Difficulty:

Just Right

Time Spent:

20 to 40 Hours

The Bottom Line:

"Worth the wait"

11 years ago, Agent 47 sneaked onto retail shelves in "Hitman 2: Silent Assassin". An improved sequel to a mediocre PC game, it combined the stealth mechanics of "Splinter Cell" with the arsenal of "Max Payne". Uncommonly slow-paced, the game demanded strategy and tactical planning before a course of action could be implemented. One reviewer called it a "thinking man's action game". As an agent of death, players would have to be extremely observant by recognizing the walking patterns of NPC's, potential lethal weapons and exits. In a sense, "Hitman 2" was every bit a puzzle game as much as it was about stealth. Patient players would go on to discover its pleasures, and the game went on to become a surprise hit. Two years later, a stylized sequel subtitled "Contracts" was released. But besides its surreal atmosphere and hazy soundtrack, the game played very much like its predeccessor. And then in 2006, the franchise concluded its run on the PS2/XBOX with "Blood Money", a title that added customizable weapons and a "notoriety" system to the formula.

"HItman: Absolution" is the first "Hitman" game in 6 1/2 years and it is a good one. The first installment in the series made exclusively for current consoles, it has been updated in a vein similar to 2010's "Splinter Cell: Conviction". The trial and error nature of past entries has been reduced by allowing players to have more control of the game. The result is a much faster paced title which still retains the classic ingredients from the previous games. Agent 47 still uses disguises and unorthodox ways to kill his targets, but he now uses "Instinct" rather than a map to recognize "marks" and patterns. It is similar to the "Detective Mode" of the "Batman: Arkham" games; an X-Ray Vision-like ability piviotal for recon assessments. Agent 47 is also more capable of engaging in gunfights without entirely botching a mission; he can "paint" his targets before going in for the shot. It's a mechanic lifted out of "Splinter Cell: Conviction".

Cutscenes and a cohesive storyline play a larger part in this latest "Hitman" game, although it's disappointing that it uses caricatures straight of "Saints Row" rather than realistic people. But it must be said that Kane and Lynch, the "heroes" of Io Interactive's other action series, do make amusing cameos. The levels are comparable to the ones found in "Blood Money", but a few consist of cinematic action segments that is now a common staple in action games of this current console generation (think "Uncharted"). Graphically, "Absolution" is a visual stunner, but the bloom effects on the 360 version are completely overdone. Although it may not be as sharp on the PS3, I would recommend it over the XBOX version due to the muted lighting. On the 360, the effects can be quite distracting. For example, at one point in the game, Agent 47 can wear a British judge's wig and it literally lights up like a Christmas tree as it reflects the sunlight.

"Hitman: Absolution" consists of 20 stages and can last up to 20 hours, depending on your style of play. There are five difficulty levels to choose from and as you play skillfully and discover in-game collectibles, you can raise your score. Additionally, the game's online component helps extend the game's life by allowing players to create their own "contracts". As you complete contracts made by other players, you can purchase weapons and their upgrades. Overall, this "Hitman" won't disappoint fans with its classic gameplay updated in a smart and intuitive way. It may not be as innovative as "Silent Assassin", but it's about as good as "Blood Money" which is considered the best installment by many fans.