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Is Hitman 2 a worthy successor to 2016’s offering or should it be searching for absolution?
Time To Kill
Agent 47 has killed a lot of people. He also visited several places. In 2012 IO Interactive took the helm and attempted to add a story to proceedings and fans, on the whole, weren’t happy. Gone were the fun sandboxes and inventive kills and Agent 47 was funnelled down a fairly linear path. IO Interactive saw the error of their way and, in 2016, took things back to basics with the simply named Hitman. The open sandboxes were back and stronger than ever. They brought over mechanics that worked from Absolution and crafted one of the best Hitman games in the series. Hitman 2 builds on this incredible comeback and adds a few new minor mechanics to keep things fresh.
Have Gun Will Travel
Hitman II offers six new locations. As with its predecessor, each offers unique situations and inventive ways to assassinate your targets. Mumbai with its densely populated streets and labyrinths buildings is stand-out environment. It also makes most of Agent 47’s new “crowd blending” mechanic, something we’ve seen in the Assassin’s Creed series. While a mission in Miami sees the deadly cue ball stalking his prey around a loud and active racetrack.
Each level is an attack on the senses, but a pleasant one. Exploring each new locale is wonderful, which is lucky as it’s one of the main things you’ll be doing. Discovering routes, secret passages, possible disguises and new tools is constantly rewarding. Every person in each sandbox have routines that you must monitor and scrutinise. Hitman rewards patience. Eavesdropping and observation are your greatest weapons... until you need actual weapons.
Maps are littered with a handful of Mission Stories (previously called Opportunities). These act as guides for moving deeper into each area and getting ever closer to your target. You don’t have to use them if you wish to explore and find your own methods, but they help you quickly become familiar with your surroundings. Completing a hit is time consuming and at any moment you can be caught doing something you shouldn’t, causing things to go south quickly. There are always opportunities to escape, change disguise and wait for things to calm down. Although the temptation to load a previous save is always there, it can be fun to improvise when your initial plan doesn’t work out.
The trial-and-error playstyle of the Hitman games is ever-present here. It’s a playstyle that may not suit everyone. If you didn’t like previous titles, there is nothing for you here. But fans will revel in everything the game has to offer. Hitman 2’s cinematics set the mood beautifully. They’re grim, dark and dramatic. Missions still contain a plethora of ridiculous costumes and odd weapon possibilities. It’s an odd mix, but it has always worked in Hitman’s favour.
New Blood
Hitman 2 now has a few new modes outside of its sprawling campaign. Sniper Assassin tasks you with taking out a series of targets from a single vantage point using a sniper rifle. Although it lacks any real substance, especially when compared to the campaign. it’s enjoyable and it can be played in two-player online co-op.
If the six missions aren’t enough for you Hitman 2 allows you to download the original missions from the previous Hitman title. Revisiting these older levels using Hitman 2’s new features, such as working mirrors, which henchmen can spot your nefarious deeds in, is great. But it all feels a little redundant, especially considering you must own 2016’s Hitman in the first place.
Final Thoughts
The impressive sandboxes of Hitman 2 are all generously populated and beg to be explored. Eliminating your target perfectly and walking away while everything around you descends into chaos is exhilarating. As is walking away from a bad situation, hoping you can lose henchmen and guards. Hitman 2 is a wonderfully familiar experience and playing as Agent 47 has never been more satisfying.
