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Eidos finally gets it right

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 36 / 36
Date: June 01, 2006
Author: Amazon User

First, I'm a fan of the Hitman series. I played the first game on my PC back in 1999 and then moved on to the console versions with Hitman 2 and beyond. Being such a fan, I'll admit to a bland dissatisfaction with the series, even as the games grew more complex and looked better and better with each sequel. To me, one of the biggest problems with the game has always been its inability to create a game world that wasn't cold and distancing. To me, the Hitman universe was about as real as the world of Half Life or Halo. In other words, Hitman always felt otherworldly and slightly unreal. Immersing myself in the Hitman series was almost always impossible, since there was never much of a coherent storyline to begin with (especially in the previous installment Hitman: Contracts, that had the gamer replaying some of the missions from the first game with an unabashedly tacked on "flashback" framing mechanism). Add to this the sometimes stupid, often amnesiatic AI, slightly counter-intuitive control scheme, and limited replayability (limited as far as there being only one or two ways to dispatch your victim in true Silent Assassin fashion) and you have a series that was disappointing in it's potential to be so much more.

But not anymore.

As a true fan, I am overjoyed to announce that Hitman: Blood Money finally - FINALLY - gets it right. This time, our steel-eyed, morally grey, Liddy-esque clone finally gets a game worth spilling some blood over. The best parts of the original games are still here, but things have changed. Really changed. For example:

*The weapons - More than he's ever had before, including multiple SMGs and assault rifles, a myriad of pistols, his signature Silver Ballers (with optional laser sight and scope - as you can use your ill-gotten gains to customize your weapons and purchase different types of ammo, such as bullets that can blast through doors), and anything else that you can pick up as you're wandering around the vast environments. Nail gun, anyone?

*The kills - While the Hitman games of the past have always rewarded you for stealth with that Silent Assassin rating, there was always a "right way" and a "wrong way" to complete a mission. The "right way" usually involved stealing a uniform, changing into another uniform, and then another uniform, until finally you were rewarded with a chance to remote detonate a bomb or snipe your target from a few hundred yards away. The "wrong way" meant going into an environment and killing everything in sight, horses included. The problem was, that there was never much in the way of benefits to playing either style. True, in Contracts you were rewarded with special weapons if you finished the game with a "Silent Assassin" rating, but there wasn't much else in the way of incentive. In Blood Money, the game designers want to remind you what the game is all about. If you enjoyed blasting your way through previous installments, good luck doing that here. For one, the AI works cooperatively and, while they will walk into your line of fire, they will work together with such force that you won't get far. Add to this the lack of the ubiquitous, video game "health pack", and you'll soon discover that stealth is key. This principle is further reinforced by a notoriety system that is determined by how stealthily you complete your missions. At the end of each level, a newspaper headline announces your success and failure. Complete your mission by making a hit look like an accident, and the headline will reflect as much. Get it done by killing everything in sight, leaving witnesses, and getting caught on camera and the front page will read something like "Psychopath kills 32 in bloody massacre" with your picture front and center. Further, the higher your notoriety the more likely you are to be recognized in later levels by the AI henchmen who still pick up the morning paper. Since you're going to find killing necessary, you'll need to dispose of bodies so that your company doesn't have to send in a cleaner. Manholes, dumpsters, freezers, and even the backs of garbage trucks make hiding bodies a snap. Unlike in previous games, when you drag a body to one of these locations you are prompted "Splinter Cell style" and are saved the trouble of having to drag a body over a manhole, hoping that gravity will take it down the hole. This will improve your chances of not being discovered, since the AI is tenacious and will do EVERYTHING to track you down. Leave a gun at the scene, and the AI will likely find it and the guards will become suspicious. Even passerby will report suspicious happenings (such as found weapons, lights turned off) to security forces - and that's just bad for business. So if you're unlucky enough to be spotted by a passerby while using your fiber wire on a guard, then you've got witness problems, which can either lead guards to your trail or, at the very least, give the police an eyewitness account with which they can produce an artist's sketch of 47. When that happens, trust me, it ain't pretty. Finally, the series gives you a reason to teach those nosey, "innocent" bystanders the meaning of the phrase "in the wrong place at the wrong time."

*The Locales - Gone are the sanitized, eerily bland and forgetable locations of the past games (remember military prison? How about drug dealer's mansion? No? What about um. . .I'm thinking). Blood Money takes place (mostly) in the good old US of A and sees Agent 47 slinking about beautifully designed levels in places such as an abandoned Amusement Park, an Opera, an Insane Asylum (okay, they did an insane asylum before, but the only way out of this one is if you're dead), a Las Vegas casino, the suburbs, a pre-Katrina Mardi Gras in New Orleans, a Riverboat on the Mississippi, a hillbilly wedding in the Bayou, and even The White House. Still think that you can shoot your way through the game? Try it on the White House level and you'll quickly discover why they're called the Secret Service.

