Hitman Series Official Thread

[logical]

Didnt see a thread for it but the games beta starts tomorrow for the people who pre-ordered it.

They showed a bit of the game before and I wasnt too impressed with the visuals after looking at the recent screenshots of the game.

Screenshots here: http://pressa2join.com/news/direct-f...beta-goes-live



System Requirements

• Minimum:
  • OS: OS 64-bit Windows 7
  • Processor: Intel CPU Core i5-2500K 3.3GHz / AMD CPU Phenom II X4 940
  • Memory: 8 GB RAM
  • Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660 / Radeon HD 7870
  • DirectX: Version 11

• Recommended:
  • OS: OS 64-bit Windows 7 / 64-bit Windows 8 (8.1) or Windows 10
  • Processor: Intel CPU Core i7 3770 3,4 GHz / AMD CPU AMD FX-8350 4 GHz
  • Memory: 8 GB RAM
  • Graphics: Nvidia GPU GeForce GTX 770 / AMD GPU Radeon R9 290
  • DirectX: Version 11

[ThirdEye]

Somehow I think Absolution was better looking... The episodic thing made me lose interest completely in this game.

[Mangler]

Going by the ps4 footage, this is basically blood money 2.0.

[SirBaron]

Indeed keeps getting compared to blood money, which isn't a bad thing.

[clerick]

I'm totally fine if it's blood money 2.0, but releasing episodic is kinda a strange way to go.

[logical]

At least they are being completely up front with it. Unlike some other companies *cough bethesda cough*

They could probably extend the life of the game longer with episodic content. They can release a new episode/level every month. I dont think I have seen a game with more than 5 substantial releases... for some reason the DLC always stops at 5 like telltale games.

[eNforcer]

Tried it out. Not really impressed, feels really generic. Wish they could smooth out animations rather than just cutting to new animations. I'd rather boot up Codename 47 again.

[logical]

Hows the performance of the game?

[Brainstew]

I could care less about the visuals as long as the gameplay is back to Blood Money style.

[clerick]

Hope they take enough flack and fix this:

I just played the Hitman beta and despite having a great time with it I have a pretty big issue with it (and no, it's not related to the shitty episodic release form, I'm fine with that). Incoming blog. Spoilers for the first tutorial mission.

In the beta, you have to kill a guy named Kalvin Rittler, an art dealer that is also a thief. You can do this in a million ways like any good Hitman game lets you. Shoot him in the head, fiber-wire him, throw him off a railing, poison him, drown him in a toilet, blow him up, drop a barrel on top of him, etc. But there's a problem:

Remember in Blood Money in the Opera level where the play would go on and repeat no matter what you did and you were essentially trying to remove a small piece of the machine while it went like clockwork?

In Hitman 6, the machine goes like clockwork, however, it's expecting you to trigger it all the ****ing time. There's this guy called Norfolk that is supposed to go on a meeting with the target, and you can disguise as him to go on the meeting yourself. However, if you stand around the beginning area, Norfolk never moves. He only moves in to meet the target after you go to the bar and see the target saying he's going to meet him. Furthermore, they also never actually meet until you see the target having a conversation with his wife. In other words, you need to be constantly in proximity of the target for **** to actually happen.

That's not even the worst part, though. The target actively moves out of his way to get killed by you. When you poison a drink, the target becomes immediately attracted to it and goes to drink it. When you go on top of a railing to drop a barrel on him, the target goes to the position under the barrel and stays there a while. If the target is on the meeting, he will stay doing nothing forever until you either kill him or poison a drink, in which case he leaves to go drink it.

This game had so much potential, and they ****ing ruined it.

Not him but I can confirm this problem persists on The Final Test

>one of the most signposted 'opportunities' is that the target has to do a pre-flight check in a fighter jet; a check that involves him testing the ejector seat. You can disguise yourself as a mechanic and reactivate the ejector, meaning that when he tests it he launches himself into the roof of the hangar. Except, despite it being made clear that he has to do this check, and despite the fact that you see the mechanics being told that they have to take him through this check, they will not do it. Ever. Instead, once you've messed with the jet, you have to remain disguised as a mechanic, go and fetch the target yourself (while avoiding visual contact with the mechanics), then walk him through the pre-flight check yourself. So no more scenes like the opera in Blood Money, where you set up an innocent to finish the job - here you have to be the active element in every death.

And the article here complains about that exact same problem on the Paris level, which is not a tutorial level.

[logical]

21:9 Works nicely

[Brainstew]

Has anyone been keeping up with every episode? Is it worth getting now that it is all released?

[Mangler]

Does it have a traditional campaign or is every episode just a standalone murderbox?

[t0adp1p3]

All I know is every review I have seen of it says it is tremendous. It's also 50% offf right now in steam so I bought it.

[Brainstew]

Let us know your thoughts, because I'm eyeballing that 50% off too.

