Um bom jogo,o mais próximo do Blood Money.Uma pena que apenas metade das fases sejam originais,que é onde o jogo realmente brilha.
Definitely the eeriest Hitman, representative of 47's dying (but not really) mind. That TV introduction with the pistol demonstration scared the SHIT out of me back in 2004, and still makes me a bit uneasy today. Contracts does not relent with its grimdark setting; every mission is either set at night or in the rain, the targets are usually complete scumbags, and the opportunities for killing are pretty grisly.
é basicamente um remake das fases boas do primeiro hitman com outras fases meio mid, tb me deu 35 milhoes de problemas por jogar no pc
É uma espécie de Hitman 2.5, considerando que funciona como uma coletânea de flashbacks do Agente 47, o que acabou sendo meio que uma desculpa dos desenvolvedores pra fazer, além dos mapas originais, alguns remakes de fases do primeiro jogo da franquia. Logo de cara, as mecânicas foram bastante aprimoradas em relação ao Hitman 2 (os disfarces realmente funcionam agora), além da ambientação ser de longe a mais sombria da série, tendo até alguns segredos um pouco macabros escondidos em alguns dos mapas. No geral, foi o Hitman que mais gostei tirando os da nova trilogia; as missões são quase todas excelentes e a trilha sonora impecável, feita pelo Jesper Kyd, ajuda a criar uma atmosfera mais pesada muito bem vinda na franquia.
The very first Hitman game I've played. An improvement to the prequel as well as having its own dark monotone to the levels which I like.
Since it's easier to reach Silent Assassin rating in this compared to the previous games, it makes the game more enjoyable and functioning.
Since it's easier to reach Silent Assassin rating in this compared to the previous games, it makes the game more enjoyable and functioning.
When Warner Bros invested in IO Interactive in 2018, it was nothing short of a miracle. The episodic format of Hitman 2016, enforced by Square Enix, hurt game sales. IOI was on the verge of shutting down and numerous staff were let go. With the WB investment, the studio was saved. The success of Hitman 2 allowed IO to keep operating. When Warner cut ties in the following years, the studio was stable enough that they could release Hitman 3 on their own and collect the full profits. If it weren’t for those business deals, the huge scope of the Hitman trilogy would have sunk the IO ship.
When producing Hitman: Contracts for Eidos, the staff realized that the scope of their game couldn’t possibly meet their Eidos deadlines. So, they arranged a compromise. Contracts would be sort of a Hitman 2.5, remaking levels from Codename 47 into the new Hitman formula. This meant that part of the studio could be dedicated to reshape the direction of Contracts, while preparing for the next big entry.
Its hard to imagine any studio that has the ability to do… anything like that anymore. Game development has gotten so big and so ambitious, there’s no way to shift gears like that anymore. You have to stick with what you’ve made, it’s too expensive to change things up. The burden of smaller games on indies, all competing with each other to feed their own teams. I’m not saying I miss the good ol’ days of the 00s, god no. But ambition can be dangerous when its not tempered. Contracts could only be released in this specific era, when sequels were easier to make and every game wasn’t a complete company effort that could sink everyone if it didn’t go well. When media was allowed to grow an audience over time. Build a quiet little fanbase through word of mouth. Not sure how to get back to that.
In retrospect, Hitman 2 SA’s major flaw was level design. When I maneuvered through levels in invisible mode, I knew I was choosing not to engage with the game properly. But I was content to drift on through because it was more about capturing an atmosphere than anything else. Sometimes that’s what I need from my gaming vibes.
Instantly, Hitman Contracts doesn’t require me to go invisible to achieve my main goal. Vibes are immediate. Vibes are all-consuming. We’re swimming in delicious, delicious vibes.
