Hitman 3 is the end of an era. After birthing the series in 2000 and becoming synonymous with it since, IO Interactive is letting Agent 47 kick up his feet and have some well-deserved time off from all the coordinated killing. But his looming retirement has not dulled his killer instinct as Hitman 3 is one of his best contracts in the past two decades.
Read the full review here: https://www.gamerevolution.com/review/671967-hitman-3-review-pc-ps5-xbox-series-x
Read the full review here: https://www.gamerevolution.com/review/671967-hitman-3-review-pc-ps5-xbox-series-x
Quick thoughts, before I have the time to put out a full review:
- a lot more story driven on first playthrough. multiple levels where there's only one exit (only for the first time you play it!). this isnt new - they did this for colorado in h2016, for one, but its more frequent here.
- story is solid, but makes for a weird experience bc the entire game is the conclusion to a larger story. people picking up 3 without playing the others will absolutely be lost.
- camera can feel kinda gimmicky at times, but i never hate its implementation. its a neat addition and the only time it becomes cumbersome is if you pick up a lot of shit in a single level and need to figure out which of the million rectangles is the camera
- definitely feels like a prototype of a 007 game. in a wild coincidence, IO is working on a 007 project. considering any game in this trilogy would already be the best Bond game we've seen in years, i trust them to make something interesting out of it. the implementation of new gadgets, gameplay interactions, and heavier narrative elements in this entry were all done well and I expect that they'll knock the 007 project out of the park if they apply what they've learned with H6-8.
- a lot more story driven on first playthrough. multiple levels where there's only one exit (only for the first time you play it!). this isnt new - they did this for colorado in h2016, for one, but its more frequent here.
- story is solid, but makes for a weird experience bc the entire game is the conclusion to a larger story. people picking up 3 without playing the others will absolutely be lost.
- camera can feel kinda gimmicky at times, but i never hate its implementation. its a neat addition and the only time it becomes cumbersome is if you pick up a lot of shit in a single level and need to figure out which of the million rectangles is the camera
- definitely feels like a prototype of a 007 game. in a wild coincidence, IO is working on a 007 project. considering any game in this trilogy would already be the best Bond game we've seen in years, i trust them to make something interesting out of it. the implementation of new gadgets, gameplay interactions, and heavier narrative elements in this entry were all done well and I expect that they'll knock the 007 project out of the park if they apply what they've learned with H6-8.
Its an okay game. The Others In the Re-make Trillogy Were Better. But Overall Its A fun Ending.
Rating this more as a trilogy overall, since you can get every map from the trilogy within the same game, and also just because that seems to somewhat unexpectedly be the intention here. While the maps of Hitman 1 and 2 stand alone on their own, Hitman 3’s maps feel very much like a third act, a focused and cohesive story told through the shifts they make to the formula. The narrative crafted through the level design is still top notch, as IOI continue to prove themselves unmatched in building out a sandbox that has its own narrative pulse and rhythm. While nothing here is quite as conceptually clever as Hokkaido gamifying the series’ own mechanics by literally turning disguises into keys, they make up for it by fully living and breathing within the concept of an untethered 47. In fact, not a single mission truly goes back to the fully standard premise and formula on the first playthrough, always shifting either the starting point, the loadout options, or the intel availability. On the one hand, this might hamper future replayability, as I ultimately think Hitman 2 has a slight edge on the map design in a vacuum overall. But on the other, 3 has some of the most well put together and striking first runs of the trilogy. Berlin especially stands out in this regard, as well as the last leg of Chongqing.
In my view, Agent 47 is one of the most compelling central characters in gaming, not despite but because of his almost silent blank slate protagonist status. While most silent protagonists exist as an empty player proxy, 47 has occupied a more interesting space, especially within the new trilogy, serving both as a puppet controlled and carted around by a variety of characters within the world of the game and the players themselves, as well as an in-world blank slate capable of sliding into the identity of others seamlessly. Over the course of the trilogy though, he gains more of a mind of his own, and more freedom from his controllers. Coinciding with this, a greater amount of narrative in each game after the first is placed into his hands through cinematics (and in 3, through the events of the levels themselves). Without getting into spoilers, all that can be said is that 3’s seeming conclusion is nothing if not satisfying for the character, tackling both his formation of a personal identity and free will along with the series’ overarching theme of overcoming control and the most wealthy and powerful individuals still being vulnerable to those underneath them.
Taken as a whole, the new Hitman series is more than the sum of its parts, 2 and 3 especially perfectly complimenting and providing everything the other lacks. Plus you can kill rich assholes with a fish so it’s an automatic perfect score.