Edit: I took the plunge. I'll update with thoughts on the game at some point. As a big fan of Hitman 1, 2 and Blood Money, I have high hopes.

[Brainstew]

Now that I've beaten the main game I would recommend that nobody pays more than $20 for it.

The levels are very well done, but there aren't enough. If you play the game as a single play-through then you will be completely unsatisfied, which wasn't the case with the best games in the series. There is a lot of replay value because of the sandbox nature of the game, but it doesn't make up for the lack of levels in my opinion. Compared to Silent Assassin and Blood Money, this felt like half a game.

[|MaguS|]

Now that I've beaten the main game I would recommend that nobody pays more than $20 for it.

The levels are very well done, but there aren't enough. If you play the game as a single play-through then you will be completely unsatisfied, which wasn't the case with the best games in the series. There is a lot of replay value because of the sandbox nature of the game, but it doesn't make up for the lack of levels in my opinion. Compared to Silent Assassin and Blood Money, this felt like half a game.

Well the entire premise is to replay them multiple times to get different challenges as well as do the events they put out that are entirely new hits. IMO the game is far better then those games, this is the best Hitman game to date and I am really excited for Season 2.

It seems to me that you just experienced the game differently. I bet you sat down and just played the game without a break really. It felt a lot better by playing it overtime rather then in one sitting. It felt refreshing coming back a month later to a new level that was so different from the previous one. It's a game truly designed around episodic experience rather then a straight beeline type like the previous games.

[logical]

It takes a certain kind of a player to play and enjoy a Hitman game. As Magus said, this is the kind of game where you beat the level and then go back in the same level and find a different way to do it. Ive never been the type to go back to the level I just finished and try it again another way. I imagine a lot of people are like that as well. Thats why there needs to be more unique levels.

[mynakedrat2]

i liked the hitman series, but for some reason, this one never hit me as one i wanted to play.
maybe ill get it on the cheap, and use it as a dx12 benchmark!

[Brainstew]

I'm well aware of the replay value in Hitman games, but my point is Hitman 2 and Blood Money also had that replay value, with far more levels and a story that was more integrated with the missions. The game excelled at the sandbox element but failed hard on the length and story. They basically went 180 from the terrible last game. The best in the series is a mix of both. The game isn't "The Hitman Simulator".

[HyperNovae]

I'm well aware of the replay value in Hitman games, but my point is Hitman 2 and Blood Money also had that replay value, with far more levels and a story that was more integrated with the missions. The game excelled at the sandbox element but failed hard on the length and story. They basically went 180 from the terrible last game. The best in the series is a mix of both. The game isn't "The Hitman Simulator".

How is it not the Hitman simulator? If anything this is as close as they've come to exactly that. The elusive targets and whatnot give you a whole new target to assassinate in the huge sprawling levels. Hell Sapienza is almost 2 entire blood money maps put together. I was playing them all one episode at a time till I got distracted and forgot about it, I was having a lot of fun as well. I do agree there should be more levels but to knock it so hard like that is a bit harsh. The games perfected the Hitman gameplay and the graphics are gorgeous as well. I can't remember enjoying the actual story of almost any Hitman game I've ever played, I always just played to enjoy the gameplay. I think most people would agree considering the backlash that Absolution received.

Hitman 2 silent assassin
Hitman contracts
Hitman Blood Money
Hitman absolution
Hitman 2016

[Brainstew]

That's exactly my point and complaint. I was saying that the main goal of the series was never to be a hitman simulator, which is what this game feels like it's trying to be. Like I said in my last post, this game seems like an over correction for how little sandbox the last game had. The maps in this game are great, but there aren't enough and none have real plot relevance. Absolution was Hitman: Action Edition. This game is Hitman: Sandbox Edition. The best Hitman games find the right balance between the two.

There wasn't a single mission in this game that you could just swap out with a different mission and have 0 impact on the story of the game.

[|MaguS|]

That's exactly my point and complaint. I was saying that the main goal of the series was never to be a hitman simulator, which is what this game feels like it's trying to be. Like I said in my last post, this game seems like an over correction for how little sandbox the last game had. The maps in this game are great, but there aren't enough and none have real plot relevance. Absolution was Hitman: Action Edition. This game is Hitman: Sandbox Edition. The best Hitman games find the right balance between the two.

There wasn't a single mission in this game that you could just swap out with a different mission and have 0 impact on the story of the game.

They cared less about the story because in the end the stories in the original were always terrible. You had a character that no one could relate to so it became boring. They took the IP in the correct direction by making it a sandbox experience.

[Brainstew]

The stories were bad so instead of trying to create a decent story just throw in the towel. Solid logic.

This game felt like closing your eyes and reaching into the mission bucket to pluck out 6 missions. It was just 6 different puzzles to solve. The game needed some more character or something to tie the missions together better if it wanted to be a great game. As it stands it's a solid little assassination sandbox, nothing more.