Contracts begins in media res, with 47 recovering from a bloodshot wound in a hit gone wrong. He drifts in and out of consciousness, struggling to form coherent thoughts. The only thing 47 has to keep him company is memories. The world around him shifts and contorts from an empty hotel room into assassin jobs from his past. The door opens and 47 is thrust into the snowy tundra of another Russian hit job. Or some water drips from the ceiling and he remembers the pouring rain of Rotterdam. It’s a beautiful framing device to connect the different levels together. It’s oddly refreshing compared to the more interwoven narrative of modern games. It adds a dream-like quality to the entire game. I almost wish the levels placed an anachronistic hotel room in each level, just to add another dash of the surreal.
Accompanying the dream-like narrative is the visual design. Most of the levels are centered in the darkness of night. Neon signs wash over the streets, letting these bright colors reflect off 47’s bald cranium, lighting up the darkness. While Silent Assassin could be sparse and empty, there’s delightful detail in all the corners of the maps. I’m more inclined to explore all the different rooms. There’s so much care built into the world. Subtle details that add so much character. In the British manor, two guards appear to be watching porn together, sitting stoically in their chairs. In the seedy strip club, many of the bikers ignore the various sexual shenanigans around them to focus on the ongoing soccer match. It might not even be an intentional distinction, but that nuance is so especially funny a comparison to write for your levels. The whole game is grimy and gritty in such a satisfying fashion. When the game lets the light in, it’s always used to provide a new striking image. Drown a target in his shimmering pool or escape the white void of the experimental facility. The darkness might wear thin for some, but it helps set Contracts apart from the pack. Silent Assassin is a spy thriller. Blood Money is a stylish cel-shaded adventure. The modern games, Absolution included, delight in clashing its realistic design with its cartoonish undercurrent. Contracts is a neo-noir dreamscape and its all the better for it.
Building on all of that is just how much more refined the gameplay is. Even with the game’s overhaul, you can really tell how the team understood what did and didn’t work about Hitman 2 and how to move forward. Running doesn’t alert guards as frequently. Knocking out guards and stealing disguises is quicker and easier than before. And the variety of murder is so well-considered. Smuggle a gun in a target’s chicken order. Sneak upstairs and smother with a pillow, while he son dies via poison whiskey. There’s variety, there’s puzzle work, there’s challenge, there’s fun. It’s a delightful package.
In my youth, I skipped past this game very quickly to move onto Blood Money. I’m glad I returned to it with new eyes. Silent Assassin may be the start of what Hitman could be and Blood Money might be the magnum opus but Contracts? Contracts is something special. Its growing into what the franchise should be, while still distinct as its own thing. An incredible effort from an incredible team.
When producing Hitman: Contracts for Eidos, the staff realized that the scope of their game couldn’t possibly meet their Eidos deadlines. So, they arranged a compromise. Contracts would be sort of a Hitman 2.5, remaking levels from Codename 47 into the new Hitman formula. This meant that part of the studio could be dedicated to reshape the direction of Contracts, while preparing for the next big entry.
Its hard to imagine any studio that has the ability to do… anything like that anymore. Game development has gotten so big and so ambitious, there’s no way to shift gears like that anymore. You have to stick with what you’ve made, it’s too expensive to change things up. The burden of smaller games on indies, all competing with each other to feed their own teams. I’m not saying I miss the good ol’ days of the 00s, god no. But ambition can be dangerous when its not tempered. Contracts could only be released in this specific era, when sequels were easier to make and every game wasn’t a complete company effort that could sink everyone if it didn’t go well. When media was allowed to grow an audience over time. Build a quiet little fanbase through word of mouth. Not sure how to get back to that.
In retrospect, Hitman 2 SA’s major flaw was level design. When I maneuvered through levels in invisible mode, I knew I was choosing not to engage with the game properly. But I was content to drift on through because it was more about capturing an atmosphere than anything else. Sometimes that’s what I need from my gaming vibes.
Instantly, Hitman Contracts doesn’t require me to go invisible to achieve my main goal. Vibes are immediate. Vibes are all-consuming. We’re swimming in delicious, delicious vibes.
