Hitman: Contracts Review (no fat)

Game Description

Killing is an art - one that can only be perfected through hours of dedication and a lust for perfection. To excel in this lucrative business, hitmen need to master the art of stealth, blend in with crowds, know how to handle weapons or use whatever is available and most of all, try not to get bloodstains on the suit. And for a lesson in stealth and FPS, the game Hitman: Contracts fits the bill perfectly.

The Hitman returns, as a certain bald man in a stylish suit, to grace your console and do what he does best - Kill. The game doesn't stray from the essence of the two previous games and the objectives remain the same. However Hitman: Contracts sees a more vulnerable side of the deadly 47. With significant improvements in gameplay, missions designed with more thought, enhanced graphics and a truckload of weapons to dish out the punishment, the Hitman game gets bigger and better. No major leap though as IO Interactive just got under the hood of the previous installment and gave the engine a nice tweak.

Hitman: Contracts- Gameplay

Paris is the venue where the game starts off. The opening sequence depicts a sensitive moment for 47 as he is haunted by flashbacks of the casualties of his colorful past. Brushing them aside, he must move on, take on new contracts and deliver swift, painful death to some bad guys. The flashbacks are pieces of a puzzle that depicts the evolution of the Hitman known as 47.

The Hitman is a versatile character with a wide range of movements and actions. From crouching and blending with the surroundings, stripping off the clothes of victims to use for stealth, grabbing objects like meat knives and pool cues to use as melee weapons and using the impressive array of weapons. However, thankfully for the newer players the game eases you along during the initial sequences. However, there can be heartaches at times when the sprite doesn't comply with the controls and the desired effect isn't obtained.

You must rely on stealth as much as you rely on brute force to survive this game. Blending in with the surroundings and mingling with crowds is the name of the game. You can relieve dead people of their clothing and wear them instead of your normal attire that sticks out in a crowd. Another important element of stealth is weapon choices and usage. A gun sticking out of your pocket might be enough to start a major panic attack among people and that can blow your cover. In this aspect, choosing the weapons that you wish to use on a mission is an important one. Too many guns or the wrong guns are hard to conceal. Also, there is a lot more human interaction in this game which makes it even harder to keep a low profile.

Being packed with weapons is not always such a good idea. There are bound to be times when 47 will be searched or he will have to pass through metal detectors, blowing his cover if you are careless. In such instances, the player has to rely on melee weapons such as shovels, pool cues and so on to knock some people out. The trusty fiber wire can also be used to strangle unsuspecting enemies and can also pass through metal detectors without raising an alarm. The quieter weapons like the crossbow are invaluable as they do not engage the attention of most enemies and also boost up your overall stealth rating. There's enough firepower at your disposal to take down an army and they include .22, .45, Mac 10, MP5 and a whole array of shotguns and sniper rifles.

The lack of a complete story line is made up for by the missions and the action that they unleash. Missions are more sinister and detailed. Enemy AI isn't top notch but that doesn't hamper gameplay all that much.

As with its predecessor, the game also has an optional first person view in addition to the default third person perspective. It's better to stick with the latter due to flaws in the first person view and also the limitations in peripheral vision. Overall, It's a fairly simple game to play with regard to the controls but there is a higher priority given to strategy and thought.

Hitman: Contracts- Graphics and Sound

Significantly enhanced graphics with good detailing of elements adds value to gameplay and entertainment factors and the ambient sounds and realistic voices are great. This game can match some of the big names in this genre where graphics and sound is concerned.

Hitman: Contracts - Summing Up

The developers stick to a formula that have won them critical acclaim and made this a successful video game. From a gamer's point of view, there's nothing new here except a handful of weapons and a small revision in script. Seasoned Hitman players will find the game a bit tiresome in spite of it being packed with decent action.

Otherwise good gameplay is marred by occasional control flaws and the delays that choosing weapons can cause. The developers need to wake up to the fact that players have been roaming around as 47 and mindlessly killing everyone in sight for three editions now. It's high time some twists and hooks were woven into the fabric of the Hitman encounters. The next edition will need a major overhaul or else there are chances that this franchise might suffer from monotony and lose its way.

All said, 47 has all the makings of a future hall of famer in the gallery of video game personalities. Hitman: Contracts is a decent game which will attract newcomers to the series, old hands might want to wait for something a bit more original.

Hitman: Contracts - Cost

Hitman: Contracts currently retails at $14.95