracts mode is there for you. In it, you can create or play custom contracts set with standard NPC's in the story maps. You might have to poison a man's sushi while wearing a chicken suit. Or shotgun a woman while dressed as a samurai. It adds a nice level of replayability.
OVERVIEW
Hitman: Absolution provides most everything I ask for in a game. Functioning stealth, decent gunplay controls, wide maps to make use of, inventive forms of assassination, and a wide variety of choice. Sure, things have changed since past games, but while many will say it's too simple, I say that accessibility is better than having a frustratingly hard game that no one can play. What matters is that the franchises imagination, freedom and brutality all return for Absolution.
Next time, I review New Super Mario Bros U!! And the Wii U!... Unless I finally finish Halo 4.
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