If you enjoyed the first game, more is better in this lush world of bald assassins.
With Hitman 3 just around the corner I finally got around to playing Hitman 2, and it blew me away with the sheer number of options available to the player during the levels that made each stage feel like more of a sandbox experience than a narrow, linear single-player game.
Let’s cut straight to the chase. If you expect a ground-breaking new entry to the stealth genre and a Hitman game that takes risks, pushes boundaries and sets a new standard for the gaming industry, Hitman 2 is not it.
Instead, Hitman 2 is more of a second season to the bold reboot of the series back in 2016. The graphics are almost identical, the gameplay is, by and large, the same, but that isn’t a bad thing. Instead of creating something entirely new and facing the problems, bugs, and potential gameplay issues that come with it, they decided to build on the successful formula they made four years ago. The Hitman 3 trailer suggests they are keen to stick to this formula for the foreseeable future too.
Hitman is a series of video games in the stealth genre. Players have to use their cunning and surroundings to pull off assassination missions and escape without being detected. It all began with Hitman: Codename 47, published by Eidos Interactive in late November 2000.
It has become an immensely popular franchise since, with the incredibly successful reboot of the video game series in 2016 just being the tip of the iceberg. There have been spin-off games such as Hitman Go and Hitman Sniper for mobile phones and popular film adaptations in the Hitman (2007) and Hitman: Agent 47 (2015).
Hulu announced a television series adaptation in 2017 to be written by John Wick creator Derek Kolstad, but there has been no recent news. It has even impacted the iGaming industry too, as there is a slot game titled Hitman that players can try at online casinos using no-deposit bonus codes like Rizk and LeoVegas Casino.
The game follows the life and times of Agent 47, a chameleon-like assassin that can blend into just about any location unnoticed, as long as you are decent at the game, that is. Most games try to dazzle players with exotic settings and expansive landscapes. Hitman 2 thrives in the average everyday locations that players can find relatable, like a shopping centre or the beachfront in Miami.
The first thing that struck me upon entering just about every level of Hitman 2 was how many things there are to do on each map. Not only that, but there are often several different ways of doing each thing too. There are also achievements and rewards offered to the player for completing various tasks in as many ways as possible, which adds a considerable layer of replayability to the game. I was always finding new items and pieces of the map to interact with that I didn’t notice on other playthroughs.
The game makes it virtually impossible to kill every single character you come across, so tactics and stealth are an unavoidable necessity. After all, it is a game about assassination, but it is worth mentioning because it won’t be everyone’s cup of tea. Running and gunning isn’t an option; neither is making hasty decisions. Patience, taking your time, and meticulously planning out your next move are the keys to success with this game.
Overall, Hitman 2 is a fantastic stealth game, but it isn’t anything new.
The replayability of each level and how everything links together is what is so appealing about this title. Players are generally dropped into the map and are given some targets to eliminate but little to no information about doing that. It’s entirely up to you. While you are taking down one target, you might notice the second name on your list fixing a cup of tea. You can then make a plan to drop some poison in the kettle for when they go for a refill. Or you might even see a more creative way to complete the first objective, which made me excited about playing the whole level all over again every time it happened to me.
The only fundamental difference between Hitman 2 and the original reboot in 2016 is that all of the levels for the second game were released as a complete package on the launch. In contrast, the first game launched with just one level and added a new one every month until all six were available to play. Some people might not like this because the original way allowed them to thoroughly explore and complete each map without distraction until the next one was released.
Personally, I think it is better to release them all at once and let the player choose what they want to play. The original way always felt a little bit like a convenient excuse to release the game before it was finished to me.
Overall, Hitman 2 is a fantastic stealth game, but it isn’t anything new. If you don’t like creeping around and planning out your next move, this is not for you. However, if you loved Hitman (2016) and wished there was more content, this is it. Similarly, if you love stealth games that provide a stiff, rewarding challenge and games that can be played on various consoles, this is a great one, but get Hitman (2016) first; otherwise, you will be needlessly missing out on great content.
