Hitman: Absolution

[goh]

re: Hitman: Absolution

<iframe width="640" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Y4tPTHfEzXg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Oh right. NSFW. Probably not anyway.

[judgejudy]

re: Hitman: Absolution

am I the only one who thinks 47 looks just like Christopher Meloni in that picture?

[Altimus]

re: Hitman: Absolution

All I can say is finally! This game has been a long, long time coming.

[Flawless]

re: Hitman: Absolution

Eurogamer Preview

The methods and the pace feel a step removed from the previous games; this is stealth that's quick to climax, fast and direct in its action. Moving from cover to cover has a rhythm as well as a muscular grace, while the way our hero shimmies across ledges and leaps across gaps suggests the clumsy marionette stylings of past Hitman games are no more.

Stay still and the influence of another stealth game begins to seep through in bright, phosphorous yellow. Agent 47 now has access to Instinct, a feature that IO Interactive insists is an offshoot of his genetically enhanced, near supernatural abilities. Enemies across the map are highlighted in glowing yellow, and in a manifestation of 47's foresight their paths are laid out as a flaming trail.

In an effort to sidestep the problems encountered by Batman: Arkham Asylum (in which players would rely wholly on the comparable Detective Mode), there will be limitations in place. How exactly these will be implemented remains a mystery. The trail will, traditionalists will be pleased to learn, be optional, with harder difficulties removing it all together.

The improvisational element of the past returns with a visceral twist. Takedowns are savage and brutal, with Agent 47 taking whatever's to hand and transforming it into an instrument of death. A power cord gets wrapped violently around someone's throat, a marble bust comes thundering down on someone else's head and a baton is used to audibly snap a neck.

Environments are susceptible to player tinkering, and through all the bustle and noise of this new brand Hitman the old sensation of being given a murderous toy box returns. A fuse box can be sabotaged, used to coax one cop out while plummeting the others into darkness, raising the morbid question: who to kill first?

In the action that ensues, the most brilliant addition to this toy box emerges. Agent 47's targets are now much more than binary automatons; they're well-defined characters who respond to whatever obstacle you put in their way believably. Playing with the hunted before swallowing them whole looks to be that much more delightful than before.

there's a rich depth to the AI. Enemies will react smartly to their environments and work as a unit; if one hears a gunshot and another sees a dropped gun while a third sees you hot-tailing it into the distance, they'll pool their knowledge and hunt you down.

What really sets them apart, though, is their character. The cops of Hitman: Absolution are a lumbering, clumsy bunch, humanised by countless snippets of dialogue. They'll berate each other for their stupidity, or gently mock one another should one be touched by fear, and, most effectively, plead for mercy if Agent 47 gets them in his grasp.

One moment sees Agent 47 take a cop as a human shield, sparking off frenzied cries from the victim's colleagues as they call out to him by name. By making the prey so very human IO Interactive has made Agent 47 that much more of a monster, sharpening his dark, sinister edge.

[Graphik]

re: Hitman: Absolution

On the topic of Hitman type games, anybody ever played Death to Spies on PC? Its basically a hitman clone and something to tide you over if you need some stealth kill action.

I got it but I've been on the first level for weeks. Game is hard as ****.

[jmood88]

re: Hitman: Absolution

Joystiq preview

[Flawless]

re: Hitman: Absolution

A few very short gameplay scenes shown in this video.

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[Jonesy]

re: Hitman: Absolution

It wasn't real impressive how that little statue just morphed into his hand but i'm sure that's just because it's early.

Can't wait for this....

[Burns11]

re: Hitman: Absolution

Yeah, that's just a missing animation, I'm sure it'll be fixed.

[quaziemoto3]

re: Hitman: Absolution

I am somewhat weary of this game. I do not want to be forced into firefights. The thing I love about Hitman is being about to silently take out my targets, in unique and different ways. I like how you sit in a closet for 3 - 5 minutes while you wait for someone to come into their dressing room. I like poisoning hot dogs or donuts and then sneaking throughout a house dressed as an FBI agent while you whack some mob dude. I hope they do not destroy what I love about Hitman.

[Splitter77]

re: Hitman: Absolution

I am somewhat weary of this game. I do not want to be forced into firefights. The thing I love about Hitman is being about to silently take out my targets, in unique and different ways. I like how you sit in a closet for 3 - 5 minutes while you wait for someone to come into their dressing room. I like poisoning hot dogs or donuts and then sneaking throughout a house dressed as an FBI agent while you whack some mob dude. I hope they do not destroy what I love about Hitman.

i dont think they will. Thats what makes it a unique game.

[Flawless]

re: Hitman: Absolution

Jesper Kyd will not be returning, and it doesn't sound like David Bateson will either.


David posted this on the Hitman forums. Rumors are Keith Carradine will now be the voice of Agent 47.

Hi there Mathew,

Thanks to you I now know more! I didn't even know the E3 thing had voice work on it at all.

Yeah, I won't lie. I am totally gutted. You know, IO called me in Sept 09 and said I had to now audition for the part thanks to them hiring some LA casting director. Well, I ate my slice of humble pie and auditioned and then heard back shortly afterwards: congratulations - you got the part. I have been waiting ever since for the call to go in and record...

You know, I can even understand IOI not letting me know what's going on so as to avoid any loss of shine in the build up to the trailer premiere and then E3.

But now, after repeated mails and sms to the producer and still no reply I am lost for words.

Thanks for your support though.

Kind regards

David

[jmood88]

re: Hitman: Absolution

It really sucks that Jesper Kyd isn't doing the music anymore.

[Flawless]

re: Hitman: Absolution

<iframe width="853" height="480" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/NWf3dPKYf1E" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[jmood88]

re: Hitman: Absolution

That looked like a clip from a movie.