In my view, Agent 47 is one of the most compelling central characters in gaming, not despite but because of his almost silent blank slate protagonist status. While most silent protagonists exist as an empty player proxy, 47 has occupied a more interesting space, especially within the new trilogy, serving both as a puppet controlled and carted around by a variety of characters within the world of the game and the players themselves, as well as an in-world blank slate capable of sliding into the identity of others seamlessly. Over the course of the trilogy though, he gains more of a mind of his own, and more freedom from his controllers. Coinciding with this, a greater amount of narrative in each game after the first is placed into his hands through cinematics (and in 3, through the events of the levels themselves). Without getting into spoilers, all that can be said is that 3’s seeming conclusion is nothing if not satisfying for the character, tackling both his formation of a personal identity and free will along with the series’ overarching theme of overcoming control and the most wealthy and powerful individuals still being vulnerable to those underneath them.
Taken as a whole, the new Hitman series is more than the sum of its parts, 2 and 3 especially perfectly complimenting and providing everything the other lacks. Plus you can kill rich assholes with a fish so it’s an automatic perfect score.
Lots of strange gimmicky levels, but because you can play all the old levels, these work for me.
Yeah, Hitman 3 is really good. I loved how the levels are more connected with the story this time around, bringing a more intimate feeling. They are also extremely different in how your approach your objetives and each location is very unique. This really felt like a dramatic conclusion in the series.
Level design is still great and what you would expect from IOI, it continues too push the boundaries of what can be done with systems and AI. They did a fantastic job with this trilogy and the 007 project couldn't be in better hands.
Level design is still great and what you would expect from IOI, it continues too push the boundaries of what can be done with systems and AI. They did a fantastic job with this trilogy and the 007 project couldn't be in better hands.
The same amazing level design from the first two, but with more creative twists on the formula. It does start to, worryingly, feel a little closer to absolution in the third mission, but the linear, story centric parts (all fantastic) are all in the beginning and end of each mission, and from your second playthrough on, the cinematic openings are skipped by default (though you can change back to original starting location if you wish) and more mission exit options are given, allowing you to bypass the linear endings.
As an individual game and conclusion to the trilogy it's absolutely fantastic, as an entire package with the entire "World of Assassination" trilogy and all previous DLC, it's easily one of the greatest games of all time, and I hope it will be treated and remembered as such into the future.
As an individual game and conclusion to the trilogy it's absolutely fantastic, as an entire package with the entire "World of Assassination" trilogy and all previous DLC, it's easily one of the greatest games of all time, and I hope it will be treated and remembered as such into the future.
What an incredible collection.
Awe inspiring level design, both to explore and look at, but I can't help but find the core to be a little too rigid for me to really sink my teeth into.
Every time I think I make a discovery, I'm rewarded by a Challenge Complete notification, exp, an achievement or something. It's normal as hell as far as games go, but The World of Assassination feels choreographed to absolute distraction, there's almost something deflating about how all of your devious machinations have been accounted for in advance, and often in the most boring way. Agent 47 is an intrepid explorer going through thoroughly charted ground. A complex system of screenplays that adorn every map, and any time you deviate from the strict and pre-defined script, the AI snaps in half.
There's a lot of fun to be had in replaying levels, finding an impressive amount of secrets, unlocking and levelling up to keep the reptile brain happy, but as far as Hitman goes - I'll keep returning to Contracts and Blood Money.
Every time I think I make a discovery, I'm rewarded by a Challenge Complete notification, exp, an achievement or something. It's normal as hell as far as games go, but The World of Assassination feels choreographed to absolute distraction, there's almost something deflating about how all of your devious machinations have been accounted for in advance, and often in the most boring way. Agent 47 is an intrepid explorer going through thoroughly charted ground. A complex system of screenplays that adorn every map, and any time you deviate from the strict and pre-defined script, the AI snaps in half.
There's a lot of fun to be had in replaying levels, finding an impressive amount of secrets, unlocking and levelling up to keep the reptile brain happy, but as far as Hitman goes - I'll keep returning to Contracts and Blood Money.
I don't know why they advertised this and Hitman 2 as new games and not new seasons, but whatever. Those expecting a different experience from 2016 and 2 are to be very disappointed.
LOVE the loop this game has. You enter a level and go "wow, this level looks cool." 10 minutes later you go "What the hell, this level is huge." 10 more mintutes later you go "What the hell, I can't keep track of all this. There's too much, this is overwhelming, I'll never be able to do this." Then on your 3rd playthrough of the level you know exactly where your target it going to go and you slip in perfectly to poison their wine. It's fantastic. I skipped the 2nd game, and played the hell out of the 1st game some years back so I don't know if the complaints of the game being "The same" are true or not. But I will say while there is a lot of the same ways to assassinate targets (choke, poison, drown, etc.) every level has it's own way to kill the target that works beautifully and uniquely with the level. When you combine that with the fact the locales of each mission are very different from the last, as well as the target's behaviors, pathing, security are all different too, each level may have the same rules but how you complete your goal is as repetitive or imaginative as your imagination. If you think the game is bland because you kill your targets the same way every time, I can confidently say that's a you problem, not a game problem.
I suppose the only fair way to review this game is to set aside the fact that it contains the entirety of Hitman 2, one of my favorite games of all time.
