Improving on the Old
Looking at the returning features, Hitman: Absolution improves on nearly every other aspect of past entries. The cover system is tight, the weapons carry the right amount of impact, voice acting is top notch, the graphics are gorgeous and you won’t find this much melee weaponry on this side of Dead Rising anywhere else. I mean, seriously, there is a ton of melee weapons here. Everything from statue busts to power chords to tomahawks are hidden in each level. Regardless of if you want to use household objects or Agency-grade weaponry, it’s all there.
Large Environments
In addition to being beautifully detailed, the levels can be quite expansive. Depending on the current mission, our deadly clone, and his poorly-covered bar code tattoo, may find himself working through several different areas before locating his target. Moving unseen through the use of disguises or shadows is a rewarding experience, one that long-time fans will surely enjoy. Also, the environments are successful in differentiating themselves from each other, providing stunning visuals that never become dull. For example, in one level, the player moves from the blazing desert to the inside of a mine to a factory and finally into a laboratory. The ever-changing visuals help keep things exciting.
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Varied AI
The AI in Hitman: Absolution is hit and miss, unlike the pin-point accuracy of 47. Sometimes these soon-to-be ragdolls are quite aware of their surroundings and can switch the roles of prey and predator in a flash. Other times, you can manipulate them through simple methods. In one instance, I was able to throw the same book at the same wall over and over to bring in enemies one by one, snapping each of their necks as they walked through the door into the room piling with bodies. According to these bad guys’ logic, only one person is allowed to investigate disturbances at a time, leading to moments where their stupidity can be taken advantage of without consequence. Even adopting sloppy guerrilla tactics can work in the players’ favor. Shoot an enemy, run into a nearby closet, wait for suspicion to lower and repeat. When bodies are piling around a large piece of furniture, you think someone would take a peak inside. However, the AI can lose interest quickly and go about business as normal as if one of their friends wasn’t brutally stabbed with a syringe mere seconds earlier.
Verdict
Hitman: Absolution is filled with amazing moments and is teeming with replay value, a great bonus for the near 10 hour campaign. Nun assassin’s aside, Absolution is the definitive installment for the series and despite its engaging but predictable story, it has a lot going for it. Your inner hitman will have plenty of brutal choices to make. Whether you want to leave a pile of bodies in your wake or would rather be one with the shadows, Hitman: Absolution offers up another memorable entry, one that was well worth the wait.
[Editor’s Note: Hitman: Absolution was reviewed on the PlayStation 3 platform. The game was provided to us by the publisher for review purposes.]