Contracts begins in media res, with 47 recovering from a bloodshot wound in a hit gone wrong. He drifts in and out of consciousness, struggling to form coherent thoughts. The only thing 47 has to keep him company is memories. The world around him shifts and contorts from an empty hotel room into assassin jobs from his past. The door opens and 47 is thrust into the snowy tundra of another Russian hit job. Or some water drips from the ceiling and he remembers the pouring rain of Rotterdam. It’s a beautiful framing device to connect the different levels together. It’s oddly refreshing compared to the more interwoven narrative of modern games. It adds a dream-like quality to the entire game. I almost wish the levels placed an anachronistic hotel room in each level, just to add another dash of the surreal.
Accompanying the dream-like narrative is the visual design. Most of the levels are centered in the darkness of night. Neon signs wash over the streets, letting these bright colors reflect off 47’s bald cranium, lighting up the darkness. While Silent Assassin could be sparse and empty, there’s delightful detail in all the corners of the maps. I’m more inclined to explore all the different rooms. There’s so much care built into the world. Subtle details that add so much character. In the British manor, two guards appear to be watching porn together, sitting stoically in their chairs. In the seedy strip club, many of the bikers ignore the various sexual shenanigans around them to focus on the ongoing soccer match. It might not even be an intentional distinction, but that nuance is so especially funny a comparison to write for your levels. The whole game is grimy and gritty in such a satisfying fashion. When the game lets the light in, it’s always used to provide a new striking image. Drown a target in his shimmering pool or escape the white void of the experimental facility. The darkness might wear thin for some, but it helps set Contracts apart from the pack. Silent Assassin is a spy thriller. Blood Money is a stylish cel-shaded adventure. The modern games, Absolution included, delight in clashing its realistic design with its cartoonish undercurrent. Contracts is a neo-noir dreamscape and its all the better for it.
Building on all of that is just how much more refined the gameplay is. Even with the game’s overhaul, you can really tell how the team understood what did and didn’t work about Hitman 2 and how to move forward. Running doesn’t alert guards as frequently. Knocking out guards and stealing disguises is quicker and easier than before. And the variety of murder is so well-considered. Smuggle a gun in a target’s chicken order. Sneak upstairs and smother with a pillow, while he son dies via poison whiskey. There’s variety, there’s puzzle work, there’s challenge, there’s fun. It’s a delightful package.
In my youth, I skipped past this game very quickly to move onto Blood Money. I’m glad I returned to it with new eyes. Silent Assassin may be the start of what Hitman could be and Blood Money might be the magnum opus but Contracts? Contracts is something special. Its growing into what the franchise should be, while still distinct as its own thing. An incredible effort from an incredible team.
ok the series is starting to get decent
My favourite OG Hitman game ever!
it rains a lot in this game
Um jogo que evolui tudo do seu predecessor, seja em gráficos ou em Gameplay, agora com um jogo mais bonito, um HUD mais limpo e organizado e um Gameplay mais diversificado.
Usamos agora a seringa para sedar, nos fazendo ter um Gameplay mais dinâmico e rápido do que o antigo sedativo com o paninho, o Agente 47 está mais rápido para se movimentar e as fases numa dificuldade que mesmo no profissional, são super acessíveis.
O jogo tem suas maiores críticas devido ao seu tamanho ser de apenas 12 fases, sendo em torno de 6 delas Remake do primeiro jogo, trazendo fases muito semelhantes por quase todas se passarem em noites chuvosas.
Apesar dessa falta de originalidade nas fases, a diversidade do Gameplay está lá, podendo concluir a fase de diversas maneiras, mas com um enredo fraquíssimo apenas para justificar as fases antigas sendo reprisadas pelo 47.
Um jogo que evolui o Gameplay e os Gráficos do Hitman 2, mas que é mais um experimento da desenvolvedora para evoluir esses aspectos em cenários que não os façam ter que gastar toda sua criatividade, ele é apenas um rascunho para o seu sucessor Blood Money, mas que ainda está bem atual em seu Gameplay, vale a pena a diversão.