Stood on their own, the missions of Hitman 3 are simultaneously more and less ambitious than the previous two games. They take some big swings in trying to shake up the usual mission formula, and some of those swings pay off, as is the case with Berlin. Other ideas falter, though, and on the whole there is a slightly smaller scope to these levels, as evidenced by reduced numbers of disguises, areas, and challenges. IO is independent and publishing the game on their own for the first time in the trilogy, and I think that shows through in places.
It's still Hitman, and it's still a ton of fun. This is a worthy conclusion to a great trilogy, even if it doesn't quite reach the same heights as its predecessor.
Stood on their own, the missions of Hitman 3 are simultaneously more and less ambitious than the previous two games. They take some big swings in trying to shake up the usual mission formula, and some of those swings pay off, as is the case with Berlin. Other ideas falter, though, and on the whole there is a slightly smaller scope to these levels, as evidenced by reduced numbers of disguises, areas, and challenges. IO is independent and publishing the game on their own for the first time in the trilogy, and I think that shows through in places.
It's still Hitman, and it's still a ton of fun. This is a worthy conclusion to a great trilogy, even if it doesn't quite reach the same heights as its predecessor.
A lot of professional reviewers said that this Hitman has a great story, and I scoffed. Nothing about the last two Hitman narratives made sense. They were puzzle games, and they opened with a loose justification for murder. There was nothing wrong with those games, but it set a precedent of mediocre narrative that doesn't intrude on the gameplay. Hitman 3 is a parody of the last two games.
Doc Burford (@docsquiddy on Twitter) says game narrative must encourage the player to play the game to completion. Most games don't do that, and Hitmen 1 & 2 didn't do it but in reverse: the plot was incoherent, but the gameplay was so good it propelled itself. I wanted to get through every location and see every story kill because they were cool interactions. The grand narrative didn't matter to me, partly because it was obtuse and opaque with its acronyms and shadowy unnamed figures, and partly because the interactions within each mission didn't contribute to the progression of that grand narrative.
Hitman 3 forces the player into the plot. Over the first two-thirds of this trilogy you are Agent 47, and he is an apex predator and a casual observer. The story happens to Diana, and the Shadow Client, and the Constant, and all the unnamed goons in Providence. Agent 47 is a blunt weapon wielded by and against these actors. He doesn't know where he stands in this field of intrigue, but he doesn't need to because he's an assassin. All he needs to know is what he needs to do. Kill X, kill Y, then retrieve Z. Easy. In the conclusion, Agent 47 is forced out of his observer role. His life is directly attacked, which forces him to act in his own interest rather than in the interests of an anonymous political force. Halfway through Hitman 3 the rote assignments of 1 & 2 give way to something impactful. Mechanically it was all the same, but the myriad interactions between player, environment and AI were driving my need to finish the game. I needed to know how it would end, I needed to know how the politics would play out now that they were integral to 47's existence. I literally played the game twice--once to try the first mission at launch and again when I was in the mood to play the same Hitman I've been playing, and in that second session I binged the next five levels.
The best level of the six is Mendoza. Not because of its story kills or the wide leeway it gives the player to try things, but because this is the first time in the trilogy that I, as Agent 47, got to hear how I, in the service of a political game I had no real stake in, had fucked over and terrified so many powerful people in the world that my target knew I was inevitable, just a well-dressed angel of death who had already murdered his contemporaries and confidantes. So he hires an expert hitman of his own to watch for me, and I fuckin' bonked that guy with a brick and stole his clothes! Guess what bitch I am The Hitman! And there's nothing you can do to stop me from killing you and all these other robber baron misery dealers! Because guess what: you and your friends fucked up the good thing I had going, so you're gonna pay big. Mendoza isn't a puzzle the way every other level is, it's the denouement to Agent 47's story, and that's why it's worth playing.
Hitman 3 is an inversion of its prior games. It has a personal story, one that is integral to the missions and their objectives. Dubai opens as a thematic continuation of the previous games, but Hitman 3 subverts that quickly and tells the player, "nah actually, it won't be like before. It can't be like before." Dubai tricked me in a good way. It's like that mission in Destiny: The Taken King, where the Guardian steals a piece of Crota's soul, the mission end timer starts, but then it gets interrupted and the Guardian has to charge through a citadel of madness to escape. But instead of it happening briefly in one mission it is the whole game. Hitman 3 is the punchline to a long, confusing setup. And it's a fuckin' excellent punchline.
Doc Burford (@docsquiddy on Twitter) says game narrative must encourage the player to play the game to completion. Most games don't do that, and Hitmen 1 & 2 didn't do it but in reverse: the plot was incoherent, but the gameplay was so good it propelled itself. I wanted to get through every location and see every story kill because they were cool interactions. The grand narrative didn't matter to me, partly because it was obtuse and opaque with its acronyms and shadowy unnamed figures, and partly because the interactions within each mission didn't contribute to the progression of that grand narrative.
