Criminally underrated, often handwaved as a spinoff or as standalone DLC for Hitman 2, Contracts is very much a fully-fledged Hitman entry and should be treated as such. One that further tweaks the formula, getting even closer to achieving the ideal hitman experience, that of large open-ended levels with lots of options.

While Hitman 2: Silent Assassin had some killer opening levels the quality start to drop in the second half. Contracts, on the other hand, is a shorter game, but remains consistent all the way through with excellent levels on top of the extra polish done to the already good mechanics inherited from Hitman 2.

Like everyone says, Hitman Contracts plays like you remember Hitman 2 did.