Hitman - Episode 1: Paris Reviews
At its core, Hitman is a worthy entry in a series that's been consistent. However it's hamstrung by way one glaring problem. The game's need to push you online and punish you for playing without an Internet connection is appalling. Coupled with frequent server disconnections, there's no way we can recommend Hitman at this point in time. Hopefully IO Interactive and Square Enix get the message from the slew of negative customer reviews on Steam and public forums and fix things. Until then though, you're better off waiting.
IO Interactive has setup something potentially more impressive for future releases, with gameplay we've come to love and a taste of what feels like infinite possibilities spread throughout a single scenario.
Solid opening chapter, but we're left wanting more
There's only so much fun you can get out of playing the same level over and over again
Hitman Intro Pack will cost you $15, with each upcoming location carrying the retail price of $10. Time will tell if this is a good business model. However, from what we can tell at the moment, a majority of users aren't quite happy with having yet another triple-A game that's chopped up and essentially being delivered one bit at a time.
Many believed Hitman would fail as an episodic release. As it turns out, a single massive map full of opportunity more than makes up for the staggered release schedule. Still, it stumbles with unexpected online requirements for a single player game and other technical issues.
The Hitman Intro Pack is satisfying to play, there just isn't enough of it. This ought to be rectified by the second episode next month, and by then its servers should be stable as well.
Based solely on the over-before-you-know-it first installment, Io Interactive's decision to segment its latest assassin adventure appears ill conceived
Hitman (2016) does well in immersing the player in a world where you must think and act like Agent 47 should. The meat of the game is found when returning to the location and discovering the many options there is to subdue the targets. While perfect for hardcore gamers and completionists, its long load times is the one thing holding it back.
Yeah, Hitman is back with a more stealth-balanced system, but this being an episodic experience seems to have IO Interactive stuck now without a real story or reason for players to come back. Still, there is fun to be had in the various killing approaches and Agent 47's slightly different approach to acquiring said opportunities.
Hitman is a mixed package. While its core mechanics are solid and brimming with potential, the insane load times and required online connection sour what could have been a proper return to the franchise roots.
Hitman succeeds in providing an engaging experience that stays true to the sandbox formula established in previous games in the series. It encourages multiple playthroughs to complete secondary challenges and discover unique kill opportunities, and there's also community made missions to keep you occupied. Just keep in mind the offline experience is bare bones, the frame rate is inconsistent and there are some occasional bugs.
After playing Hitman: Episode 1 - Paris, it's easy to reach the following conclusions. #1: instead of any new innovations and ideas, this new addition to the franchise just takes what made it great in the first place, and improves upon it. #2: although this is just the first step of many, it somehow feels that the complete package will be the best yet, and, #3: exactly because of this, IO Interactive must surely smooth out the many rough edges of its, otherwise, great product, especially the - currently - lukewarm plot, and, even more importantly, the many flaws of its online content.
All in all, Hitman is a very promising start to the reboot series. The visuals are good, the voice acting is excellent, and with the longevity promised in Contracts mode it should be a series that runs and runs. The issues with the AI can be addressed in future episodes, we hope, and if that happens then the game will certainly hit a higher score than we can give it this time. With five further episodes to come in 2016, the future's looking bright for our shiny-headed assassin.
This review covers the PS4 version of the game.
It's understandable that the release of Hitman in episodes may cause concern as it's not something that the gaming community will likely want for its triple-A titles. Though, with this particular game, I consider it paramount that IO interactive get it right, especially after the disappointing Hitman: Absolution, which felt incomplete.
Plenty of promise, but this game is going to require some decent updates over the coming months.
Playing by the rules can still be fun, and despite my misgivings I'm interested in seeing more Hitman in the coming months. Its lavish environments allow for enough outcomes and stories that I can't dismiss its decision to trade real freedom for bespoke scenarios out of hand. And most importantly, the illusion it offers of getting in and out without being seen and on your own terms lingers just long enough to be worthwhile. I'm just disappointed it was an illusion in the first place.
Hitman's pioneer episode does right by the Hitman name. Dozens of challenges and user-generated assassinations offer untold hours of replay value, even when the exotic sounds and sights of Paris lose their allure.
The HITMAN "Intro Pack" tries to squeeze out as much gameplay as it can from a limited amount of content. While it succeeds in doing so, it also has a tendency to become quite repetitive and long loading times have a tendency to hinder the experience. What it does do is create a solid foundation upon which the rest of the content can build.