Nota Final 7/10
Usamos agora a seringa para sedar, nos fazendo ter um Gameplay mais dinâmico e rápido do que o antigo sedativo com o paninho, o Agente 47 está mais rápido para se movimentar e as fases numa dificuldade que mesmo no profissional, são super acessíveis.
O jogo tem suas maiores críticas devido ao seu tamanho ser de apenas 12 fases, sendo em torno de 6 delas Remake do primeiro jogo, trazendo fases muito semelhantes por quase todas se passarem em noites chuvosas.
Apesar dessa falta de originalidade nas fases, a diversidade do Gameplay está lá, podendo concluir a fase de diversas maneiras, mas com um enredo fraquíssimo apenas para justificar as fases antigas sendo reprisadas pelo 47.
Um jogo que evolui o Gameplay e os Gráficos do Hitman 2, mas que é mais um experimento da desenvolvedora para evoluir esses aspectos em cenários que não os façam ter que gastar toda sua criatividade, ele é apenas um rascunho para o seu sucessor Blood Money, mas que ainda está bem atual em seu Gameplay, vale a pena a diversão.
Nota Final 7/10
incredible atmosphere and presentation. mechanically tight as well. unfortunately the missions are fairly hit or miss
there's highlights (asylum, meat king, manor, hotel, finale) but then there's stages that consist primarily of empty space, following guards and walking long distances. not to mention the four hong kong levels for whatever reason? most of which are mindlessly easy to sa rank with a sniper rifle?? why???
7/10 too much china
there's highlights (asylum, meat king, manor, hotel, finale) but then there's stages that consist primarily of empty space, following guards and walking long distances. not to mention the four hong kong levels for whatever reason? most of which are mindlessly easy to sa rank with a sniper rifle?? why???
7/10 too much china
nice to revisit some levels from the first game
I can sing the same praises I sung for Hitman 2: Silent Assassin to this game. It's a bit on the short-side compared to Silent Assassin, but whatever IS present is very solid. With a good portion of the levels being remakes of Codename 47, this feels like a bit of a side project to go back and correct whatever they could of the first game. There's some solid quality of life stuff like the sleeker inventory, being able to run without alerting everyone, sneaking up to people not being impossible, hints, etc etc. Really fun game that improved on the systems of the first and paves the way to Blood Money.
Something that sticks out to me about this game even today is the tone. For many of the levels, Jespery Kyd's soundtrack provides an excellently eerie, filthy tone to the game. Many of the later Hong Kong levels are dark and dingy, it really feels like you're doing dirty work. Part of me wishes they looked back at this game when drafting the tone for the modern 2016 entry,
Something that sticks out to me about this game even today is the tone. For many of the levels, Jespery Kyd's soundtrack provides an excellently eerie, filthy tone to the game. Many of the later Hong Kong levels are dark and dingy, it really feels like you're doing dirty work. Part of me wishes they looked back at this game when drafting the tone for the modern 2016 entry,
Silent Assassin, but better. Everything is improved mechanics wise, and remade levels from the first one are a great touch for someone like me who will never go back and play that one. The story and atmosphere are the darkest in the series, and for me the best as well for the simplicity. The high point of this series when released, but it could still get better. And it did.
This game is actually really scary
Alright, the third hitman game throughout the franchise and all I can say is it was a blast. Although at first when I started the game I thought this one's gonna be baaad. Mainly because when I started the first mission Asylum Aftermath it had a weird graphical bug which was not enjoyable to look at all. Then it had a weird FPS bug, where i needed an extra app to limit my frames because couldn't walk properly. Made a guide on it.
The second mission I don't know if it had a bug or what happened but it kept blowing my cover randomly throughout the whole mission. Even if I was doing abosuletely nothing which was kind of frusturating.
The controls didn't differ from the Hitman 2 Silent Assassin that much. Barely anything differed. Tho' The level designs seemed sleecker which was nice.