Hitman 3 forces the player into the plot. Over the first two-thirds of this trilogy you are Agent 47, and he is an apex predator and a casual observer. The story happens to Diana, and the Shadow Client, and the Constant, and all the unnamed goons in Providence. Agent 47 is a blunt weapon wielded by and against these actors. He doesn't know where he stands in this field of intrigue, but he doesn't need to because he's an assassin. All he needs to know is what he needs to do. Kill X, kill Y, then retrieve Z. Easy. In the conclusion, Agent 47 is forced out of his observer role. His life is directly attacked, which forces him to act in his own interest rather than in the interests of an anonymous political force. Halfway through Hitman 3 the rote assignments of 1 & 2 give way to something impactful. Mechanically it was all the same, but the myriad interactions between player, environment and AI were driving my need to finish the game. I needed to know how it would end, I needed to know how the politics would play out now that they were integral to 47's existence. I literally played the game twice--once to try the first mission at launch and again when I was in the mood to play the same Hitman I've been playing, and in that second session I binged the next five levels.
The best level of the six is Mendoza. Not because of its story kills or the wide leeway it gives the player to try things, but because this is the first time in the trilogy that I, as Agent 47, got to hear how I, in the service of a political game I had no real stake in, had fucked over and terrified so many powerful people in the world that my target knew I was inevitable, just a well-dressed angel of death who had already murdered his contemporaries and confidantes. So he hires an expert hitman of his own to watch for me, and I fuckin' bonked that guy with a brick and stole his clothes! Guess what bitch I am The Hitman! And there's nothing you can do to stop me from killing you and all these other robber baron misery dealers! Because guess what: you and your friends fucked up the good thing I had going, so you're gonna pay big. Mendoza isn't a puzzle the way every other level is, it's the denouement to Agent 47's story, and that's why it's worth playing.
Hitman 3 is an inversion of its prior games. It has a personal story, one that is integral to the missions and their objectives. Dubai opens as a thematic continuation of the previous games, but Hitman 3 subverts that quickly and tells the player, "nah actually, it won't be like before. It can't be like before." Dubai tricked me in a good way. It's like that mission in Destiny: The Taken King, where the Guardian steals a piece of Crota's soul, the mission end timer starts, but then it gets interrupted and the Guardian has to charge through a citadel of madness to escape. But instead of it happening briefly in one mission it is the whole game. Hitman 3 is the punchline to a long, confusing setup. And it's a fuckin' excellent punchline.
Hitman is a comedy game. A comedy sandbox that has so many options for you. It really is a true wealth of replayability. Hitman 3 finishes up the "story" if you even care about that (I don't!) and offers a graphics overhaul to make things a bit shinier.
The real reason for new hitman is for new maps. Here we have 6, or at least 5 traditional ones. All on par with the quality of Hitman 1 and 2. I don't quite feel like the average on 3 is any higher or more special that it's predecessors. There are levels here I love (Berlin, Mendoza) but nothing really WOWs me like Miami and Hokaido.
Still solid, and a franchise overall that needs more love.
Check out our book club style gaming podcast, Garbage Game Club on Hitman 3- https://open.spotify.com/episode/2GwEbRUcbjmtzjFc0AiCoz?si=7tJWxZpJQFWbxVmNbhC1MQ
The real reason for new hitman is for new maps. Here we have 6, or at least 5 traditional ones. All on par with the quality of Hitman 1 and 2. I don't quite feel like the average on 3 is any higher or more special that it's predecessors. There are levels here I love (Berlin, Mendoza) but nothing really WOWs me like Miami and Hokaido.
Still solid, and a franchise overall that needs more love.
Check out our book club style gaming podcast, Garbage Game Club on Hitman 3- https://open.spotify.com/episode/2GwEbRUcbjmtzjFc0AiCoz?si=7tJWxZpJQFWbxVmNbhC1MQ
This is more of the stuff I was looking for out of a sequel to HITMAN 2016 compared to HITMAN 2 which was still cool, but more of the same.
IOI really went creative with some of these levels for better and sometimes for worse. I think the best of these levels are Berlin where the design and the target premise really prop each other up well. When it comes to what doesn't work, for me it's when the story of hitman interrupts the actual game portion instead of remaining in its cutscene corner. It makes the experience feel a bit more scripted than usual instead of giving me more control over the levels.
Hopefully as the weeks go on, IOI will get their servers back under control and I'll never see "YOU HAVE BEEN DISCONNECTED" while playing through a mission again. Really the next time they do hitman they should drop the always online idea all together.
IOI really went creative with some of these levels for better and sometimes for worse. I think the best of these levels are Berlin where the design and the target premise really prop each other up well. When it comes to what doesn't work, for me it's when the story of hitman interrupts the actual game portion instead of remaining in its cutscene corner. It makes the experience feel a bit more scripted than usual instead of giving me more control over the levels.