*The Story - While nothing special, it does provide greater insight to the cipherous past of Agent 47. Told through a framing device involving a reporter getting "the story of a lifetime", the tale weaves back from present day to 2004, as Agent 47 completes his jobs for "Agency" while simultaneously being hunted by those who believe it's time for him to retire. So, while completing his missions, 47 ends up running afoul of other hitmen - sharp-aiming, hard-working folk out to collect the price on his head or, at the very least, make his job more difficult by taking down targets 47's hired to protect. It makes for some interesting, quirky, and even surreal moments (have you ever wanted a game in which you stalked a love-triangle of hitmen dressed like man-sized, black crows? If yes, then your game has arrived).

Also new to the game is an online ranking system through Xbox live, the ability to play the game in a FPS mode (but why would you?), and new disguises (nothing says fun like strangling a mobster while dressed as a party clown), and the myriad ways in which you can dispose of your victims - no longer restricted to your choice of weapon. Additionally, the game no longer pauses and jumps to parallel cut scenes. Rather, when an important event is taking place, the screen splits into frames, a la Brian DePalma films or "24", allowing you to continue playing while the parallel event unfolds. In fact, everything about this game is so close to perfect, that it pretty much trumps everything that the "Top of the Class" sneaker "Splinter Cell" has done - without simply aping SC's moves.

This game is a must, it looks beautiful, plays incredibly well, has enormous replay value, and a story worthy of a great series. If anything, this game is set to solidify the Hitman series as a contender in the next-gen future.

Now all Eidos needs is to figure out a way to make the series playable on Xbox live - a difficult task to be sure. However, seeing what they've done with this outing, it's hardly out of reach.

If you wanted to like the earlier ones, you'll really like this one

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 2
Date: June 21, 2006
Author: Amazon User

The big review down there is already really good, but I just wanted to reiterate. If you played the first few games and you really wanted to like them but got frustrated enough not to really get into them, you'll really like Blood Money. There are lots of new ways to off your marks, and the guards/police no longer overreact as much as they used to. (In Silent Assassin, guards would just start shooting at you for no reason.)

The "money" in this game is a little silly, I ended up not spending most of mine. There's only 4 weapons you can really spend it on, and theres no need to upgrade the SMGs when your silverballers are maxed out, and there's no point in spending money on the shotgun period because its not a concealable weapon. I kinda wish the missions would make better use of the weapons. I ended up using the silverballers or nothing on every mission (most missions you get searched for weapons, so bringing guns with you is a waste.) Having said that, the upgrades to the ballers are nice, including a scope and full-auto.

Still, I played this game for a few weeks before beating it and I will definitely go back and replay the levels where I didn't get silent assassin. Lots of fun, good replay value. PARENTS, DON'T BUY THIS FOR YOUR YOUNG KIDS. It's a very gruesome game. I equate it to watching silence of the lambs or something like that. Fun for adults, but don't warp your kids with it.

really not what i expected

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 1 / 2
Date: July 02, 2006
Author: Amazon User

First of all, im just gonna comment that apparently i am the only person that could not understand how to carryout levels what-so-ever. you have no guidance at all, and in this game there were times where u were meant to do certain things in order for the levels to play out smoothly, and of course, you dont get a heads up on having to do these things. but thats ok because after about 10 friggin tries you'll get it.

despite this, once you actually figure out what you are supposed to do, the game ends up being lots of fun because it all works out. the graphics were nice as was the general gameplay. worth a buy? not so much, so you might as well pick it up at blockbuster.

An appreciated improvement.

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 1 / 2
Date: August 07, 2006
Author: Amazon User

I'll skip descriptions since the other reviewers have the general covered. I will say that the game is much more polished than its predecessors, with some awesome new ideas and toys. Some slightly more interesting scenarios than in the past as well. Only things I'd change as far as design is concerned is the huge life meter they give you, and the ten-minute, everything turns red while 47 falls down death scene. Mein Gott how annoying.

Some reviewers have mentioned some AI glitches. They do exist, as I encountered one in Pro difficulty. So far none have manifested in Normal. Hopefully none will. The one I encountered was an enemy chased me and broke off the pursuit as soon as I was behind him, like directly behind him. I sat there for almost two minutes wondering why he didn't react, then finally choke-wired him (he was that close). Only occurence so far, so no biggie.

If the intense nature of sneak-in-and-do-something-bad gameplay appeals to you, and you are sick and tired of hearing about San Andreas, like I am, buy this. You'll have loads of fun masquerading about in NPC's costumes, wondering why 47 walks around with black gloves on in the first place. Ever seen a normal person do that?