First half of the hitman: contracts were new levels to explore, it was refreshing. And the next part of the game just had the levels Hitman: Codename 47, yes they are remastered, reworked, and there were a lot new things to do, but I knew the main point of the mission already and knew what I was doing.
I wouldn't say it's better than hitman 2 silent assassin, but it's surely better than the original game.
Hitman: Contracts 7.5/10
The second mission I don't know if it had a bug or what happened but it kept blowing my cover randomly throughout the whole mission. Even if I was doing abosuletely nothing which was kind of frusturating.
The controls didn't differ from the Hitman 2 Silent Assassin that much. Barely anything differed. Tho' The level designs seemed sleecker which was nice.
First half of the hitman: contracts were new levels to explore, it was refreshing. And the next part of the game just had the levels Hitman: Codename 47, yes they are remastered, reworked, and there were a lot new things to do, but I knew the main point of the mission already and knew what I was doing.
I wouldn't say it's better than hitman 2 silent assassin, but it's surely better than the original game.
Hitman: Contracts 7.5/10
There's something really sad about seeing 47 have his life flash before his eyes as he lays mortally wounded, alone in an unceremonious small apartment in France. Truly a horrifying fate and a devastating place to die. But what truly catches my eye is that instead of what you'd normally expect to see in 'near death vision' sequences, like fun family moments or your most cherished memories with loved ones... all 47 ever sees are... his past contracts. It really drives home how tragic 47's life actually is, when all it really ends up being is a series of cold-blooded missions where he takes the life of another. The subtle touch of every of these missions taking place in at night adds to that theme, showing that the light in 47's life is gradually fading out as he clings on to these flimsy memories, the only ones he really cherishes as he struggles to fight for survival. And the game's cutscenes do a stellar job portraying this hallucinogenic ride through 47's mind with great sensible transitions that keep the player second-guessing reality and memory.
Thematic genius aside, the game is great. General movement has been improved greatly, with the optimisations to run/sneak enabling not just easier kills/subduing, but also allowing players to quickly pull up the map on L1 (on a game where map observation is crucial, this is a GODSEND). Most of the levels, including the remastered ones, are all in my opinion much better than most of Silent Assassin's missions, with Beldingford Manor, The Meat King's Party and surprisingly Deadly Cargo (who would've thought) being obvious standouts with its atmosphere, tension and abundancy of methods in which you can beat these levels. Definitely more consistent, too, with each level requiring you to get a kill rather than having filler levels that demand you to simply get to the end of a level, thus removing potential deadweight that would've dragged the game down like Hidden Valley did in its predecessor.
My main issue with the game, however, comes in its pacing. The locations for 2/3rds of the game are varied enough, from a military base to a slaughterhouse to a grand hotel... and then you get 4 missions in Hong Kong. Back to back. This, alongside the main plot indicating that 47 is gradually returning to his senses, absolutely crushes the steady, tense pace of the overall experience that had been gradually built up from the opening cutscene. This is also worsened by the fact that there is no in-reality transitions between these Hong Kong levels to break them apart somehow, making these otherwise great levels a chore to beat.
But for what it is, Hitman 2.5 does its job and is IMO better than Silent Assassin.
Thematic genius aside, the game is great. General movement has been improved greatly, with the optimisations to run/sneak enabling not just easier kills/subduing, but also allowing players to quickly pull up the map on L1 (on a game where map observation is crucial, this is a GODSEND). Most of the levels, including the remastered ones, are all in my opinion much better than most of Silent Assassin's missions, with Beldingford Manor, The Meat King's Party and surprisingly Deadly Cargo (who would've thought) being obvious standouts with its atmosphere, tension and abundancy of methods in which you can beat these levels. Definitely more consistent, too, with each level requiring you to get a kill rather than having filler levels that demand you to simply get to the end of a level, thus removing potential deadweight that would've dragged the game down like Hidden Valley did in its predecessor.
