The Hitman saga has been with us for two decades now, and is considered by most to be one of the most popular stealth series ever.
Not that this statement can be contradicted; the bald and silent protagonist of the saga has essentially become the embodiment of the stealth game, perhaps even more so, whether we like it or not, of characters I considered to be sacred video game monsters such as Solid Snake. After all, the potential of 47 has brought the brand two titles to the cinema , even if both (unfortunately) of negligible depth.
But back to us: IO Interactive is ready to entertain us with the last, new chapter of the Hitman saga, which concludes the “World of Assassination” trilogy that began four years ago with the reboot of the saga. Also this time we will follow the events of 47, a commissioned killer created in vitro to be the deadliest hitman in the world. Our ice-eyed protagonist is hot on the heels of Providence , an enlightened-like secret organization that holds true power in the world; with him are several key figures from the world of Hitman, such as his old friend (and number 6) Lucas Gray, Olivia Hall and the ubiquitous Diana Burnwood, the voice of the elusive Agency.
Before starting with the review, however, it is good to know that this title integrates perfectly into the ecosystem of the World of Assassination, leaving the player free to replay all the titles of the Hitman series, as long as they are present in your library, with all the improvements and innovations introduced by Hitman III.
Let’s start talking about IO Interactive’s latest work from the basics: the plot, which now more than ever acquires a more prominent place in the sandbox dedicated to murder. After reuniting with his “brother” Lucas Gray, another survivor of Dr. Ort-Meyer’s experiments, 47 is more determined than ever in wanting to tear down the pillars of Providence. This last chapter in fact pays more attention to the narrative binder that there is between one murder and another, letting a more engaging storyline that in the past supports the rich gameplay, as we move from one location to another. Of course, this is not a mind-boggling writing, but there are some twists and turns and adds substance to a title famous more for the multiple possibilities of murder than for memorable supporting actors. Unfortunately, sometimes the writing seems to have been a bit rushedand it doesn’t allow us to feel enough empathy with some characters who might have been the subject of a little more screentime. Lucas Gray himself, a perhaps pivotal character in the IO Interactive reboot, who grew up and became a tritagonist in previous chapters, doesn’t have all the space he deserves (not to mention the disorientation he could cause in players who have never touched the new Hitman series. ).
However, the game does a better job than previous chapters in integrating active storytelling with gameplay , thanks to the introduction of “stories” within the missions. In the past, novice players risked being lost in the face of the countless possibilities that each Hitman sandbox setting was going to offer, discouraging novices to approach the saga. With the introduction of the “stories”, in each of the six settings in the game we will find different narrative hooks that will allow 47 to follow a certain track to get closer to its target. An example? In certain settings you can dress up as a photographer to gain access to the target’s house, get close to him and have a moment alone together … ANDa moment is all it takes to 47 . Become a technician to sabotage a Soviet MIG so that it expels your target. Or solve a murder as a famous London detective to get closer to the target. In short, each of these tracks slightly reduces the freedom of 47, but in return we will get new small objectives to follow (as if they were side quests), new dialogues and greater narrative depth, as well as a pleasant immersion in the lore of Hitman. I particularly focus on this point because, more than gameplay innovations, I find that stories are the real new incentive to get closer to the World of Assassination. On the other hand, we are not all stealth wizards and having tracks to follow often helps, as well as increasing the feeling that the game world is alive by a little bit. The gaming experience clearly benefits by enriching itself with new possibilities and options.
Let’s now move on to the gameplay, which is based on the already seen and known pillars of the two previous iterations of the brand . The absolute protagonist of Hitman III is the silent 47, a sort of superman trained to be the perfect hitman. In his role we will have to plan the missions, choose the equipment and the starting location and then infiltrate six different sandbox settings to kill one or more targets in the way we believe most appropriate. 47 is a master of deception and improvisation, and is endowed with multiple abilities: he can pick a lock, climb a building, sabotage vehicles, perceive his target at tens of meters and so on. All this in addition to its innate ability to make almost anything a lethal weapon, from a plate of sushi to a wrench to a screwdriver and a garden hoe. The only limit we have for killing a target is, basically, our imagination. IO Interactive knows this well, which has tailored the conclusion of the World of Assassination trilogy to make exploration, disguise and infiltration even more fun.
