Hitman Go
The iOS and Google Play store fronts are no stranger to developers awkwardly trying to fit console franchises into the mobile space. More often then not that strategy produces waters down, sub par experiences. Well Square Enix Montreal is having none of that with its conversion of the stealth action franchise, “Hitman”. Rather than trying to fir the console experience on tiny screens everywhere they made a game solely built for the mobile space. The result is a fun if not short lived puzzle game that feels properly snug within the IP.
Unlike its console counterparts, which revel in large open ended environments that act as, well, puzzles that are made to be broken, HitGo follows a more rigid structure. There are multiple solutions to each level, and within each area you will find certain tools (i.e. rocks, disguises, trapdoors, etc.) to aid you on your mission to the end. But throughout the game you will notice there are usually fewer ways to figure out a problem than more. You guide Agent 47, (the bald one in the black suit) to a predefined goal, you do that by sliding him in between pre-defined spaces on what amounts to be a tabletop game board. But, in classic Hitman fashion, there will be guards that you need to sneak around or “kill” to proceed. This is where I see HitGo’s biggest similarities to its older brethren. In the use of disguises that let you walk by certain color coated guards. In rocks used to distract said guards, the guns used to kill them, including the classic dual “silverballer” pistols, and in the overall flow of the game.
“incredibly unique, and powerfully effective“
Actually it is rather astonishing how much this game feels like a Hitman game, while being a completely different style all together. Speaking of style, the graphics in this game are incredibly unique, and powerfully effective. You play the whole game on a virtual tabletop board surrounded by white nothingness. Every bush, building, and bald head looks lovingly crafted to match that aesthetic. Something about it feels classy and smart. It doesn’t feel like an overly colored flash game, it feels like a game for the finer breed of gamers, a gamer who appreciates a fine glass of wine accompanied by an assortment of French cheeses. Get ready for you wine glasses to come crashing down my finely groomed brethren, for Hitman Go is rather short and has a poorly executed difficulty curve.
As you clean up your summer Chardonnay let me explain. The base game has 6 “boxes” that each sport their own theme and have a varying amount of levels within them, usually around 12. But after you understand certain aspects of the game, levels become extremely easy to conquer. About that previously mentioned difficulty curve, well there isn’t actually much of a curve. there are a few easily beat difficulty spikes, but overall it is pretty easy so all of the content in the game was beaten in around 4 hours. Though each level does have three optional “missions” within them to help add replay value, sadly though they are also found on the easier side of things.
At the end of the day I would recommend Hitman Go to puzzle game, and Hitman fans. Its good fun while it lasts and it sports a very original graphical style. But the fun is cut short and you never find yourself truly facing a challenge worthy of the master assassin.
Originally published at techexile.com on September 3, 2014.
