Hitman 2 - a great follow-up, despite story
Hitman 2 as a sequel to 2016’s Hitman release is not an immediately apparent improvement save for the ditching of the episodic structure in favour of a full release from day one.
In many respects, Hitman 2 feels like a true continuation of its predecessor, providing only a handful of new weapons and equipment to indicate that anything bar the level and story design has changed between the two instalments in the venerable series.
Hitman’s locations work best when they are celebrations of mundanity.
Hitman 2 gets this right for the most part, throwing agent 47 into a plethora of believable locations such as suburban Vermont and the bustling slums of Mumbai.
Unfortunately, the very last chapter in the game takes place in such a ludicrous setting as to leave somewhat of a bad taste in the mouth upon completion.
By contrast, Hitman Absolution’s finale boasted a simple but much more memorable setting in an ostensibly mundane cemetary.
What Hitman and Hitman 2 offer that truly separate them from the former jewels of the series is the sheer amount of experimentation and takedown options afforded by each of the vast chapters.
It is quite impossible to see everything the game has to offer in a single playthrough, while side stories expose story tidbits within the larger context, offering hints and exploits pertaining to Agent 47 ’s target.
Hitman 2 truly rewards experimentation in a way that is alien to most of the Hitman series.
There are a slew of great and memorable moments in Hitman 2. From impersonating corpses to triggering implanted nano-bombs, IO Interactive have managed to pay homage to the wackiness of the Hitman series without ever feeling pastiche or tacky.
Where Hitman 2 stumbles and falls is in the absurdly bad story. A far cry from 2012’s superbly-penned Hitman Absolution, Hitman 2 features more than a handful of dialogue zingers that will have your palm instinctively reaching for your face.
The actual story itself feels like it was written by the gaming equivalent of a bad cover band.
The story notwithstanding, Hitman 2 is absolutely worth picking up for any fans of the series. A great follow-up on 2016’s Hitman.