The new compilation season disc of Hitman proves that the spy game is not just replayable, but also as good as you last left it
Hitman is just one of those games that you keep playing over and over again, tweaking and trying out new things, because there is so much to do and so many paths to follow. With the new compilation season disc out, we thought it would be a good idea to review the entire game instead of being restricted to one single episode.
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Back in March, when Hitman got rebooted, we were welcomed with a brief interactive tutorial and the entertaining Paris episode of the game. At the time and even now, you get the feeling of a super spy like James Bond. However, you would be hard pressed to find a decent narrative linking all the episodes. It is a major flaw to not have a real story, but the variety of options to replay the same level again makes up for the missing plot. Not to mention, each and every location is beautifully crafted and you actually feel the thought and research that was put into designing them.
This time around, they have provided more than one way to eliminate your mark; while you can use your imagination, there are hints called ‘opportunities’ that present itself. Pursing these ‘opportunities’ lets you take down the mark in a step-by-step manner. It is a great addition that lets new players enjoy the game. You can, of course, turn these off and go all hardcore.
Beyond the Paris missions, the playground size seems to grow quite a bit. They are certainly bigger than any previous version of Hitman. In fact, the second episode, Sapienza, delivers a mammoth multi-level map, where you have to take out two targets and destroy a virus in a bunker under the main villa. The episode also invites multiple playthroughs and is one of the best levels that the game has to offer. The Bangkok and Hokkaido episode are also brilliant. The leftover levels, Marrakech and Colorado, aren’t as sophisticated as the others, but they are still enjoyable.
However, some problems persist. The lack of new faces and the fact that there are too many bald people in the game, being one. The second is that all the voice-overs are in the American accent and in places like Bangkok and Marrakesh that doesn’t sit well. But, these factors are not deal breakers. The lack of a single storyline connecting all the episodes is also unfortunate, but I guess it is the price you pay for having variety.
With every episode, we felt that we ended up spending at least five to six hours just exploring and replaying, which makes this game a cool 30 hours of entertainment. That’s not bad for the below average asking price. The multiplayer is also interesting. There are hits that need to be completed within existing levels — the instructions for which you regularly get on email. You can also create these hits for other players. It definitely increases the overall replayability of the game.
Hitman : The Complete First Season
Rating: 4/5
Developer: Io-Interactive
Publisher: Square Enix
Platform: PC, PS4, XBOX
Price: PC: R1,999;
Consoles: R3,499
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