(four stars)
When it comes to Sadism, no character in video games has more of a penchant for it than Agent 47, the bald anti-hero assassin from the “Hitman” series.
This time around in “Blood Money,” 47 continues to take on all sorts of contracts leading him on trips around the world to meet interesting people, and then plugging them full of lead- that is, however, if you’re the not-so-subtle type. To be a true silent assassin, you’ll have to get up close and personal with your marks so you can complete the job using a professional’s touch in the form of knives, garroting wire, poisoned needles and even the occasional hammer. No, it’s not always the cleanest of jobs, but I hear the medical and dental benefits the best.
The challenge to the “Hitman” series has always been the stealth. Making yourself as much a shadow in broad daylight is the key to accomplishing the mission, and keeping your notoriety down. Whereas past titles in the series allowed players to go guns-blazing, killing anyone in their path without any real effect on the story, “Blood Money” forces players to be conscious of how much of a trail they leave. Newspaper clippings at the end of each mission reports on how many people were killed, in what ways, and whether any eye-witness reports were made. Depending on the ruckus 47 makes in one mission will increase his chances of “being made” in the next. This is why slow, methodical puzzle solving is the only way to proceed in the game successfully. Thankfully, there are always multiple paths for 47 to accomplish his missions, and with the new abilities to scale walls and jump platforms, old Chrome-Dome has a myriad of killing opportunities in each level.
The slow pace of play may be frustrating to those who love their twitch-shooters or their short bouts of gaming- especially since mid-level saves are erased as soon as the player exits the mission. If you intend to start a mission, you better plan on staying until its finished, otherwise all the progress you made will have to be made again. This gets incredibly aggravating in the larger, more complex levels. Developers IO Interactive would have made more friends if they had allowed players to save their progress and come back later. Truthfully, it’s the biggest flaw in the game.
I also expect a little more from the team in terms of polish. Sure, the environments are lush and beautiful (especially on the 360), but the artificial intelligence of the enemies leaves a little bit to be desired. Case in point: I was discovered by a guard, to which I ran down the hall, into a tiny room and hid in the only piece of furniture in the room. The guard ran into the room to patrol, but never bothered opening the closet where I was hiding. Stupid AI like that may have been forgivable five years ago, but with the advancements in stealth-action AI that games like “Metal Gear” and “Splinter Cell” are making, a long-running series like “Hitman” should also keep up. And as an aside, how hard is it to incorporate an animation of 47 opening and closing a door? Having doors magically swing open for you is so 1990’s.
Overall, “Hitman: Blood Money” doesn’t disappoint, but it still falls short of the engrossing experience it could have been. Advancements in voice acting, story telling, cutscenes, and in-game graphics are fantastic, but the dated physics engine is what holds this game back from greatness. Fans of the genre should definitely pick this title up, newcomers however should rent it and see if the pace of play fits their tastes.