Do not expect a revolution though: Hitman III more or less faithfully follows the path traced by its two predecessors , introducing some new features and modifying a little bit, but the gist is the same. Maybe IO Interactive can be blamed for not having had enough faith in 47 to dare something new, but overall I find this third chapter full-bodied and satisfying, like the other two. After all, with the first and second iteration of the reboot there is practically total integration, and all the innovations introduced by Hitman III can also be used in the first two titles signed by IO Interactive directly from the game menu of this third chapter, as long as they are present in your game library. If you want, you can start with the first Hitman and retrace the story of 47 through the three episodes as one big game.
The gameplay innovations introduced in this third chapter mainly concern exploration. First of all, in every sandbox setting there are some one-way shortcuts that are activated permanently. I’ll explain; a bit like in Bloodborne (I know, the comparison is a bit strange) by opening a shortcut it will be available permanently, even if we decide to replay the same level to try different approaches. Opening a secret door, unhooking a ladder and so on thus acquire a completely different meaning from the point of view of the replayability of our title; in a second run we will be able to enter somewhere else, take on a different disguise and so on.
In Hitman III there is also a camera that no, it does not serve to enter the ubiquitous Photo Mode in many titles , but has a much more connected function to the nature of the series. The camera is a default item, which means it will fit into 47’s gear from the start of each mission. Then we can use it in the field in different ways: by pointing it on some electronic locks, the camera will allow our remote help to “hack” and unlock them, guaranteeing us a new entrance. The camera is then able to analyze some documents, computer or tablet. In short, it is a new tool that is really useful for our stealth infiltrations; of course, it doesn’t hurt that it can also be used to… Take simple souvenir photos, to be kept aside. No filters or weird poses though.
From a technical point of view, Hitman III does not differ particularly from its predecessors, but I can say that the Glacier Engine, a game engine created by IO Interactive, makes its figure giving some truly breathtaking views, like the unreachable skyscrapers of Dubai, the cyberpunk atmospheres of Chongqing or the gloomy settings of the Carpathians. Too bad for the NPC models, which are often repeated and a bit woody. Also, there are a few small bugs, but nothing that could really affect your experience or ruin your immersion in the game. The game AI is balanced but has some minor flaws; let me explain: I happened to go out of a balcony with a target, close the door and couple him without the guards saying anything, despite having transparent glass. Strange, really. I would have thought it was a bug, if it hadn’t happened several times; Such a pity.
As for himself, he is well animated and “visually emotionless”, as usual. Hitman III more generally feels more like an extension of everything the World of Assassination has been so far more than a full-fledged sequel with a soul of its own. In a sense, the entire trilogy should be played in one go to fully understand the goodness of the IO Interactive product.
The audio sector is equally interesting, with the return of the deep and hard voice of the 47 by David Bateson, who also returns for this third chapter together with Jane Elizabeth Perry, historical voice of Diana Burnwood. All the dubbing is actually very well done and helps to bring the player into the “World of Assassination” imagined by IO Interactive. The soundtrack is dark enough, with tones composed by Jesper Kyd, ultra veteran of the sector. To make you understand, Kyd is the composer behind Assassin’s Creed II, Forza Motorsport 4 and also the most recent Assassin’s Creed Valhalla.
Conclusion
Hitman III is the conclusion of a trilogy that has been able to reinvent the story of Agent 47 with modernity: don’t take it as a sequel that wants to revolutionize the saga, but, if I can make a risky analogy, like the last chapter of a book who has taken you a lot and with whom you have spent countless and pleasant evenings.
A complete product, able to satisfy our desire for stealth like few other games at the moment: you can have fun taking down targets in the most creative way possible, taking all the time necessary to plan the perfect murder or enter machine gun in hand and unleash a pandemonium of terror and bullets. The choice is yours , but obviously this title pushes you to use creativity and not arsenal. And when you do, you’ll find out how much fun Hitman III is and why it’s one of the best stealth games of its kind.