Hopefully as the weeks go on, IOI will get their servers back under control and I'll never see "YOU HAVE BEEN DISCONNECTED" while playing through a mission again. Really the next time they do hitman they should drop the always online idea all together.
has the same gameplay as Hitman 2 and wraps up the "World of Assassination" trilogy in the perfect way it deserved to end.
I love these games, but I can't give it 5 stars only because of the price. $60 for Hitman 3, $100 for Hitman 2 + DLC, and $30 for Hitman 1. If you can get these at a discount (I paid $90, $60 for 3, $10 for 1, and $20 for 2,) I would recommend it in a heartbeat, but I can't recommend these games for $190, which is a shame, since I love these games so much, and it feels incomplete without all 3. I would wait for the inevitable Hitman trilogy pack before purchasing, or for Hitman 2's price to go down, but otherwise, these games offer some of the most fun and creative gameplay in recent memory.
Well, considering how much I love the first two games in this series, this is quite disappointing in how little content there is in it. After Hitman (2016) sold poorly, you could tell they made some budgetary compromises by almost entirely eliminating the in-game cinematic cutscenes in favor of making larger levels with more scope and a variety of options in how to take down targets.
It must’ve been a hard sacrifice to make for the people who were passionate about the story they were telling in these games, but honestly, the story in these games is not what people come to them for, it’s the wealth of approaches you can take to eliminating different targets. However, it seems they’ve taken the opposite approach in Hitman 3.
Considering how Hitman 2 sold worse than its predecessor, naturally they were going to have to make more compromises, but I wasn’t expecting them to make so many when it came to the actual amount of approaches you could take in each level. In Hitman 1 and 2 there could be anywhere between 6 and 10 mission stories that involved very specific disguises and methods of taking out the targets that made going back and replaying each level incredibly fun. In Hitman 3, the maximum amount of mission stories in each level were 3.
The only exceptions to this I could find in my playthrough were the Mendoza level which had a secret fourth one, and the Berlin level which didn’t have any at all with the exception of an incredibly secret method that I only found out about because there’s a trophy tied to it. This is incredibly frustrating because it felt like Hitman 3 moved away from what people (or at least I) loved about it and prioritized what barely anyone seemed to care about in the first place, which is the story. Don’t get me wrong, the story is fairly engaging overall, and going back to the cutscene style of the first game helped them add more dramatic context to the game to make us care about Agent 47 and his friends. That being said, if this is the supposed last game in this new trilogy (which I’m fairly certain it is given how tightly wrapped up the story is), wouldn’t you rather go out with a bang in terms of scope and level design?
There are definitely strong moments in each level, and what is there is great, I just wanted more of it. What pisses me off is that apparently this game is the best selling of this trilogy, and from what IOI is saying might be the best selling game in the franchise, and if this is the end, then where will all of that money end up? I know they’re working on a 007 project which I think could be very good, or maybe even some DLC off-the-record missions that take place in between the stories of each game. However, that dlc will probably cost way too much just like it did for Hitman 1 and 2, and that 007 project has potential but if 2020 taught me anything, it’s that you should wait for a general consensus on a game before buying it.
Overall, I do still like Hitman 3. Each level was really fun to explore and the final mission, while linear, is very satisfying and a great diversion of your expectations. But with the day one server issues and the overall terrible business practices that both Square Enix and WB games have permanently tied this franchise to, I’m worried about IOI, there future 007 project, and the future of there precious IP. Let’s hope that Bond game doesn’t follow in this series’ always online footsteps.
It must’ve been a hard sacrifice to make for the people who were passionate about the story they were telling in these games, but honestly, the story in these games is not what people come to them for, it’s the wealth of approaches you can take to eliminating different targets. However, it seems they’ve taken the opposite approach in Hitman 3.
Considering how Hitman 2 sold worse than its predecessor, naturally they were going to have to make more compromises, but I wasn’t expecting them to make so many when it came to the actual amount of approaches you could take in each level. In Hitman 1 and 2 there could be anywhere between 6 and 10 mission stories that involved very specific disguises and methods of taking out the targets that made going back and replaying each level incredibly fun. In Hitman 3, the maximum amount of mission stories in each level were 3.
The only exceptions to this I could find in my playthrough were the Mendoza level which had a secret fourth one, and the Berlin level which didn’t have any at all with the exception of an incredibly secret method that I only found out about because there’s a trophy tied to it. This is incredibly frustrating because it felt like Hitman 3 moved away from what people (or at least I) loved about it and prioritized what barely anyone seemed to care about in the first place, which is the story. Don’t get me wrong, the story is fairly engaging overall, and going back to the cutscene style of the first game helped them add more dramatic context to the game to make us care about Agent 47 and his friends. That being said, if this is the supposed last game in this new trilogy (which I’m fairly certain it is given how tightly wrapped up the story is), wouldn’t you rather go out with a bang in terms of scope and level design?