My main issue with the game, however, comes in its pacing. The locations for 2/3rds of the game are varied enough, from a military base to a slaughterhouse to a grand hotel... and then you get 4 missions in Hong Kong. Back to back. This, alongside the main plot indicating that 47 is gradually returning to his senses, absolutely crushes the steady, tense pace of the overall experience that had been gradually built up from the opening cutscene. This is also worsened by the fact that there is no in-reality transitions between these Hong Kong levels to break them apart somehow, making these otherwise great levels a chore to beat.
But for what it is, Hitman 2.5 does its job and is IMO better than Silent Assassin.
7/10
not as bad as i thought it would be given this is generally considered one of the worst hitman but idk just kinda on the level of absolution
fuck this game
Hitman 2.5
En cuanto a jugabilidad ha mejorado un poco, sobre todo en cuanto a los disfraces, el diseño del mapa me gusta mucho y la forma en la que están diseñadas las señales del mismo.
En cuanto a historia nisiquiera vale la pena hablar de ello, solo son misiones del primer juego rehechas y la historia de por medio es muy simple.
En cuanto a jugabilidad ha mejorado un poco, sobre todo en cuanto a los disfraces, el diseño del mapa me gusta mucho y la forma en la que están diseñadas las señales del mismo.
En cuanto a historia nisiquiera vale la pena hablar de ello, solo son misiones del primer juego rehechas y la historia de por medio es muy simple.
An excellent stealth game which also feels like a puzzle game as you sort of sleuth out solutions out of its levels. The levels are moody and maze like, with some being great and others being a little too straight forward. Yet still maintains a nice and consistent feel and the gameplay is rock solid.
I knew before I played Contracts that it had a lot of missions in it that were from the original game, Codename 47. So, I naturally presumed that this game was a remake, and it was going to retell the first's game story, but hopefully better. Also, I thought that the game would end explaining or setting up the events for Hitman 2, but I'm going to spoil that and tell you it doesn't. After watching the credits roll, I was left feeling very confused and I came to the conclusion that this game's story is a mess!
The opening cut scene of the game shows 47 having been shot and collapsing into a hotel room and it then goes into a flashback. These flashbacks are the playable missions throughout the game. So, it goes like this, you play though 47's flashbacks and once the mission is completed than you're shown a cutscence of what's happening to 47 in the present day. Well, you'd think these flashbacks would help fill in part of the mystery and that they would lead into the answer on what happened to 47, but they don't at all. None of the missions are ever connected to one another and aren't connected to the story in anyway. You're never shown what actually happened to 47. At the end of the game, you're told that while on a mission someone got the drop on him, but you don't even get the satisfaction of playing through a mission that shows the actual event. It just feels incredibly lazy! In the very first mission you start off in the asylum which is the final level in Hitman: Codename 47 and if you didn't play the original you won't even know how he got there or why. So much of this game is never explained and a lot of times just doesn't make sense.
It doesn't help either that there are now no briefings in between missions. You can pause the game and it will show you a list of objectives which are told to you by Diana Burnwood. However, there are no videos, no photos, or overlay of the level's map to assist you on your missions. The cutscenes that lead into the next mission gives you a clue on the location, but the targets themselves are never mentioned in these scenes and because they aren't tied into the story at all, the targets themselves just feel insignificant.
Out of the first three Hitman titles, Contracts has a much more dark and grim tone than the previous two. I know some fans like the atmosphere and tone in this game, but I couldn't disagree more on that. I don't hate it per say, I just find it a little over the top and somewhat try-hard. The mission The Meat King is a perfect example of this and the whole level gives off this vibe of "Hey look at how kewl our level is guys with all this unnecessary blood everywhere, gimp suits and ball gags, kewl right?!". I know it takes place in a meat factory, but how it's designed to be so edgy seems like it's written straight out of someone's bad fanfiction. It wouldn't have been bad if was just a few levels that were like this, but the game as a whole just takes itself way too seriously.
