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Hitman 2: Silent Assasin Review
Mark Simons
17/07/2003
We all too easily assume the role of a hired killer in our review of the GameCube version of this game from IO Interactive...
Here are at TVG we've had our eyes on Hitman developers IO Interactive for quite some time, seeing the first game a long time ago at an ECTS, before it was officially announced. The whole premise, implementation and presentation was spot on, and the developers were talking about animation techniques which are still not being implemented as they should be.
Unfortunately the first Hitman title was just a little flawed, in the key area of control and being bastard hard. This made it rather frustrating when you had to resort to being a bit trigger happy to get out of a situation. Enjoyable if you persevered, but not the great game we were hoping for.
Give 'em a couple of years and IO have now nailed it. Second time lucky, not too bad.
Hitman 2 is cinematic, beautiful to look at, sounds great, has a wonderful sense atmosphere, uses interesting technology and most importantly the issues with the first game have been cleared up. Now instead of having a great concept with some flaws that hold it back from being a great game, you now have a game that whilst hard, puts mistakes firmly in your hand and is all the more enjoyable for this.
You won't be cursing the game design in this one, just your own ineptitude.
Assuming the role of Number 47, a legenmdary Hitman who tries to seek repentance, you, inevitably, get dragged violently back into world that you tried to leave, they don't get at you, but the ones close to you. Isn't that always the way...
After a bit of a refresher course in a realtively safe environment that allows you to get used to the controls, which are well suited to the GameCube's controller you'll find yourself sneaking up on people and garotting them in no time. The violent rumbling of the pad makes the using of fibre wire to choke people rather disturbing actually, but then we assume this is the desired effect. Also we felt bad at killing the little piggies, we forgot about killing them, then came out of a building to see little pigs scattered everywhere with blood and a disturbing quiet over the area. As well as showing the emotional oddities of our staff, this is a good demonstration of one of the little things about Hitman that makes it great. Bodies stay where you leave them for a long time, if you don't kill too many they'll stay for however long it takes you to complete the level; this is something we like.
The are are twenty levels in the game and these take you to some interesting and diverse locations around the world. Your objectives are usually rather similar, you are a hitman after all, but the design of the missions means that you'll be having to you use vastly different tactics to get your target. Sniper rifles, explosives, all out assaults, disguises, stealth infiltrations and lots more besides. GameCube owners yearning for a mature experience may well find the options at their disposal a little too much.
It's the design of the levels that is the real strong point of the game. You will be very lucky ? or good ? if you manage to do them first time, you need to plan and have a bit of trial and error before you progress far enough to be able to do it in one go. You can save during the level, up to seven times, and you are free to save where you like, but it's more enjoyable to try in one go, but very tricky, concentration levels need to be high.
One thing we really like is that before the level you get a briefing, a voice clip, but you also get things like photos, videos and maps. Like a professional we enjoy perurisng the maps as our mission is explained to us, looking at the photo of the target as we're told who they are, then looking at the photo of the place, before going back to the map. It's a small thing, but even before you get into the level you find yourself thinking like a Hitman. Disturbing perhaps, it's rather easy to get into that mindset, but wonderful from a gameplay point of view.
Once in to the game you'll find that there are usually multiple ways to finish each level, guns blazing, stealthy, disguised or a combination of techniques - it's up to you. You'll have to make full use of the equipment at your disposal, as well as the oh so useful map that allows you to analyse the paths of the enemies.
Technology wise Hitman 2 is one to show your friends. The graphics are lovely, wonderful art direction is backed up with some great effects, proper shadows cast by characters ? multiple ones to boot, swaying trees, animation that uses physics to make bodies move as just you would imagine them to. Lighting effects are lovely, as are the clouds, when you do things like slowly walking up to a location in a disguise, trying not to give yourself away, you find yourself looking around, casing the surroundings and being totally immersed. The draw distance is great and, bar one or two ocassions, normally from high vantage points, the framerate is flawless. Just what we be wanting.
Sound too is spot on, the Budapest Symphony Orchestra playing the movie-like score wonderfully. The voice acting is actually rather good as well, which always brings a smile to our face. Sound effects don't let the side down either, a silly amount of footprint sounds, with nice stereo separation, gunshots and impacts all sound correct. All sounds good to us.
This is a beautiful game. The only problem is that it takes up 59 blocks on a memory card. Which on a memory card 59 is erm, the whole thing. Sure you'll find a way around that though...
At the end of the day though this is a brilliant game for the GameCube and would make a great addition to your collection.
