Incredible Depth from an Episodic Design
Hitman broke series tradition and adopted for an episodic approach to both storytelling and release schedule. Each of the game’s levels was broken out as individual packages, with players expected to spend dozens of hours combing through each of them. This new approach wasn’t initially popular with fans, but the bonus was that IO Interactive had to treat every single level as if it were an individual product, and that did wonders for the overall quality. The result is some of the smartest, most exquisitely crafted experiences that the series has ever seen.
Each level can be tackled in a multitude of ways. This has always been true for the Hitman series but never has it been so fully realized here. Side challenges and mini-assassinations keep things fresh and exciting, meaning that it’s possible to replay each stage twenty times over before things start to repeat. Hitman: Definitive Edition may come as a complete package, but it still holds the intricate level of detail born of the developer’s episodic approach to the game’s design.
The Complete Package
While fans had to wait patiently for each new content drop the first time around, those picking up the Definitive Edition benefit from having everything right there at their fingertips from day one. It can’t be overstated just how meaty of a game Hitman has become since launch, with everything from new missions, seasonal contracts, and a level creator to cosmetic items which hearken back to previous games in the series.
As well as the seven levels included in the base game, there’s now a Summer Bonus Episode – Featuring ICA bonus missions in Sapienza and Marrakesh, IO Interactive’s 20th Anniversary Outfit Bundle, and all of the extra content present in the Game of the Year Edition. There’s a bonus campaign to play through in the form of the Patient Zero missions, which take Agent 47 to reworked versions of previous maps like Bangkok, Colorado, and Sapienza.
There’s Still More to Come
You’d be forgiven for thinking that Hitman: Definitive Edition is the game’s final swansong before the team moves onto new things, but incredibly, there’s still more content planned. IO Interactive have been clear that they are currently working on Season 2 of the game, but in the meantime are continuing support. According to the content roadmap for May, there’s a ton of stuff still to come. First off, there’s a new Elusive Target in the form of the Ex-Dictator. Then another, The Chef, will be added in for players to hunt down. At the end of the month, there will be 10 new contracts introduced into Hitman, giving players old and new a reason to jump back in and replay some of the game’s stages.
It’s unclear as to how long IO Interactive plans to continue support for the game, but even if May is the last content drop, there’s still so much to do once you pick up the game. Hitman: Season 2 is likely not far off and will continue the story that Season One set up, meaning that now is a great time to jump in.
It’s Still One of the Best Looking Games Ever Made
Since launch, Hitman has received consistent updates to keep it at the forefront of graphical fidelity. In 2017, IO Interactive added in HDR and 4K support, and even went in and altered some of the color schemes for each level. The result is pretty astounding whether you’re playing on a high-end PC, Xbox One X or a base model console. All of this really shines through when playing the game. Each level is packed to the brim with NPCs, each carrying out their own tasks and routines.
Marrakesh is the pinnacle of the game’s beauty, as Agent 47 walks through bustling market squares punctuated with rich color and excellent lighting effects. On PC, the game features an uncapped frame-rate, meaning you can crank it up as high as your PC can handle. Hitman: Definitive Edition is the culmination of countless bug fixes, engine tweaks and graphical upgrades, and has definitely never looked better.
The Definitive Hitman Experience
Hitman: Season One just might be the best Hitman game ever made. Other entries in the series might boast a better story, but none of them can come anywhere close to what Hitman offers up in terms of stealth gameplay. Each level is a true stealth playground, with multiple paths to success. There’s more choice than ever and more reason to experiment, given how absurd some of the assassinations can be. The series has always had a dark sense of humor, but thanks to just how intricate the setups can be in the latest game, they’re just a lot more satisfying here.
It may have taken its time to release fully, but Hitman is a must play for fans of the series. The kills are bigger, the choices more plenty, and the environments exponentially denser. If you’ve been on the fence since the game launched, Hitman: Definitive Edition is definitely the best possible time to finally give it a chance.
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