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Maybe a waste of money...

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 4 / 6
Date: April 25, 2004
Author: Amazon User

I have been a fan of Hitman ever since it came out. I own and completed 1, 2, and Contracts. Everything about Contracts is fine--graphics, gameplay are good by today's standards. As a stand-alone game, it's worthy of 4 stars...

BUT if you have played Hitman 1, then you have already played 7 of the 12 missions that Contracts contains. That's right--

CONTRACTS HAS 5 NEW MISSIONS--THATS IT!!

If you do not own any Hitman games, get Hitman 2. It has 20 missions that are long and diverse.

If you own Hitman 2 and you don't own Hitman 1, then get Contracts. You'll probably like it and it's not a bad game.

BUT if you already own Hitman 1, Contracts is a questionable buy, especially at the requested price.

! EVEN BETTER THEN THE FIRST 1 !

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 4 / 6
Date: May 26, 2004
Author: Amazon User

Many people think that hitman 3 is excly as the first 1.
Well ure wrong !
The missions are the same as the first 1, but the suroundings are a little bit diffrent, and there is more weapons.
Simple things like a pillow can become a dangerous weapon.
You can drown people in a pool.
One more thing, to understand exctly what the hell is going on in the game, make shure you passed the 1'st game, or at least know what happened there.
You dont have to, but the game will be more clear if you do.

The game is a little bit hard and you kind of got to think what youre doing, but I passed it.
If you have a qustion what happened after the last level in hitman 1, well you will find out in hitman 3.
What i realy like in hitman 3, is that if you walk beside a guy he wont think ure bad.
In hitman 2 you just walk beside them, and ther alerted.
That realy pissed me off.
In hitman 3 when you look in the keyhole you can look around.
In hitman 2 you saw him turning the knob, but not here.
Graphics are great.
If you dont belive about what I just said, just get a demo and ull see what im talking about.
Anyways I suggest you get this game, you wont regret it.

Also, hitman 4 is coming out in spring 2005.
Dont belive me?
Then go to www.gamespot.com, and see for youre self.

Familiar "Contracts". . .

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 3 / 4
Date: May 22, 2004
Author: Amazon User

"Hitman Contracts" will appeal to two of three sets -- those who haven't played the original "Hitman" game that launched the series, and those who have but wouldn't mind revisiting a sort of special edition version. That version is "Contracts," essentially. It packs in many upgraded missions from its forebear and throws in a handful of new ones, making it a sort of director's cut.

There is very little story to connect each hit in "Contracts." The star of the show, Agent 47, finds himself shot and half-dead, and as he struggles for his life he faces the kills of his past. Each mission (except for the last) is a flashback to an earlier time and place, and there's no consistent narrative to link them together. In all truth, that's just fine -- if you're a fan of the series or a rookie just wading in, all you really want to do is travel the globe and kill people. That's your job here, after all, and as usual Agent 47 delivers.

The locales range from rural English manors, German biker clubs, and (haunted) French hotels, and everywhere you go there's someone just waiting to get offed. The mission design has scarcely changed since "Hitman 2," so if that game didn't float your boat neither will this spinoff. If on the other hand it was your bag, well jump on board because it's more of the same -- and despite the developers' obvious lack of ambition, that translates into more of a good thing.

As in previous games, "Contracts" allows you to take a stealthy approach to its challenges, or go in guns blazing. The former method is appropriately emphasized, and is far more satisfying. On the other hand, it's entirely possible to mimic a John Woo film and kill everyone in sight with flying lead. Agent 47 is apparently quite hardy, and can take several bullet hits before he so much as breaks a sweat. Stealth actually presents more of a challenge than an open firefight, as bizarre as that sounds. This is both a flaw and a beckoning hand to novice gamers. It's a flaw because it makes next to no sense, and tempts the trigger finger more than the brain. It's a plus to less patient and tactical-minded players who would rather breeze through the missions and read the end credits as quickly and easily as possible. Whether it sits well with you depends on which class you fall into. I for one hope that future installments will make stealthy play a bit more of a necessity. You can ultimately have too much freedom, and that is the case with "Contracts."

Using an updated version of the "Hitman 2" engine, "Contracts" looks good but not great, and the sound effects are essentially recycled from earlier offerings. That doesn't keep the game from being atmospheric, however. Some of the levels ooze tension. Strangely enough, one of the early missions in the game is by far the creepiest and one of the most challenging, and the "Se7en"-ish payoff simply must be experienced. The later stages are less worthy of note, and the Hong Kong missions ultimately become downright repetitive. The finale goes off like a damp squib, and took me only a couple of minutes to complete.