Fresh Look at Agent 47

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 0 / 1
Date: June 23, 2006
Author: Amazon User

2 Words Ladiez and Gentz: Superb Graphics.

Hitman Blood Money was no update of the original series, rather a Fresher look at 47.

Pro's
-Great Looking Environments
-New Ways to hide bodies
-New and Old weapons
-Intelligent AI
-Intricate clothing
-Better blood/gore effects
Con's
-47's face has changed; not dramatically tho :(
-Utilizing all weapons is not neccesary, in fact you can finish the game just upgrading your ballers
-The fact that they added ugly @$$ women in the game who try and seduce you.
-The story cinematics lead you through it all but *However* the campaign is simply just enter a level and kill the primary target, which can be repetitive unless you find more creative ways of killing the enemy.

Overall: Great fun, the call for stealth isnt so vital as you can go on a shooting spree. You will encounter 1 or more things you didn't like about the game, but will realize that this is better than Contracts, Silent Assasin etc.

I enjoy storys where you are the unknown or become notorius. If you had the slightest attraction to the orginal series, rent or buy this game! Have Fun and Good Huntin.

CAUTION!!!!!!
*MAJOR SPOILER!*------->

Wut was up with Diana killing 47?

Blood Money, Honey.

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 0 / 2
Date: June 27, 2006
Author: Amazon User

The Hitman series has been touted as the breakthrough hit for the stealth genre. Hitman 2: Silent Assassin improved upon everything that was wrong with Hitman: Codename 47. Hitman 2 is still one of my favorite games. Hitman: Contracts was a backslide, but still a respectable title. Blood Money has similar story structure to Contracts, less cohesive than Hitman 2, and more "Flash-backy" and choppy. Only a few missions are related and only because they are in similar locales.
47's New abilities and the AI behavior are awesome additions, making the level playthroughs different and interesting each time. I have owned it for almost a week and I have played it constantly. It is almsot too fun, which scares me.
You should rent it or borrow it at least. You will like it so much that you will buy it.

Great but not fantastic...

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 0 / 2
Date: July 18, 2006
Author: Amazon User

Hitman: Blood Money is a great game but not excellent. This version of Hitman is much smoother and easy to comprehend then the other two previous titles. You, Agent 47, travels around the world doing contract hits. From Columbia, to Paris, to Vegas, many interesting locations abound. As you retrieve enemy weapons you can reuse them in your next missions, rather than using the same boring silverballers and SMG over and over. There are mP5s, mP7s, desert eagles, revolvers... But unfortunately these can't be upgraded. The graphics are overwhelming. You can kill only the target or hundreds of people if you can muster up the ammunition. But there are flaws. The language of some characters is vulgar to say the least. There are plenty sexually perverted scenes among hookers, porn stars, opposing assassins, and even a FBI agent which are quite revolting. This game is also way to short with only 11 real missions which each can end in 5 to 10 minutes. The ending is crummy and leaves no "comfort" to the player and while it ensures a sequel to come it, it still isn't the perfect closer.

Great Bloody Great Get it Thought Not Diana Reply

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 5
Date: August 13, 2006
Author: Amazon User

Spolier dont read unless want an answer

Diana does not kill 47 she makes it look like she did, remember in the 3rd level when you make the agent look dead that what diana uses, when ur r at the end of the game she knows u will become alive and she gives you the guns but when the credits come up keep twisting the left thumb stick and u will see what happens for the real ending to occur sorry if i spoiled this for anyone i did warn u

Awesome

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 2
Date: November 06, 2006
Author: Amazon User

I bought this game for me and my brother. We love it and it is way beyond what games were in the past.

Better than all previous Hitman Games put together

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: November 21, 2006
Author: Amazon User

The good: Fantastic Level design, great AI, DETAILED levels - so much NPC action is happening all the time...SO MANY ways to complete each level with a great gameplay experience. After the "silent assassin" ratings are all earned, it's even MORE fun to go back and choose the weapons you want without worrying about too many kills, and playing the missions again. Once you've played it through one way, it's INCREDIBLE to see the other options the designers have in store.

The bad: A few minor control/gameplay issues - some small issues with sneaking/fiberwire (aiming system is a little too precise), same problem with poison. You're unable to inject someone with a syringe AS they're discovering that you're armed. So if you're sneaking up and they turn around and draw their weapon, your trigger action is immediately turned into a gun disarm. This can be useful, but it makes you drop your (silent) poison. The issue popped up throughout the game and is the only noticable detractor from the experience.

The Ugly: No issues that made me say, "wow, this game could have used another few months in development," as is the case with quite a large percentage of games today.

Overall, I'm hugely impressed.

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