Hitman, now with concealment mechanics
Introduction
Hitman 2 is a 2018 sequel to the 2016 Hitman game and narratively plays out as a second season to the episodic format. It was developed by IOI Interactive, who have been managing the franchise since its conception back on the Playstation 2 with Hitman: Codename 47.
Plot and Setting
Hitman 2 takes place right where the first game left off. Our bald assassin and his handler are searching for leads for the identity of the shadow client, a mysterious entity working behind the scenes while manipulating events from the previous game.
This time around, Agent 47 and Diana are working with a secret organisation of influential and shady businessmen and demagogues called Providence. However, their leader, known as The Constant (portrayed by Philip Rosch), has the two under his thumb with information about Agent 47’s origins.
You are still a globetrotting assassin in this game, travelling between locations to hunt down your targets while wearing a series of questionable cosplay. That much has not changed, but this time the plot is much more engaging, as our main cast now have personal stakes in this narrative. Then again, saying Hitman 2’s narrative is an improvement over its predecessor is like saying rapid fire farting in class is only marginally better than taking a crap on the teacher’s desk.
From a narrative perspective, Hitman 2’s reason for existence is similar to the first instalment of the World of Assassination trilogy, which is to set everything up for the next game. Outside of that, as a plot, it does not stand on its own merits. Hitman 2’s plot and sandbox level design all feel like DLC of the first game and not as something entirely new.
Characters and Performances
The characters are given much more backstory in this sequel, particularly Agent 47 and Diana Burnwood. Their loyalty towards each other becomes an important narrative plot thread in this game, which was only touched upon in the previous entry.
David Bateson, who has portrayed the assassin for the last 22 years, does a great job voicing the emotionless hitman. 47 is a difficult character to connect with, especially when in-game, you have the option to knock a man out with a fish and steal his clothes.
Lucas Grey (John Hopkins) did not leave much of an impression in the first game, aside from being a methodical killer. The case is different in this entry as he becomes the driving force for most of the narrative. Despite all this, his severe personality and the bland script fail to do him any favours. The previous game builds him up as an enigma pulling strings from behind the scenes, but the conclusion to that narrative comes across as dissatisfying.
Gameplay and Mechanics
Hitman 2’s gameplay is pretty much the same as its predecessor, with some improvements concerning the concealment and stealth mechanics. Agent 47 can still disguise himself as anything, but it does feel like Hitman 2 exaggerates this ability this time around. I once disguised myself as a professional tattoo artist, complete with the exact same tattoos as my victim.
It is also amusing to steal the disguise from a guard who’s of different ethnicity, sometimes with hair, and no one is the wiser, including the partner he was paired with only a few seconds ago. However, if someone watches you committing a crime, like murdering a man with a screwdriver, then your disguise gets comprised. You have the option to knock out or eliminate the witness to bury the evidence along with them, or you can swap it out for a new one.
Hitman adds the element of concealment to the mix, similar to the Assassin Creed franchise, where Agent 47 can blend in with crowds and hide by crouching in bushes to sneak past guards. If you are lucky, you might find yourself playing a game of reverse whack-a-mole with the guards by jumping from one hiding spot to the next.
A new tool added to your equipment is the suitcase, which you can use to store your lethal weapons like guns so you can slip past the guards. While I have tried it out for myself, you can also use the case itself as a weapon and knock out your target with this container of doom.
Agent 47 still feels heavy for melee combat, and guards can easily overwhelm him if he is not armed enough to take down a small country. While you do have the option to go in guns blazing, the game encourages you to take the stealthy route and even rewards you for it.
Through experimentation and exploration in these versatile sandboxes, you can gain access to new starting locations and better disguises to boost your efficiency in these specific locations. You can also increase Agent 47’s hitman level, which grants access to new weaponry and equipment, making your pest problem a lot easier.
The primary campaign is thankfully a lot more versatile with regards to its mission types. While they all somewhat involve hunting targets and making them meet their makers, there are also side objectives that need to be taken into consideration. Similar to the first game, you can either try to take down the targets by yourself or rely on the mission’s various opportunities to get in close and eliminate the target in a very flashy manner.
Content
As for content, the main story campaign is roughly six hours long, depending on how long one spends trying to figure out the sandboxes. This game features other bonus levels and modes, but sadly these can only be accessed by DLC and as a season pass.
Like with the first game, there are also several challenges that one can also do. While not as intense or dragging as the previous instalment, they do provide an entertaining distraction. Most of the challenges are divided into three parts, each part adding more complexity to spice up the formula. Most of these challenges follow a similar rhythm except for the Halloween challenges, turning our favourite bald assassin into a slasher movie villain.
It is fun to go through each of the levels and eliminate targets using the plethora of options available, but it has the potential of becoming too monotonous while trying to complete its many in game challenges.
Graphics and Animation
IOI Interactive swaps out their detailed animation for the sequel for static images for their cutscenes, a similar stylistic approach to games like Bayonetta. Being the company’s first independent game, they probably wanted to save time and money animating cutscenes. Whatever the case, the new visual change felt jarring after playing the first instalment of this trilogy, ruining the immersion whenever cutscenes would appear.
Sound and Music
Hitman 2 has a relatively diverse soundtrack, mostly comprised of orchestral music using brass and string instruments, with some synth thrown in on occasion. Its score at times reminds me of the Metal Gear Solid series, particularly during sneaking sequences. However, during Hawk’s Bay opening mission, its melody was a lot more malicious, similar to horror games like Resident Evil.
Conclusion
Unlike many game franchises I have reviewed on this website, I was never interested in the Hitman series. I thought the emotionless protagonist would not sell right, and to some extent, I was correct. However, after playing through these first two games of the World of Assassination Trilogy, I can understand what the fans enjoy about these games.
Its sandboxes are fun and inspire a lot of experimentation from its players, something the company should be praised for, especially in a world where stealth games are slowly making their decline. As a standalone game, Hitman 2 is well-made but does not strive to be anything more than a quick buck for IOI Interactive. Its uninspiring story and minor gameplay innovations show that the developers are beginning to feel franchise fatigue by this point.
