Hitman - Episode 3: Marrakesh Reviews
Hitman’s third episode would have been barely acceptable in non-episodic fashion, but the value both in replay-ability and price starts to diminish when placed elsewhere. I still appreciate the detail in all the locales, but it’s clear the game needs to mature beyond another point.
Far from bad, or even mediocre, yet even further from being awesome, Hitman: Episode 3 - Marrakesh is just… good. It's playable, it's fun, it will manage to please fans of the series, but it's inferior to the previous chapter in almost every aspect, and, most of all, it feels rushed. Hopefully, the same won't happen with the, still yet to come, fourth episode.
Hitman Episode 3: Marrakesh is the least impressive installment thus far, but it still holds up as a decent distraction.
Hitman retains its strong gameplay core in light of setbacks. The developers fail to capitalize on Marrakesh’s intricately rendered crowds, and performance bugs that were once corrected have returned.
A decent level that'll provide another dozen playthroughs of manic chaos, but not quite as organic or as manic as the past two efforts. Not at all bad, but disappointing after the unrepentant triumphs of Paris and Sapienza.
Hitman Episode 3: Marrakesh doesn’t reach the highs of the previous levels and suffers more than ever from the extremely superficial approach to voice acting. It’s not a bad level, but it’s definitely one that I’d be less inclined to return to than the others I’ve played so far. It's the first time I've had to question Io's episodic approach: Over the course of a traditional game presented as a single package you may come across levels that dip in quality compared to the best ones, but you can always put those levels behind you and play the next. In the case of Hitman, we can only go back to the previous two. Marrakesh is what we’ve got for now, and it’s a slight step backwards.
The sandy Moroccan environment isn’t as inspiring as Sapienza in the last episode, and I felt IO Interactive could have done more with the Mediterranean backdrop other than to include a busy bazaar and private shisha club.
So was the Marrakesh episode a step up from the Sapienza? Definitely not. The targets were a bit too easy (or maybe I’m just getting good at the game), and I could not get over the local shopkeepers or even the soldiers who talk with a really strong American accent. The whole episodic release plan might not have been the smartest idea because this episode wouldn't really get you stoked for the next one.
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Disappointingly, the game didn’t offer much of a new style in gameplay in this episode. There are similar challenges on how you take out your targets, and only a few new “challenges” were featured in Marrakesh which makes it repetitive and lacks new features. Hitman – Episode 3: Marrakesh might be an episode not worthy to remember for others who were impressed with Paris and Sapienza.
This in no way means Hitman Episode 3 is a bad episode or not enjoyable. It was still enjoyable to an extent, but it definitely does not hold up to the level of mastery that IO Interactive pulled off with Paris and Sapienza. If this had been a standalone release, or the first mission released in the episodic nature, I wouldn’t feel too comfortable with the rest of the releases going forward. But since this was released in the middle of the life cycle, and there is still three additional missions to go, it doesn’t affect things to drastically.
Hopefully things pick up for the next episodes as the signs are definitely pointing to what is an average title.
Episode 3: Marrakesh is entertaining but it doesn't build upon the brilliant Sapienza mission!
Hitman Episode 3 continues to offer interesting missions with multiple ways of tackling them, but also manages to retain its lingering issues. The third episode's increased challenge is welcome, though Marrakesh turns out to be a rather uneventful setting.
'Marrakesh' is a step back from the successes of previous episodes, but not dramatically so. IO seems to be experimenting with different playstyles that leave less room for debate, but the classic DNA of 'Hitman' permeates everything and I will have no problem coming back for the next round.
Hitman: Episode 3 - Marrakesh is a good addition to an already great release, and although it may not have the total freedom of Sapienza, it certainly does espionage and detail well. The constantly busy atmosphere and the variety of kills will keep dedicated assassins coming back for more. Roll on Thailand.
Marrakesh has a little bit less lackadaisical exploration, a little less margin for error thanks to the population density and state of military high alert. Even fewer exaggerated costumes, far as I could find. But you can still brain a fool with a wrench from 20 yards.
The situation in Marrakesh has great potential in providing a sense of pressure, but it falls short in its linearity along with the voice work which lessens the immersion. Hitman is still a solid title, yet this third episode is slightly weaker then the previous two.
Marrakesh is a location rife with life, but disappointingly lacking in the same depth that Sapienza had. But in the end, still a worthwhile episode for the Hitman enthusiast.
Hitman’s latest episode has some impressive moments, but Marrakesh feels limited compared to the sprawling, interconnected layouts of Paris and Sapienza. It’s part of an increasingly great game and still provides some solid stealth action, but don’t be surprised if you’re not coming back to this one for more than a few tries.
The tone of the level itself feels like it’s been ripped straight out of a Bond movie