So You Want to Be a Hitman
Hitman 3 is a game for both newcomers and veterans of the series
It is hard to find an entry point into the Hitman series. There are eight games in total and from the outside looking in, it’s tempting to start from the beginning and go from there. This can be daunting when looking at the most recent trilogy of games. The first entry has several releases from both old publisher Square Enix and new publisher Warner Bros. Interactive.
So where to begin?
Developer IO Interactive (IOI) has had a rough time trying to release the World of Assassination Trilogy. It’s faced a weird episodic release schedule, was sold to a publisher that slashed the budget of the second game, and finally released its third entry smoothly.
Thankfully, IOI had the foresight to continue the tradition of including old levels in the new package for new players. This makes Hitman 3 the de facto best place to jump in.
This piece explores the Hitman franchise and why Hitman 3 is the perfect starting point for newcomers.
The Complete Experience
Hitman 3 ties all three games into one package. It updated previous maps with new bells and whistles. New players can embrace the Hitman experience in its entirety if they purchase add-ons.
In no way is it easy to navigate on PC, but for those brave enough to face the obtuse land of Hitman DLC, you will be rewarded with a feature-rich experience.
Releasing one platform for a complete arc to be played is novel (used in very rare cases like the Halo Master Chief Collection), but the convenience of just booting up one game and playing three splendid games back-to-back is unrivaled.
The menu system makes it easy to either select a map (all of which are unlocked from the start), select a game they want to run through, or just start playing from any point and move forward through the story.
There are spots for the player to partake in any of the side content released, such as the player-made contracts, or the Hitman 2 Sniper Challenge without too much digging. Whatever the player wants is accessible and clearly defined in the menu.
A Sandbox of Murder and Ingenuity
Hitman 3 is a stealth action third-person shooter. Most stealth games task the player with going from A to B quietly and unseen with maybe a few branching paths to pat the player on the back for thinking outside of the box. That option is there in Hitman if you’re so inclined, but my recommendation is to play with the in-game settings for maximum immersion.
The Hitman games present levels as a mini-sandbox of systems of AI, items, and disguises to allow for the player to plan and execute the most efficient route to the target or just play with the systems to see the hilarity that ensues when broken.
Hitman 3 is no different. Because the first game in the trilogy was released episodically, they designed each map to be packed with content to keep dedicated players returning to find every toy possible.
Of course, the temptation would be to create the next games as just standard levels and reduce the “superficial” trappings of the episodic first game. IOI wisely stayed the course and, with some exceptions, has crafted three games full of little mini sandboxes with just as much to do. All killer, no filler.
Each map in Hitman 3 has you exploring different and unique settings. From a vineyard with acres of both interior and exterior locations to a large city in Asia with a top layer of slums and neon lights sitting on top of a sprawling, high-tech intelligence agency. No two levels are remotely the same. This game really is a living world filled with blood, money, and all the illicit dealings a player could ask for.
Smooth Gameplay
As it is the third game in the series, Hitman 3 is a video game that has had any rough edges sanded to a mirror sheen. The great thing is that playing the previous games’ maps allows you to see this polish that wasn’t part of the original game they debuted in.
Every system is dialed in for the maximum fun possible. The NPC AI is good at first glance, but exploiting this AI can lead to some outrageous gaps in the programming. Thrown objects will track targets around corners, leading to instant knockouts or kills while a witness is running away. All NPCs investigate sounds as long as they can’t see the player, leading to the player just walking into a restricted area with minimal effort. Hitman 3 is a puzzle game more than a traditional stealth one. The metagame is how to create gaps in the AI to reach the objective.
Performance is excellent as well. Graphically, Hitman 3 is an impressive game. Mixing these top-of-the-line graphics with the in-depth systems running under the hood can lead to a game that is a little shaky when too much is occurring on the screen. Luckily, the gameplay is unaffected and leads to a game that is a joy to play.
The only downside is the network issues.
Hitman 3 requires an always-on internet connection for progression. As a player plays through each map, they unlock items and various facets that can change how the mission plays. If they lose internet connection for any reason, then they lose any unlock achieved. Players will find themselves forced to boot back to the title screen and potentially lose a good deal of progress. This can be frustrating.
The Story
Hitman stars legendary hitman Agent 47, a man genetically modified from childhood to be the perfect killing machine for some nefarious organization. As a bald man wearing a black suit and red tie with a barcode on the back of his neck, it’s easy to assume he stands out. However, he’s a master at blending in and taking out his targets with no one seeing him. He’s only known as a myth that the underworld tells each other at spooky crime campouts.
In the World of Assassination trilogy, a man from Agent 47’s past hires him to take out members of the Illuminati (for lack of a better term) and it’s up to 47 to fulfill his contracts. There are more twists that I won’t delve into because of spoilers, but it’s a story that will leave you intrigued and engaged.
In Hitman 3 we find 47 hot on the heels of the last three members he’s been tasked to take out with his friend and handler, trying to find the location of the puppet master. Through a series of missions, Agent 47 will not only chase this puppet master but throw off his chains to become his own person.
It’s a decent story and a good ending to a trilogy that hasn’t put a lot of effort into the main story in the past. The best bits are the mini-stories inside the missions. IOI has leaned into the dark humor that has become a hallmark of the series. Following the story missions, there are moments where you’ll chuckle. Not only are these moments so opposed to the grim, self-serious tone of the overarching story, but they’re memorable.
Hitman 3 is by far one of the best games I’ve recently played. It’s easy to recommend both to lovers of the series and newcomers alike. As it’s the most polished entry and has the previous games made accessible, it is about as perfect of a jumping-in point for new players.
If you have a good internet connection, that is.