The gameplay in Contracts feels very similar to that of Hitman 2, but with some refinement. I say that because I was able to actually play the game without having to cheat which is the first out of the original 3 that I've played so far. A huge part of that is because unlike Silent Assassin, the disguises actually work the way they are supposed to in this game. I could now walk around the levels as long as I didn't stay too close or run around enemy NPCs. Another nice improvement was the inventory system which actually paused the game to let you cycle through items and weapons which made it a lot less stressful because you didn't have to worry about getting caught or dying. Sadly, the map is still the same as the second game where it doesn't pause while checking for points of interest or exits, so make sure you're not around enemies when checking it.
Saves work the same way in Contracts as the previous game, which is seven for normal, three for expert, and zero for professional. Crouching still feels very sluggish in this game and it feels like it takes forever to get anywhere while moving which you'll have to do to get to certain enemies to targets. Don't even bother walking up behind an NPC or enemy because they'll automatically shoot you or call the guards so crawling is pretty much your only option. Another thing I didn't like in this game is that once you knocked out an enemy or civilian, they'd regain consciousness after a short while and then they'd go inform the guards thus blowing your cover. Some of the levels did provide you with ways to keep that from happening like closing trailer doors on a truck while they were knocked out inside or hiding them in the sewers because apparently, they can't use ladders. Most levels don't provide you with any way to hide the NPCs though, so you're left with no other option than to use another disguise or hope the guards don't notice you, but good luck with that.
Some of the levels are straightforward and others have more variety in the ways you can accomplish your objectives. In Contracts, the devs added a few more items for the player to use like laxatives or being able to hide a weapon in a turkey adding a little bit more creativity depending on the mission. While I'm glad they cut the levels from Columbia that were in the original game, I don't really get why they felt the need to keep all four levels from China. They really should have re-written it and condensed it into one or two missions.
Overall:
After finishing Hitman: Contracts I've realized there are some of elements in this game that just don't flow together. It feels like the developers couldn't decide if the game was a remake of Codename 47 or a standalone title. It's like some weird hybrid and if I'm being perfectly honest, I'm not really sure what they are going for in either tone or story. Even though I like this game and I'll probably replay it sometime in the future, I think it's a step back from Silent Assassin.
Pros:
+ unlockable weapons
+ decent voice acting
+ inventory system has been improved
+ game has more variety in eliminating targets on certain levels
Cons:
-Convoluted story
-too serious in tone and atmosphere
-enemies wake up after a while after being knocked out
-too many levels in China
The opening cut scene of the game shows 47 having been shot and collapsing into a hotel room and it then goes into a flashback. These flashbacks are the playable missions throughout the game. So, it goes like this, you play though 47's flashbacks and once the mission is completed than you're shown a cutscence of what's happening to 47 in the present day. Well, you'd think these flashbacks would help fill in part of the mystery and that they would lead into the answer on what happened to 47, but they don't at all. None of the missions are ever connected to one another and aren't connected to the story in anyway. You're never shown what actually happened to 47. At the end of the game, you're told that while on a mission someone got the drop on him, but you don't even get the satisfaction of playing through a mission that shows the actual event. It just feels incredibly lazy! In the very first mission you start off in the asylum which is the final level in Hitman: Codename 47 and if you didn't play the original you won't even know how he got there or why. So much of this game is never explained and a lot of times just doesn't make sense.
It doesn't help either that there are now no briefings in between missions. You can pause the game and it will show you a list of objectives which are told to you by Diana Burnwood. However, there are no videos, no photos, or overlay of the level's map to assist you on your missions. The cutscenes that lead into the next mission gives you a clue on the location, but the targets themselves are never mentioned in these scenes and because they aren't tied into the story at all, the targets themselves just feel insignificant.
