Hitman (2016) Episodic Catch-All

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After the disappointing Hitman: Absolution, IO have come back with a return to what I consider the high point of the series, Blood Money. Here's a thread to talk about it. I don't think there's another one, I did try and find it.

They've released the first pack so far, with a pair of tutorials and a single proper mission at a Parisian Fashion show. They are wisely trying to get people to retry missions lots of times, with varying starting kit, locations, weapons and accidents unlocking other variations to get as much out of the large environments as possible. As the Eurogamer review says, they're like big theatre productions that you can insert yourself into to remove some major cast members. I have pushed one guy into a river (after performing a non-medicinal chiropractic procedure on his neck), and drowned a target in a toilet after putting rat poison in her champagne.

I've been having fun so far, anyone else been trying it?

FYI, GMG have a 25% off deal. You can get the first pack for a tenner and then optionally upgrade to the whole thing for an additional 30 quid, or get the whole lot in one go for 40 pounds or so.

I do adore the Hitman series. Would love to hear more thoughts because I can't work up enough enthusiasm over one stage. Critical question is: do I have the attention span to wait for all stages to be released and then buy.

I'm not playing this yet, but I am following its development. I've never played a Hitman game before, but - having finished Metal Gear Solid V - I'm interested in another action game with strong puzzle elements.

The only thing putting me off is the episodic nature of the game. I'm concerned that later episodes will be lower quality or not delivered at all.

Is it known whether the other episodes have been completed and are simply awaiting release? Or are they developing as they go?

Hitman is a perfect game for episodic content. After all, the game itself is nothing but a series of self contained missions. Each "episode" can be but a pack of a few missions.

What made the original games great was the self containedness of the missions. I also appreciated the level design such that it was given over to story telling, rather than the notion that players are playing a console based shooter. I own Absolution, and have put in twice as many hours into the demo sniper challenge than in the game itself. In fact, I don't think I got through the first level of the game itself. Every time I got to another weird box planter I'm supposed to hide behind, I puked a bit in my mouth.

Wow, I am SHOCKED this didn't have more posts. Did I miss another thread?

Anyway, I am literally apoplectic at this game. Not because I don't like it, but because I was like 80% finished with my "Murder Every Guard and some civilians too" playthrough in Paris when the game started crashing.

DON'T put 300 NPCs in every level if I can't murder every last one of them guys. Just don't. SO disappointing.

Prederick wrote:

Wow, I am SHOCKED this didn't have more posts. Did I miss another thread?

It is rather puzzling. Even when not playing it myself, watching other people figure their own way out is quite fascinating.

Also, there's now a companion app to notify you of Elusive Targets (the live events), both on iOS and Android.

Just checking in.
This game is pretty fantastic and does episodic content in a really satisfying manner.

Holy crap the last mission is incredible.

boogle wrote:

Holy crap the last mission is incredible.

Gahhh, so good to hear! I'm saving that for a rainy day.

I did replay Marrakesh and Colorado this afternoon and I loved them both. I think I'm happy to say this game is above Blood Money for me, the levels are much more intricate and detailed with lots of approaches. They've definitely focused on quality over quantity in the level design and it's worked out beautifully. Bring on Season 2!

How does this game compare to Absolution? That is the only Hitman game I've played, and even though I found it quite difficult at times, I finished it and enjoyed it very much, even though I hear many people didn't really care for it. What do you guys think?

Never played absolution.
The levels here are delightful little clockwork puzzles you can work with.
Having a ton of fun with escalation missions right now.

Mario_Alba wrote:

How does this game compare to Absolution? That is the only Hitman game I've played, and even though I found it quite difficult at times, I finished it and enjoyed it very much, even though I hear many people didn't really care for it. What do you guys think?

Absolution was a stunning piece of technology wrapped in highly linear level design. Which is to say it was good, but a step back from what came before, namely Hitman Blood Money. In my opinion Hitman 2016 is a return to form.

That escalation mission in Bangkok.
So good.
So much space preparation.

mr_n00b wrote:
Mario_Alba wrote:

How does this game compare to Absolution? That is the only Hitman game I've played, and even though I found it quite difficult at times, I finished it and enjoyed it very much, even though I hear many people didn't really care for it. What do you guys think?

Absolution was a stunning piece of technology wrapped in highly linear level design. Which is to say it was good, but a step back from what came before, namely Hitman Blood Money. In my opinion Hitman 2016 is a return to form.

It sounds like I should check it out, then. Thanks!