"Contracts" is ultimately a good, solid game, and a worthy addition to a franchise I quite enjoy. Unfortunately, the asking price is too high. For repackaged material and such an uninspired implimentation, it would have been better served as an expansion pack or something along those lines. At full price, to some, it could be a bit of a tough sell. Still, I recommend it to diehard fans and newcomers looking to join in the fun. Others should wait for the price to drop before giving it a drive.

Final Score: B

47 never dies!

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: May 02, 2004
Author: Amazon User

I never played HM1 right through but HM2 was a "hit" for me. I am currently playing the 3rd installment and have found it to be satisfactory to the series. It would have been nice to see some connection to the last storyline in Silent Assassin (I wonder who writes these things?) Who can deny that playing 47 isn't a blast?! (However, my pet cat could have done better in writing the storyline!) No offence Eidos, but you'd think with the time and energy put into making one of these games that there could have been a little more creativity in the writing. Voice-acting is supurb and graphics are pretty good. There are some bugs with models walking through closed doors and AI being somewhat inconsistent, but overall a bearable gaming experience. Personally I wouldn't have paid so much for the game knowing what I know now. I may have waited for the price to come down in a year (Kinda like "waiting for the video") because it doesn't stand out to me as "explosive" in nature. I will reiterate though, I am satisfied with this game overall and would hope that Eidos put more effort into the next installment of Hitman. (Because 47 deserves better, don't you think??)

Well done but definitely not for everyone

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 3
Date: January 16, 2006
Author: Amazon User

I'm reminded of a quote from the movie Grosse Point Blank. Marty Blank has become a hitman and returns to his high school for his ten year reunion. He's explaining his career to his old girlfriend who he still loves:

Marty: "Seriously, when I left, I joined the Army and took the service exam. They found my psych results fit a certain profile. A certain "Moral flexibility" would be the best way to describe it... I was loaned out to a CIA-sponsored program. It's called "mechanical operations." We sort of found each other...

I'd be very careful in allowing teenagers to play this game. It is a nice change of pace as far as not having to shoot at *everything* and actually being rewarded for allowing innocent bystanders to live even if you do end up disabling them at the time. I also like the idea that bodies just don't 'vanish' and other characters will notice them and raise the alarm if you don't hide them, or if they regain consciousness and go ratting on you. I appreciate the stealth aspect and having to interact with the characters, doing the social engineering bit.

The only problems I had with it was the level in the BDSM party at the meat processing plant. Pretty gory, didn't bother me, but I had to play it when my kids weren't around. It was mostly just the things going on giving that particular level 'ambience' which would actually make me laugh out loud. It is sad to realize that people really do that kind of stuff, and so I'm not criticizing it for its realism, just saying it's something you have to keep in mind as not being a *good* thing to practice, in real life. It's especially something to keep in mind when considering teenagers who are forming their sexual identity and morals and how that kind of imagery will affect them.

But other than that, the strategy involved is definitely different. I did end up needing a walkthrough on the last level, as it then turns into a major shootout (for which you are not equipped!) if you don't think incredibly fast, and know just what to do. Almost all the time I can figure out how to beat it without a walkthrough, but I was pretty much helpless on that last level.

The biggest disappointment yet

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 2 / 4
Date: June 02, 2004
Author: Amazon User

Waiting for this game to come out was a big mistake. However, purchasing this game turned out to be a HUGE mistake. I can't believe how Eidos screwed everyone over with this piece of garbage.

--> only 12 missions - are you kidding me??
--> out of those 12, seven are the same ones from Hitman 1 (WTF??)
--> WAY too many AI bugs and glitches, if you haven't encountered them, that means you're just shooting your way through levels, instead of playing it with stealth
--> took me just a few hours to achieve Silent Assasin rating on every mission and the game was over before it started
--> controls are bad, sluggish at times, and having to pause the game to change weapons/inventory is a pain in the ASS.

There are many more where these came from, but I'm not going to waste any more of my time. This game was rushed, in order to scam the customers and get their money. Eidos has finally lost my respect.

