Fearless, deadly, and unstoppable! After several years of absence, one of the most famous killers returns to the scene: the "Original Assassin," also known as Agent 47. Betrayed by those he trusted and hunted by the police, you find yourself in the middle of a conspiracy in "Hitman: Absolution," searching for the truth in a thoroughly corrupt world. Will Agent 47 live up to his reputation, or will he be nothing more than a bumbling wannabe killer?
The opening minutes of "Hitman: Absolution" hint at what awaits you in the hours to come. A dark atmosphere, almost creating a depressive mood, yet intriguing enough to draw you in. Your first mission takes you to Chicago. Your former informant, Diana Burnwood, has betrayed the Agency and its Codex, blocking all communication channels and exposing all its agents. Burnwood used the chaos to go into hiding, but now that the Agency has reorganized, Agent 47's mission is to track her down and eliminate her. Leaving her alive poses too great a risk to the Agency. In Diana's dying breath, you receive previously incomprehensible and confusing clues about the Agency, along with a plea to hide and protect a young girl named Victoria, who apparently faces the same fate as you. After you've brought Victoria to safety and thus distanced yourself from the Agency, you once again become the hunted. The story, which largely revolves around protecting Victoria or tracking down the men hunting her, is in danger of being pushed into the background, in our opinion. During missions, you're mostly focused on your target—someone you have to find or kill to advance the story—but within the levels, it's simply about executing everything as efficiently as possible or completing as many optional objectives as possible, which can keep you occupied for quite some time. The story itself is largely confined to cutscenes and therefore barely registers within the levels themselves.
Nevertheless, you now have 20 missions to complete. How you approach them is, of course, entirely up to you. IO Interactive is relying on your personal playstyle here – stealth or action. There's usually a primary target that needs to be eliminated as elegantly as possible. Explosives shouldn't always be your first choice. In any case, it's difficult to sneak up on your target without attracting attention. You'll have to take detours, crawl through air ducts, create diversions, or use disguises. Take the New Year's festival, for example: a large crowd in one place, ideal for hiding among them. The objective is to eliminate three targets as discreetly as possible. By observing their behavior and following them, you're guaranteed to eventually find them in a secluded spot. You can sneak up on them and take them out from behind with a neck snap, silently shoot them from cover undetected, push them down a basement shaft, or engage them in open melee combat. You should always keep an eye on your surroundings, because if you're caught, escape becomes much more difficult. Once you've eliminated your target, make sure to dispose of them properly so that others don't accidentally notice and raise the alarm. The exact opposite approach, of course, is to take out your enemies with a big bang. Those who enjoy being in the spotlight will likely choose this path and have the option of setting up C4 booby traps or similar devices. This will certainly attract attention, but reaching a safe exit will become significantly more difficult.
During your mission, a multitude of optional objectives are available. Simply entering the level, completing your target, and running off is, of course, only for "trainee assassins" and doesn't even begin to tap into the potential of "Hitman: Absolution." Each mission has up to 30 or more optional objectives that can be observed and completed. These range from finding all possible weapons and donning various disguises to avoiding killing non-targets, gathering evidence, or completing the mission entirely undetected. It's precisely these numerous options that make "Hitman: Absolution" a game that offers truly long-lasting enjoyment and very high replay value. Completing all objectives in a single playthrough is impossible anyway, so you'll have to replay a mission multiple times. Ultimately, there are over 250 of these optional challenges to complete, each offering various rewards.
What would a real killer be without proper weapons? Practically no one, which is why Agent 47 has a whole arsenal of them. This ranges from a simple handgun to a sniper rifle, or, even better, the two Silverballers. These can even be individually upgraded, for example with a silencer, improved or steadier aiming, faster reloading, etc., resulting in over 100 variations. In addition, there are around 80 improvised weapons that Agent 47 can use in the environment, such as gas cans that explode on impact or a chandelier that crashes down on your enemies. These improvised methods of killing really add to the fun of being an assassin. Our favorite tool is still the piano wire, which, after strangling your opponent, is also perfect for dragging them away. Who wants to get their hands dirty, anyway?