What are you comparing the quality of the story too anyway? I mean in a world where people think the MGS and Final Fantasy series have great stories, it's hard to take opinions seriously. The previous games at least had some mystery and intrigue, along with enough threads tying the missions together.

[HyperNovae]

The stories were bad so instead of trying to create a decent story just throw in the towel. Solid logic.

This game felt like closing your eyes and reaching into the mission bucket to pluck out 6 missions. It was just 6 different puzzles to solve. The game needed some more character or something to tie the missions together better if it wanted to be a great game. As it stands it's a solid little assassination sandbox, nothing more.

What are you comparing the quality of the story too anyway? I mean in a world where people think the MGS and Final Fantasy series have great stories, it's hard to take opinions seriously. The previous games at least had some mystery and intrigue, along with enough threads tying the missions together.

Arguably the best Hitman ever made, Bloodmoney had very little story and was basically the prequel to this one. It set the standard for a Hitman game. Probably had the worst story out of all of them.

[ThirdEye]

I could relate to to the original Hitman stories when I was a kid.

Russians, we're cold mother****ers.

[Nagorak]

I honestly can't even remember the stories of any of the Hitmans besides the original. My vague recollection is they all tried to find 47's humanity, which is difficult with him basically being a killer with no attachments to anyone.

That being said, it's true that the assassinations were tied together for some reason, like it wasn't just six random missions, but different targets in the same crime syndicate/gang. I guess Contracts was sort of just random missions.

[theshadowcult]

Bloodmoney DID find his humanity. He DIDN'T kill his assistant, where if he was just a killer, he would have.

[nutcrackr]

I thought blood money had a clever enough way of telling a story about an assassin who's targets are not always connected. Basically a reporter talking to a CIA(?) guy about an elusive assassin in the past tense. No reason why they couldn't do a similar thing.

[Nagorak]

Bloodmoney DID find his humanity. He DIDN'T kill his assistant, where if he was just a killer, he would have.

Like I said, I can't remember much about them. The only reason I can remember the first is because you're basically killing your parents.

FWIW, I don't agree with those who said the games had bad stories. I thought they were fine, just ultimately not that memorable. It was mostly about stringing together the assassination missions, but I don't remember feeling unsatisfied or confused with the stories while I was playing them.

On the whole there not being any connection between the missions in the most recent game is a negative, although it probably doesn't ruin the game (I actually haven't played it yet myself).

[theshadowcult]

I'd agree with this.

[nutcrackr]

Just played the training missions for the new Hitman. In the second one, there are these mechanics around the Jet. After about 3 restarts, two of them on patrol routes never appeared in their usual places. Ran around the level and they were nowhere to be found. Is that the game changing things or just a bug?

[|MaguS|]

Just played the training missions for the new Hitman. In the second one, there are these mechanics around the Jet. After about 3 restarts, two of them on patrol routes never appeared in their usual places. Ran around the level and they were nowhere to be found. Is that the game changing things or just a bug?

It can change things depending on how you start. I didn't have any issues.

[nutcrackr]

So this game was pretty good, I think the core gameplay, ai, mission design, and levels are probably the best in the series. I played all 6 main episodes and Sapienza was probably the best, although Colorado wasn't far behind. Most of the missions have two targets, but those two missions had extra main objectives. All the levels are fairly good although I would say Marrakesh is the weakest. Most of my kills were close takedowns with pistol, or garrote. But I also did poisons, explosion, and accidents.

It does have a story. There are brief cut scenes between the missions as well as tidbits in levels / briefing stuff. I thought it was enough but would have liked a bit more. Clearly setup for another season.

There are some great things about the AI. and the disguise system makes sense. Probably too much reliance on instinct though, but you can turn that off if you want pure gameplay. I think it would be a little frustrating without it though.

The game is designed to be played many times over (probably 3+ each mission) because that's the only way you get additional starting locations, additional drop locations etc. This puts me at a quandary.
I love that there is multiple ways to complete objectives and that gives it excellent replay value a bit like Blood Money. But I wish there was a way to capture some of that for those that aren't going to replay missions.

[Brainstew]

I thought Bangkok was the worst. It looked gorgeous, but the mission itself was like pulling teeth.

How do you access the bonus missions? Are they free?

[nutcrackr]

Elusive targets are no longer available (except the latest) which is unfortunate.

There is a bonus mission for paris, sapienza and marrakesh. Just go to Destinations and select those locations, then the bonus ones. I haven't played them yet.

[Drexion]

Tweet
Announcement(pdf)

[Brainstew]

So does SE still own the license to Hitman?

[|MaguS|]

So does SE still own the license to Hitman?

Do not know. We will find out when the state of the studio is determined.

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[ThirdEye]

Good, **** square enix.