2013.2: Hitman: Absolution

Completed on Professional - Hard

This game had me going back and forth on how much I like it not only each level but sometimes each checkpoint!

Let's get the rant out of the way first, the Cemetery Entrance was a bullshit level. On my first playthrough I never EVER check a guide in games like these, so much so sometimes I stop playing for weeks and get back to it only when I feel like trying to figure it out again. This level however, dear lord, I sensed it was total Bullshit after like the 11th or so time so I just had to check a guide. I don't want to spend any more time ranting here so I'm going to link you guys here for a short video. He sums up my frustrations perfectly.

The game had so many great and so many 'meh' moments I don't know what to think! Overall I've really enjoyed it and only one thing constantly nagged me, which was the disguise system. We had a long chat about it in the Hitman thread though so I'll leave it alone here.

Some levels were way too small and linear. I can remember maybe three that felt like 'classic Hitman' levels and goes to perfectly prove "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" as they turned out to be my favourites. Some others kind of trick you into thinking they are large but there is only one or two paths. At least on Hard.

This game in it's great moments really gives you a thrill like no other. Getting to your target untouched, and that final action, weather it be choke, make an accident happen, push or many other ways to get rid of the target and then slipping out of there is simply way too good of a feeling to miss out on.

It's so great it really elevates the whole feel of the game. But unfortunately there wasn't enough of that and too much of "oh great, another level full of baddies where I have to get to the exit/activate this etc.", and I understand the new spin but the old formula still works! The parts in this game where they used it were amazing so I don't know why they felt they needed to change stuff.

So a lot of mixed reactions here but the game is only really great (8/10) when it sticks to the old ways, which it doesn't do as often as it should have. And sometimes even when it does it's not as big and varied as the previous games. And the other levels felt too uncreative and when they come one after another, kind of tedious for me, especially with questionable stealth mechanics. That dropped the game into an average area (5/10) but if you mix those two experiences, you get a good game:

7/10.