The giantbomb crew has several videos up that are great, particularly one where they play with the devs!

mr_n00b wrote:
Mario_Alba wrote:

How does this game compare to Absolution? That is the only Hitman game I've played, and even though I found it quite difficult at times, I finished it and enjoyed it very much, even though I hear many people didn't really care for it. What do you guys think?

Absolution was a stunning piece of technology wrapped in highly linear level design. Which is to say it was good, but a step back from what came before, namely Hitman Blood Money. In my opinion Hitman 2016 is a return to form.

I hated the Instinct mechanic of Absolution. More specifically, that it is a finite resource (depending on your selected difficulty level) that can be drained just by having someone look at you, and if you run out your disguises no longer work.

(At least, that's what I remember. It's been years since I played it and my memory might be hazy. I do know that I really really disliked it when I was playing.)

Quintin_Stone wrote:
mr_n00b wrote:
Mario_Alba wrote:

How does this game compare to Absolution? That is the only Hitman game I've played, and even though I found it quite difficult at times, I finished it and enjoyed it very much, even though I hear many people didn't really care for it. What do you guys think?

Absolution was a stunning piece of technology wrapped in highly linear level design. Which is to say it was good, but a step back from what came before, namely Hitman Blood Money. In my opinion Hitman 2016 is a return to form.

I hated the Instinct mechanic of Absolution. More specifically, that it is a finite resource (depending on your selected difficulty level) that can be drained just by having someone look at you, and if you run out your disguises no longer work.

(At least, that's what I remember. It's been years since I played it and my memory might be hazy. I do know that I really really disliked it when I was playing.)

There is no instinct mechanic like that, just a toggle for hitman instinct-o-vision.

Quintin_Stone wrote:

I hated the Instinct mechanic of Absolution. More specifically, that it is a finite resource (depending on your selected difficulty level) that can be drained just by having someone look at you, and if you run out your disguises no longer work.

Didn't care for it myself .

This game is still super great.
I'm debating aiming for lvl 20 on each map before season 2 starts.

Hoping this gets a sale over Christmas, as I'm a big Hitman fan, but wanted to wait until all the levels were out. Were the elusive targets only available for a set amount of time?

Clusks wrote:

Hoping this gets a sale over Christmas, as I'm a big Hitman fan, but wanted to wait until all the levels were out. Were the elusive targets only available for a set amount of time?

That's correct.
But don't worry! Escalation missions are forever.

Clusks wrote:

Hoping this gets a sale over Christmas, as I'm a big Hitman fan, but wanted to wait until all the levels were out. Were the elusive targets only available for a set amount of time?

It's 50% off right now on steam.

Norfair wrote:
Clusks wrote:

Hoping this gets a sale over Christmas, as I'm a big Hitman fan, but wanted to wait until all the levels were out. Were the elusive targets only available for a set amount of time?

It's 50% off right now on steam.

And Xbox One for Gold members.

Yes, Elusive Targets are only available for a set amount of time, and during that window you get one opportunity before the target slips through your fingers forever.

I aced the chef in a hilarious manner.

Spoiler:

Spawn in kitchen with the proximity explosive. Crouch behind stove and lob it. Book it to the exit. Under 1.5 minutes

According to Steam, I'm about 6 hours in, and I'm still messing around with Paris. I'm still trying to figure out some of the assassination challenges. Still haven't worked out how to do the camera thing, but I think that's because I'm missing the equipment I need to do it. I think I want to try some of the escalations soon.

This thing is real good.

boogle wrote:

I aced the chef in a hilarious manner.

Spoiler:

Spawn in kitchen with the proximity explosive. Crouch behind stove and lob it. Book it to the exit. Under 1.5 minutes

My favourite thing is that Brad was trying to get Dan to do this on Giant Bomb.

Spoiler:

He didn't listen to Brad and lost the target. Then ended up blowing himself up with the proximity mine.

That's because Dan is a bad.

I jumped in for $30. I've got about 2 hours in and I still haven't started the 1st mission. I'm having fun just trying different things in the tutorial levels.

PWAlessi wrote:

I jumped in for $30. I've got about 2 hours in and I still haven't started the 1st mission. I'm having fun just trying different things in the tutorial levels.

The tutorial level escalation missions are really fun.
Remember that real levels give you persistent unlocks you can bring into season 2!

I think I've spent about 8 or 9 hours so far, and I haven't even moved on to Sapienza yet. I think I've gotten most of the major stuff for Paris, so I think I'm about to move on, but I'll come back for other stuff and escalations.

Do y'all use the hints system (I forget what it's called). It seems like it takes away a lot of the fun, but I don't know if I'd ever figure out all of the different hit techniques without them.

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