Out of the first three Hitman titles, Contracts has a much more dark and grim tone than the previous two. I know some fans like the atmosphere and tone in this game, but I couldn't disagree more on that. I don't hate it per say, I just find it a little over the top and somewhat try-hard. The mission The Meat King is a perfect example of this and the whole level gives off this vibe of "Hey look at how kewl our level is guys with all this unnecessary blood everywhere, gimp suits and ball gags, kewl right?!". I know it takes place in a meat factory, but how it's designed to be so edgy seems like it's written straight out of someone's bad fanfiction. It wouldn't have been bad if was just a few levels that were like this, but the game as a whole just takes itself way too seriously.
The gameplay in Contracts feels very similar to that of Hitman 2, but with some refinement. I say that because I was able to actually play the game without having to cheat which is the first out of the original 3 that I've played so far. A huge part of that is because unlike Silent Assassin, the disguises actually work the way they are supposed to in this game. I could now walk around the levels as long as I didn't stay too close or run around enemy NPCs. Another nice improvement was the inventory system which actually paused the game to let you cycle through items and weapons which made it a lot less stressful because you didn't have to worry about getting caught or dying. Sadly, the map is still the same as the second game where it doesn't pause while checking for points of interest or exits, so make sure you're not around enemies when checking it.
Saves work the same way in Contracts as the previous game, which is seven for normal, three for expert, and zero for professional. Crouching still feels very sluggish in this game and it feels like it takes forever to get anywhere while moving which you'll have to do to get to certain enemies to targets. Don't even bother walking up behind an NPC or enemy because they'll automatically shoot you or call the guards so crawling is pretty much your only option. Another thing I didn't like in this game is that once you knocked out an enemy or civilian, they'd regain consciousness after a short while and then they'd go inform the guards thus blowing your cover. Some of the levels did provide you with ways to keep that from happening like closing trailer doors on a truck while they were knocked out inside or hiding them in the sewers because apparently, they can't use ladders. Most levels don't provide you with any way to hide the NPCs though, so you're left with no other option than to use another disguise or hope the guards don't notice you, but good luck with that.
Some of the levels are straightforward and others have more variety in the ways you can accomplish your objectives. In Contracts, the devs added a few more items for the player to use like laxatives or being able to hide a weapon in a turkey adding a little bit more creativity depending on the mission. While I'm glad they cut the levels from Columbia that were in the original game, I don't really get why they felt the need to keep all four levels from China. They really should have re-written it and condensed it into one or two missions.
Overall:
After finishing Hitman: Contracts I've realized there are some of elements in this game that just don't flow together. It feels like the developers couldn't decide if the game was a remake of Codename 47 or a standalone title. It's like some weird hybrid and if I'm being perfectly honest, I'm not really sure what they are going for in either tone or story. Even though I like this game and I'll probably replay it sometime in the future, I think it's a step back from Silent Assassin.
Pros:
+ unlockable weapons
+ decent voice acting
+ inventory system has been improved
+ game has more variety in eliminating targets on certain levels
Cons:
-Convoluted story
-too serious in tone and atmosphere
-enemies wake up after a while after being knocked out
-too many levels in China
i like this one more than blood money
sue me. or hire an assassin.
sue me. or hire an assassin.
Love euro jank
Love the game.
nice to meat you :DDDDDD
Decent, altough he has "enhanced" versions of "Hitman Codename 47", which gets out the sensation of a new challenge that you have to figure out how to pass, but, yet, I reccomend you to play it, this game has parts that are important to understand what happened in the games before and later.
hitman contracts is an oddball entry in the franchise, it comes right after the sleeper hit that was silent assassin and before the perfection that is blood money. despite this, it is probably my favorite entry in the series. its got the atmosphere and tone of the aforementioned blood money but with a slightly refined but still jank version of hitman 2's gameplay.
its similarities to its successor are pretty noteworthy, because contracts originally was blood money! in fact, the las vegas missions of the sequel were touted as being for this game.
its similarities to its successor are pretty noteworthy, because contracts originally was blood money! in fact, the las vegas missions of the sequel were touted as being for this game.
I loved this game back when I first played it. The atmosphere, and soundtrack really made the game for me, I want to revisit this game soon.