There are definitely strong moments in each level, and what is there is great, I just wanted more of it. What pisses me off is that apparently this game is the best selling of this trilogy, and from what IOI is saying might be the best selling game in the franchise, and if this is the end, then where will all of that money end up? I know they’re working on a 007 project which I think could be very good, or maybe even some DLC off-the-record missions that take place in between the stories of each game. However, that dlc will probably cost way too much just like it did for Hitman 1 and 2, and that 007 project has potential but if 2020 taught me anything, it’s that you should wait for a general consensus on a game before buying it.
Overall, I do still like Hitman 3. Each level was really fun to explore and the final mission, while linear, is very satisfying and a great diversion of your expectations. But with the day one server issues and the overall terrible business practices that both Square Enix and WB games have permanently tied this franchise to, I’m worried about IOI, there future 007 project, and the future of there precious IP. Let’s hope that Bond game doesn’t follow in this series’ always online footsteps.
there we go
The ultimate culmination of the Hitman franchise up until this point, in ever sense of the word. Trades away just a bit of the absolute freedom found in the first two entries in the trilogy in favor of a stronger focus on story, though that in turn allows for some unique new twists on the series' standard gameplay loop.
definitive stealth game with intricately designed levels and environments that not only feel real (at least when the AI isn't goofy) but feel amazing to plan through, manipulate, and control to get the perfect kill. or just run away and adapt if things go south. this game allows everyone to have their own personal way of completing the mission while also rewarding breaking out of your comfort zone and trying a different approach. with all the content of the previous two games and ioi's history of continued support, this is a game i see myself continuing to enjoy for a while.
This is easily the best stealth game I've ever played. It has an overwhelming amount of content with every access pack, with constant progression coming from all kinds of unlocks and challenges after you beat the initial levels. It controls like a dream and the amount of ways you can approach levels is only limited by your imagination, with it feeling insanely satisfying to pull off the kills you want to. Anyone who's played the first two entries of this trilogy knows how good they are, and now that all of the systems are expanded upon and refined to the best they can be and every level is contained within one game, this is the best of the best and should be a game that people can remember and revisit forever.
The reason I can't give this 5 stars though is because of their ass-backwards pointless always-online DRM and unlock system. Every system of progression in this game is tied directly to IOI's servers, meaning that if the servers are being wonky (which they VERY often are) or you have no internet then you can't see your scores on levels or unlock any new equipment or suits. The servers disconnect very commonly which leads to stupidly long loading times, automatically skipping story cutscenes in the middle of them, and frequent loss of progress. I genuinely have no idea what happened in the story of this game because the servers decided to skip all of the cutscenes. When you get down to it, these are all quality of life issues that I'm willing to excuse because of how perfect this game is otherwise, but it really does drag down the experience, and that's not even mentioning the worrying prospect of how the game's future will play out. Since these systems are so deeply ingrained in the game's framework, the game is built to sustain itself as long as the servers do, like an MMO. An amazing game like this deserves far better, and it's disappointing to see all of these huge stains on an amazing game just because IOI wants to protect their leaderboard scores from hackers.
The reason I can't give this 5 stars though is because of their ass-backwards pointless always-online DRM and unlock system. Every system of progression in this game is tied directly to IOI's servers, meaning that if the servers are being wonky (which they VERY often are) or you have no internet then you can't see your scores on levels or unlock any new equipment or suits. The servers disconnect very commonly which leads to stupidly long loading times, automatically skipping story cutscenes in the middle of them, and frequent loss of progress. I genuinely have no idea what happened in the story of this game because the servers decided to skip all of the cutscenes. When you get down to it, these are all quality of life issues that I'm willing to excuse because of how perfect this game is otherwise, but it really does drag down the experience, and that's not even mentioning the worrying prospect of how the game's future will play out. Since these systems are so deeply ingrained in the game's framework, the game is built to sustain itself as long as the servers do, like an MMO. An amazing game like this deserves far better, and it's disappointing to see all of these huge stains on an amazing game just because IOI wants to protect their leaderboard scores from hackers.
don't think i find the levels as fun as the first two but the standard in those is stupidly high so still a great game
allow me to be as clear as possible: you need to play Hitman 3. you also need to play the other two Hitman games in this new rebooted series first, but Hitman 3 is a game you cannot skip out on.
everything in my anxious and uncertain nature says that I shouldn't be a fan of Hitman, a game which hinges on being a smooth operator that disobeys orders from figures of authority while sneaking around areas he shouldn't be in, but this game is great. it has:
A. Rich People Murder (very ethical and based)
B. Cool Neon Lit Environments
C. Holy shit this story do be kinda cool doe
D. Agatha Christie Murder Mystery
E. 47 in drip
play this game, and if you haven't played the other two Hitman games in this newest trilogy, pick them up through Hitman 3, it's the best way to play them.
everything in my anxious and uncertain nature says that I shouldn't be a fan of Hitman, a game which hinges on being a smooth operator that disobeys orders from figures of authority while sneaking around areas he shouldn't be in, but this game is great. it has:
A. Rich People Murder (very ethical and based)
B. Cool Neon Lit Environments
C. Holy shit this story do be kinda cool doe
D. Agatha Christie Murder Mystery
E. 47 in drip
play this game, and if you haven't played the other two Hitman games in this newest trilogy, pick them up through Hitman 3, it's the best way to play them.