Another interesting feature is the new "Instinct Mode." Years of experience as a professional assassin have given you almost clairvoyant abilities, allowing you to anticipate your opponents' moves. "Instinct Mode" will be especially useful if you prefer a stealth style. For example, you can analyze your opponent's movements and skillfully sneak past them. You can scout out important targets or clues, or uncover secrets. However, "Instinct Mode" truly shines when you use "Point Shooting." Everything around you slows down, allowing you to target multiple enemies simultaneously and eliminate them with a single button press. This unfolds in a cool slow-motion sequence as bullets blast through your opponents' heads. "Instinct Mode" gives you that certain feeling of always being one step ahead of your opponent, even somewhat overwhelmingly so. It's the feeling of stepping into the shoes of a true professional assassin.
The second major part of "Hitman: Absolution" is Contracts Mode, the game's online mode. This was unveiled at Gamescom this year and has already been extensively showcased. Here, you have the opportunity to create your own contracts, choose an environment, define objectives, specify weapons, your preferred playstyle, and set the time limit. IO Interactive has opted for a more streamlined approach, foregoing a cumbersome editor. Instead, you first play the contract yourself and create everything in real time. Once you feel you've developed a challenging contract, you can make it available online. These contracts can be accessed by other players at any time, so it's not necessary to be online yourself. IO Interactive has also already released some pre-made contracts, designed by the studio's top "killers." As the story progresses, additional content will be unlocked, which can then be used in Contracts Mode. In our opinion, Contracts Mode has the potential to foster a genuine community. The ideas are virtually limitless, and thanks to the abundance of unlockable content, there's a constant stream of new material for creating new contracts.
While "Hitman: Absolution" essentially consists of only two game modes, which are also very similar, these modes contain a wealth of content that ensures plenty of fun. The over 250 objectives and optional goals alone should keep you occupied for weeks, especially if you attempt all five difficulty levels. At the same time, your performance is constantly compared to that of your friends, providing a constant incentive to surpass them. Furthermore, you can find a plethora of interesting things and Easter eggs within the levels. These range from wacky outfits, like that of a squirrel or the devil mask from "Hitman: Blood Money," to characters who occasionally have something interesting to say. This even helps you complete your mission, as you often find useful tips among them.
In terms of gameplay, "Hitman: Absolution" can be a bit overwhelming at times. The buttons are almost overloaded with dual functions, so even after several hours of play, you sometimes have to think about how something works. Ultimately, it works, even if it's hard to get used to. Occasionally, the camera view bothered us, as it doesn't always adjust optimally on its own, for example, when you're ambushing an enemy and have to press quick-time buttons. The third-person view also allows for many typical interactions, such as taking cover, running low along walls, or looking around corners. Overall, "Hitman: Absolution" plays well and smoothly, probably also because Agent 47 approaches everything very, very calmly. Even running at a faster pace is almost a leisurely stroll for him, and the usual nonchalance of a professional killer shines through.
Visually, "Hitman: Absolution" utilizes the GLACIER 2 engine and a stylized, hyper-realistic style that creates a dark yet intriguing atmosphere. High contrasts and vibrant colors dominate the visuals, resulting in varied and detailed levels. You'll start in an idyllic summer garden, explore the nightlife of Chinatown, or visit the somewhat sleepy Nest Hope, inspired by the "Twin Peaks" series. A cohesive overall picture awaits, complete with impressive and elaborate cutscenes. However, upon closer inspection, some blurry textures become apparent, especially at a distance, and the anti-aliasing could certainly have been improved. Comparing "Hitman" to other recent games, such as "Assassin's Creed III," clearly demonstrates the limits of graphical advancement. Nevertheless, "Hitman: Absolution" once again impresses with its vibrant atmosphere. There's always something happening around every corner. Crowds of people moving around, each reacting to you individually. This is also comparable to "Assassin's Creed." Ultimately, "Hitman: Absolution" makes an excellent impression on us, with very little to criticize.
Finally, there's the sound. Square Enix announced a top-notch voice cast in advance, and the German dub is equally impressive. Adding to the excitement is a truly superb soundtrack that plays in the background, encompassing a repertoire of slightly melancholic and adrenaline-pumping sounds. This is perfectly matched to every situation and mood in the game, further enhancing already tense moments. At times, you feel like you're watching a creepy horror movie, just waiting for the killer to jump out of the nearest closet, which includes some genuinely terrifying moments. IO Interactive also delivers in this regard.