Finaly not just a blind shooting sensless game

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 4
Date: January 13, 2006
Author: Amazon User

i havent played the first 2 hitmans but i enjoyed contracts.u don't really have to know what happend in the first 2 to know the story.what i first didn't like about the storyline is that it has no connections really to the jobs but if u are carefull u ll get taht some of the jobs and his past history have a lot in commen(check hitman in wikipedia)
gameplay fantastic.slient assasinations,little nice goodies that help a lot(poison the whisky,etc..)it takes a little patiance to get how to do the strangling and other sneaking stuff and so do the controllers but i think its done the best possible way
the ambiente of the misions is mostly very original.
what is also a big plus there are always several possibilaties to complet the mission.
i had no problem installing it and playin it.works perfectly on my computer(3.0 ghz p4ht,1.0 ghz ram,7800gtx)
cant wait foe the 4th one blood money

a must game for everyone tired of all the old just shoot oneway dum kinda games.

Good But Not Extraordinary

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: May 03, 2004
Author: Amazon User

I haven't played Hitman 1 or 2, so this is the first in the series for me. So far (I'm around 50% done) the game has been fairly enjoyable. Decent graphics, decent level design, good music and sound--all the usuals from a solid PC title. I can't recommend this game at its current price, however (worthy of a purchase at around 20 or 25 USD). For those PC gamers with a less-than-stellar setup, this is a sensible purchase and should run well. Though I have a Radeon 9800, I would guess this would run fine on the budget cards of today.

Overal recommendation: If one is interested in what this game has to offer, then buy "Hitman 2" today, then "Hitman: Contracts" when it drops in price.

Good, but Hitman 2 still the Best!

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: May 11, 2004
Author: Amazon User

First off, parents be advised this is a review for a Mature game.

While I can't claim that Hitman contracts is a remake of Hitman 1 and ignores Hitman 2, as a previous reviewer said, I think, Contracts looks too much like Hitman 1 to make Hitman 2 tower above both and be a league of its own.

Pros for Contracts:

1. Agent 47 sneaks and runs faster.
2. Seemingly harmless objects like a pillow, can become a deadly weapon!
3. Hey, this is still Hitman, and the latest version at that!

Cons for Contracts:
1. Is it just me or do the missions really have to be done in dark places? I often had to switch off my room light just to see Agent 47's surroundings. I literally bumped around half-a dozen times in Beldinford Manor swamp before I figured out how to get out of there. Yes, I know about the map.
2. I just can't get back to the tool shed/room where I can admire weapons I collected. It makes collecting weapons seem pointless.
3. I'm completely in the dark (pun not intended) as to Where exactly in Agent 47's timeline (life) does this flashbacks and missions fit in! It would really help if the game developer had put in an in-game info at the beginning.
4. I can no longer use the mouse wheel to zoom in on Hitman's field of view.

Please indulge me for comparing Contracts with Hitman 2, the best of the lot in my opinion. Right from the start I knew what Agent 47 was all about, and why he must do the missions from the Agency. The musical scoring (full-orchestra for Hitman 2) by the Budapest Symphony Orchestra was the best game-scoring I have ever heard! Jesper Kyd the composer would be hard put to outdo himself here! The tenderness and passion of full orchestra sound will move your feelings for revenge, fear, self-pity, redemption, anger, and retribution like no other music source can. It will touch a burning desire to show your enemies that they've made the biggest mistake for messing with the best assassin around here! I have played a lot of games and none came close to giving me the shakes like Hitman 2 did when I first run down the slope of Villa Borghese to try and rescue a kidnapped friend. Nothing comes close to the feeling of walking away from a kill like nothing happened with the orchestra playing on the background! The musical variations of the orchestra was perfectly timed to reflect whatever feeling you had at a given moment in the game!

Play Hitman Contracts. It's a good one. Play Hitman 2 to really enjoy a sneaky game of Silent Assassin! It's the best!

I cast my vote for Christian Bale as Agent 47 (whenever a movie about Hitman be made)

Parents beware! Hitman 2 like Hitman Contracts is for Mature players Only!

Is Deja Vu Worth it?

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: May 18, 2004
Author: Amazon User

This was a real disappointment. Having been a huge fan of Hitman 1 & 2, I was highly anticipating Contracts. What really confused me, was why IO/Eidos decided to remake most of Hitman 1. About 4 different missions in Contracts are remakes of the Hong Kong stages of the 1st game. Sorry, but when almost half the game is just a rip of the first, it just ruins the experience. In the end, what could have been a gem of a sequel, turned out to be a mediocre, seemingly rushed product that was way to short.
Having played both 1 & 2, the gameplay hasn't improved all that much. Perhaps Tobias (47) moves slightly better. Changing weapons is annoying. Why Eidos didn't associate the mouse wheel for that is beyond me.
Overall, Contracts is a worthy game for newcomers. But for veteran Hitman gamers, this is just a typical attempt to milk what's left in the franchise.

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