I think it was a mistake to focus more on the story in Hitman 3 than in the previous games. It's a fairly interesting story, but narrative is simply not what I play these games for and it gets in the way here. The first level is visually impressive but pretty lackluster mechanically and the final level is the worst level of the modern trilogy. Wrapping up the trilogy with a lackluster story-focused mission was a bummer for me. To me, the Hitman games are more of a puzzle game than anything else and they're better when you ignore the story. It does make me hopeful for the IOI James Bond game though.
Overall though, the lackluster levels are balanced out by some of my favorite levels in the trilogy and it's a fitting end for Agent 47.
Overall though, the lackluster levels are balanced out by some of my favorite levels in the trilogy and it's a fitting end for Agent 47.
Wow, they really did it. Hitman has been my second favorite franchise (next to Metal Gear) for a very long time now, and seeing the World of Assassination trilogy to its end has been a blast! Hitman 3 takes all the best elements from the last two games and mashes them into six great levels that feel like a remix on Hitman's greatest hits (no pun intended).
Core gameplay-wise nothing has changed much, it was already pretty perfect to begin with. The exception being the addition of the camera tool, used to hack into computers, vents and cyber-locked doors. I didn't quite get the point at first but as I explored through Chongqing's underground base I grew to love the silly James Bond-like ultrahacker ability.
While 4 of the 6 levels are standard Hitman fare (that's a compliment), two levels really stand out as a window into IOI's 007 game (I assume). The second level involves investigation of a Knives Out-style murder mystery that was engrossing and surprisingly effective as a Hitman level at the same time. I hope any DLC missions for H3 implement this mechanic somehow because it really was an absolute standout. Without spoiling anything, the final level of the game/series(?) takes inspiration from an unlikely place... Hitman: Absolution! I know, I know, it's the worst one but hear me out here. This final level incorporates mild stealth, adventure and thrills but within a slightly linear framework similar to Absolution's much-maligned "Hallway" levels. However, for the grand conclusion of the franchise and to Agent 47, it worked brilliantly for me and is the closest thing to a demo of the 007 game I think we will get.
The World of Assassination trilogy is stealth gaming's finest work not rhyming with "Shmetal Shmear", and a series that I hope will be influential on generations to come.
Core gameplay-wise nothing has changed much, it was already pretty perfect to begin with. The exception being the addition of the camera tool, used to hack into computers, vents and cyber-locked doors. I didn't quite get the point at first but as I explored through Chongqing's underground base I grew to love the silly James Bond-like ultrahacker ability.
While 4 of the 6 levels are standard Hitman fare (that's a compliment), two levels really stand out as a window into IOI's 007 game (I assume). The second level involves investigation of a Knives Out-style murder mystery that was engrossing and surprisingly effective as a Hitman level at the same time. I hope any DLC missions for H3 implement this mechanic somehow because it really was an absolute standout. Without spoiling anything, the final level of the game/series(?) takes inspiration from an unlikely place... Hitman: Absolution! I know, I know, it's the worst one but hear me out here. This final level incorporates mild stealth, adventure and thrills but within a slightly linear framework similar to Absolution's much-maligned "Hallway" levels. However, for the grand conclusion of the franchise and to Agent 47, it worked brilliantly for me and is the closest thing to a demo of the 007 game I think we will get.
The World of Assassination trilogy is stealth gaming's finest work not rhyming with "Shmetal Shmear", and a series that I hope will be influential on generations to come.
sorry but I was bored and started playing kingdom hearts final mix instead
Didn't care much for the story, but the gameplay is really great. Even though the formula gets repetitive, the core mechanics are solid enough that it remains fun till the end.
Worth mentioning that I've played all the Hitman games, and so there was some nostalgia associated with this too.
Worth mentioning that I've played all the Hitman games, and so there was some nostalgia associated with this too.
"It's good to be back."
Agent 47's journey continues in Hitman 3 the latest title in IO Interactive's illustrious stealth-action franchise. Following the events of Hitman 2, 47 joins former antagonist Lucas Grey in the hunt for the last remaining members of Providence, the elusive shadow organization that's plagued the agents of the ICA for the past few games. If you've played either of IO's recent Hitman titles, Hitman 3 will be like stepping back into the comfortable shoes of 47, as the gameplay, level design, and replayability are all comparable to its predecessors. With some new improvements to movement, better graphical fidelity, and IO's commitment to making this game an all-in-one package, Hitman 3 shines as the conclusion to 47's five-year journey through multiple publishers, and his even longer journey to widespread acclaim.
