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For Hitman fans, the third instalment in the trilogy won’t let you down, delivering nearlimitless solutions to missions, enhanced graphics, and countless plot twists and surprises.
Hitman 3 is here, and it won’t disappoint; How a devious hack revived the NES.
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F YOU’RE ALREADY familiar with IO Interactive’s Hitman series, then Hitman 3 – the third game and conclusion to The World of Assassination trilogy – won’t surprise you. And that’s a good thing. Hitman is arguably the best stealth game available.
As Agent 47, you have to act and react patiently. Both the story and the location matter. How you eliminate your targets should be a calculated affair. This game isn’t about running ahead at full force with a weapon in hand to get through the mission. It may be fun to do that, but you’ll undoubtedly fail.
From Dubai to Dartmoor, Chongqing to Berlin, each mission location in Hitman 3 is breathtakingly detailed. While none of the core gameplay mechanics have been changed from the previous two titles, this new release refines the locations by introducing some rather complex and unique levels. They’re not necessarily difficult, but the areas are so well designed – with many moving parts, nonplayable characters, and a high level of detail – that they feel endlessly replayable.
It’s not linear or simple, though. Each level is a puzzle within itself where you’re slowly piecing together bits of the story. A standout of Hitman as a series is that, at times, you’re compelled to go back and try a different style of execution, and that might be hilarious, or serious. How you choose to solve a mission could end up being entirely different to how someone else deciphers it – there are just so many options worth trying. Think of it as a murderer simulator where you can, for the most part, do whatever you want. Sure, a target can be shot or strangled, but there are far more complicated and creative ways to complete a mission, such as electrocution (is that a live wire close to a puddle?), and it only gets weirder the further you progress. You may end up missing out on some extremely cool gameplay mechanics and dialogue if you only focus on perfection. Indeed, your end score does depend on how many people you didn’t kill while getting to your target, and how stealthy you were overall, but there’s so much more to Hitman 3 than the mission alone.
As with previous Hitman games, Agent 47’s stealth tactics consist of knocking out certain characters, hiding their bodies and using their clothing as disguises. (While everyone’s outfits mysteriously fit your agent, some characters can see through his cover-ups and should be avoided.) He also has instinct, a skill that helps him to see through walls and work out with which objects he can interact. There’s a lot of quiet snooping involved, where Agent 47 has to discover more about his targets so he can dispose of them efficiently. Another enticing feature is that the story continues throughout all of the missions – it’s all intricately connected and important to the ending of the game.
Agent 47 is hunting down the leaders of Providence, a secret organisation that’s controlling the world’s affairs. At the end of Hitman 2, Agent 47 and his handler Diana Burnwood joined forces with a rogue mercenary, Lucas Grey. In this instalment, Agent 47 continues his work with Grey to destroy Providence. One of the most memorable missions of the game takes place in southern Devon, London, where Agent 47 has to carry out a kill during a murder mystery. This can mean dressing up as a detective to solve clues while at the same time focusing on the target. It’s complex, creative and ridiculously fun. Another mission takes place on a train, which feels strangely claustrophobic compared to scaling Dubai’s Scepter (a fictitious version of the Burj Khalifa).
Hitman 3 is the conclusion we have been waiting for. IO Interactive has managed to make it feel fresh and new without changing the formula players know and love.
The game supports all the levels from previous games (if you’ve bought them), meaning you can play Hitman 1 and 2 with new unlocked weapons and some graphical enhancements. And, being able to import locations gives you access to more than 20 areas, from the entire trilogy, in one place.
Expect flawless gameplay, world-class level design, memorable maps and a single-player tactical experience like no other. This is the best Hitman game in the series by far. It’s atmospheric, thoughtprovoking and worth going back to again and again to perfect your performance or simply work out the hundreds of different ways a mission could play out.