The Hitman franchise is a firm favourite for gamers who prefer to think strategy over shooting, and the latest game does little to change that.
Indeed, it doubles down on everything that makes the stealthy assassin simulator great: featuring even more locations (including a sneaky cameo by Dubai), better disguises and even more dastardly ways to dispatch your targets.
Developer IO Interactive has said Hitman 3 will close out the trilogy of titles, and see the end of a twisting plot of shadowy rival organizations out to bring each other down. However, as per usual the story quickly becomes secondary to the gameplay; that of exploring a level, slipping into disguise and then causing chaos.
It’s incredibly satisfying to drown your target (virtually) in the toilet, for example, after previously lacing a plate of canapes with poison. Similarly, donning the getup of a golf caddy and slipping an explosive ball at the feet of your mark has satisfyingly explosive results.
Despite playing the cold-blooded killer Agent 47, the game managed to blend a weird sense of humour into its dark storyline. Its sprawling levels are full of conversations and side-missions that open up new strategies to take out your targets.
Listen carefully in one mission for example, and you can take up the disguise of a private detective, investigating a string of murders Poirot-style (all while engaging in your own). It’s this subtle but imaginative level design that makes the game immensely re-playable; either to break your previous Assassin’s score, or just to have a laugh with various game mechanics you didn’t have time for last play through.
The third iteration of the Hitman saga is a rich and rewarding experience; and almost certainly the best in the much-loved stealth series. It has buckets of charm, and is suitable for both casual and die-hard virtual stone cold killers.
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