Narratively, Hitman 3 isn't anything to write home about. IO have attempted to weave an emotional core through their new trilogy to less than promising results; 47 isn't a character with goals or interesting motivations, he's a vessel for the player to experiment in the expertly designed sandboxes of each level. The conclusion to this story is as middling as the previous two titles' setup. The Constant is not as charismatic or threatening as IO makes him out to be, the conflict between 47 and the ICA has no impact whatsoever, and Diana Burnwood is - as always - a poor woman's M. Nevertheless, Hitman 3 persists, because a narrative isn't why these games are successful (though having a decent one would be a plus). No, the narrative merely provides context for the systems-driven, comically-infused stealth gameplay that has defined this series since the early 2000s.
Hitman 3's gameplay is the most refined of the new trilogy, giving 47 more fluidity of movement and access to more tools and gag items than ever before. It's not Metal Gear Solid levels of smoothness, but the sheer volume of interactivity with and problem-solving within the world is astronomical. Hitman 3 goes out of its way to throw the player in complex worlds with increasingly difficult directives. At first, the game treats missions like Hitman or Hitman 2, giving the player defined targets with dramatically ironic "story" assassinations tied to their deaths, but as The Constant chips away at 47's resources, the missions become less defined with more room for error and increasingly slippery targets. Hitman 3 doesn't exactly stick the landing in this regard, as the final level is a very linear kill order with little variety, but because of the trilogy's progression system and unlock tree, going back to the well of previous missions is not out of the question for any prospective player who feels the need to master the greater challenges that the game has to offer.
Personally, Hitman 2 was the peak of this soft-rebooted series, the locales and mission structures were dynamic with fun twists for each assassination (if played right). Hitman 3 stumbles here and there conceptually and narratively, but is still a worthy successor to the previous entries. And if - like me - you much prefer the last title, Hitman 3 comes packaged with Hitman and Hitman 2 provided you already own them, making Hitman 3 a hub for the definitive world of assassination. The next time I review this game will be for the PSVR run of all three games. In the meantime, happy hunting, agents.
3.5 out of 5.
Interesting to see IO reuse cutscenes from Hitman: Contracts for this one.
Agent 47's journey continues in Hitman 3 the latest title in IO Interactive's illustrious stealth-action franchise. Following the events of Hitman 2, 47 joins former antagonist Lucas Grey in the hunt for the last remaining members of Providence, the elusive shadow organization that's plagued the agents of the ICA for the past few games. If you've played either of IO's recent Hitman titles, Hitman 3 will be like stepping back into the comfortable shoes of 47, as the gameplay, level design, and replayability are all comparable to its predecessors. With some new improvements to movement, better graphical fidelity, and IO's commitment to making this game an all-in-one package, Hitman 3 shines as the conclusion to 47's five-year journey through multiple publishers, and his even longer journey to widespread acclaim.
Narratively, Hitman 3 isn't anything to write home about. IO have attempted to weave an emotional core through their new trilogy to less than promising results; 47 isn't a character with goals or interesting motivations, he's a vessel for the player to experiment in the expertly designed sandboxes of each level. The conclusion to this story is as middling as the previous two titles' setup. The Constant is not as charismatic or threatening as IO makes him out to be, the conflict between 47 and the ICA has no impact whatsoever, and Diana Burnwood is - as always - a poor woman's M. Nevertheless, Hitman 3 persists, because a narrative isn't why these games are successful (though having a decent one would be a plus). No, the narrative merely provides context for the systems-driven, comically-infused stealth gameplay that has defined this series since the early 2000s.
Hitman 3's gameplay is the most refined of the new trilogy, giving 47 more fluidity of movement and access to more tools and gag items than ever before. It's not Metal Gear Solid levels of smoothness, but the sheer volume of interactivity with and problem-solving within the world is astronomical. Hitman 3 goes out of its way to throw the player in complex worlds with increasingly difficult directives. At first, the game treats missions like Hitman or Hitman 2, giving the player defined targets with dramatically ironic "story" assassinations tied to their deaths, but as The Constant chips away at 47's resources, the missions become less defined with more room for error and increasingly slippery targets. Hitman 3 doesn't exactly stick the landing in this regard, as the final level is a very linear kill order with little variety, but because of the trilogy's progression system and unlock tree, going back to the well of previous missions is not out of the question for any prospective player who feels the need to master the greater challenges that the game has to offer.
Personally, Hitman 2 was the peak of this soft-rebooted series, the locales and mission structures were dynamic with fun twists for each assassination (if played right). Hitman 3 stumbles here and there conceptually and narratively, but is still a worthy successor to the previous entries. And if - like me - you much prefer the last title, Hitman 3 comes packaged with Hitman and Hitman 2 provided you already own them, making Hitman 3 a hub for the definitive world of assassination. The next time I review this game will be for the PSVR run of all three games. In the meantime, happy hunting, agents.
3.5 out of 5.
Interesting to see IO reuse cutscenes from Hitman: Contracts for this one.