Game Facts:Full Title: "Hitman 2 : Silent Assassin"
Protagonist: Agent 47
Developer: IO Interactive
Publisher: Eidos
Official release date: April 2004
Genre: Strategic Shooter
Platforms: Windows 95 / 98 / Me / XP, Xbox, GameCube, and PlayStation2.
Official Site: http://www.hitman2.com/
Intro
Hitman 2: Silent Assassin is a stealth-based, first/third-person shooter, developed by IO Interactive and published by Eidos Interactive. It was the second installment of the Hitman video game series, followed by Hitman: Contracts in 2004, and Hitman: Blood Money in 2006.
My Review
Hitman 2 – Silent Assassin is by far the best and the most engrossing game that I’ve ever played. I’m by no means claiming that I’m a gaming buff. But then I’ve had my fair share of gaming. I jumped the gun on serious gaming when I was around 15 years old, in the year 1995 or so (I know it’s a tad late, but then, it never is too late, is it?).
I play all genres of games from strategy to first person shooting to third person shooting to racing to almost everything else that I can lay my hands on. I took a liking to a handful of them, but nothing was there that stood out. It was then that I heard about Hitman 2 – Silent Assassin. I loved the plot and the story line. I took to it immediately.
The stand-out feature of this game is that it is opposite to conventional first/third-person shooting games available in the market. The fact that one has to complete a mission without raising an alarm, without killing any spare person and add to that the fact that one can change appearances and disguises brings a certain heightened degree of purpose and the adrenalin soaring. It is the sort of game where one can tell parents that it is not just about firing as many bullets as fast as possible but not firing at all (if possible) and keeping the decibel levels to the minimum. Even the staunch opposers of games and the ensuing violence involved therein would be surprised by what this games offers.
Plot
Intro
Hitman 2: Silent Assassin is a stealth-based, first/third-person shooter, developed by IO Interactive and published by Eidos Interactive. It was the second installment of the Hitman video game series, followed by Hitman: Contracts in 2004, and Hitman: Blood Money in 2006.
My Review
Hitman 2 – Silent Assassin is by far the best and the most engrossing game that I’ve ever played. I’m by no means claiming that I’m a gaming buff. But then I’ve had my fair share of gaming. I jumped the gun on serious gaming when I was around 15 years old, in the year 1995 or so (I know it’s a tad late, but then, it never is too late, is it?).
I play all genres of games from strategy to first person shooting to third person shooting to racing to almost everything else that I can lay my hands on. I took a liking to a handful of them, but nothing was there that stood out. It was then that I heard about Hitman 2 – Silent Assassin. I loved the plot and the story line. I took to it immediately.
The stand-out feature of this game is that it is opposite to conventional first/third-person shooting games available in the market. The fact that one has to complete a mission without raising an alarm, without killing any spare person and add to that the fact that one can change appearances and disguises brings a certain heightened degree of purpose and the adrenalin soaring. It is the sort of game where one can tell parents that it is not just about firing as many bullets as fast as possible but not firing at all (if possible) and keeping the decibel levels to the minimum. Even the staunch opposers of games and the ensuing violence involved therein would be surprised by what this games offers.
Plot
My Rating 9/10
‘Agent 47’ is a hired killer but with a sense of loyalty and justice. He is a legend in this mortal world. The player has to step into the shoes of this legend of a person.
The game play begins with the player entering the realm of a retired assassin (Agent 47), forced back into action by treason. The past is about to catch up with 47. But, before it does, 47 visits the dark recesses of a world corrupted by crime, greed, degradation and dishonor. In the missions he has no friends; no foes only ‘Targets’. He can trust no one. Sounds interesting, eh!
Learn your trade - master your tools – avoid rash decisions - overcome your obstacles - outsmart your enemies - eliminate your targets is the only advice one is ever going to need.
Eventually, you find yourself tricked by a twisted Russian crime boss bent on assisting rogue countries for his own personal and financial gain. You soon realize that you're caught in the middle of a ring of deception and discover that you have become a target yourself - of a highly trained ex-Spetsnaz assassin.
You have returned - and you will track down the organization that forced you out of retirement. You may find that the enemy is closer than you think - retrace your steps, and you will prevail.
Beginning/Prelude
‘Agent 47’ is a hired killer but with a sense of loyalty and justice. He is a legend in this mortal world. The player has to step into the shoes of this legend of a person.
The game play begins with the player entering the realm of a retired assassin (Agent 47), forced back into action by treason. The past is about to catch up with 47. But, before it does, 47 visits the dark recesses of a world corrupted by crime, greed, degradation and dishonor. In the missions he has no friends; no foes only ‘Targets’. He can trust no one. Sounds interesting, eh!
Learn your trade - master your tools – avoid rash decisions - overcome your obstacles - outsmart your enemies - eliminate your targets is the only advice one is ever going to need.
Eventually, you find yourself tricked by a twisted Russian crime boss bent on assisting rogue countries for his own personal and financial gain. You soon realize that you're caught in the middle of a ring of deception and discover that you have become a target yourself - of a highly trained ex-Spetsnaz assassin.
You have returned - and you will track down the organization that forced you out of retirement. You may find that the enemy is closer than you think - retrace your steps, and you will prevail.
Beginning/Prelude
My rating 9.5/10
The game play has 20 missions (21 if we count the first set as a mission). It all begins with an astonishing introduction of the Legend that ‘Hitman’ is. Just when one is basking in the glory of the past, one is hurled into the midst of a plot to get ‘Hitman’ out from hibernation and into the wilderness. All this is shown through a visually tempting mission briefing graphic novel. This mission briefing is so scripted that it sends the curiosity level up, way up for even the most casual of gamers. Each word mentioned therein has a connotation that one realizes as one traverses the distance with this game.
Gameplay
The game play has 20 missions (21 if we count the first set as a mission). It all begins with an astonishing introduction of the Legend that ‘Hitman’ is. Just when one is basking in the glory of the past, one is hurled into the midst of a plot to get ‘Hitman’ out from hibernation and into the wilderness. All this is shown through a visually tempting mission briefing graphic novel. This mission briefing is so scripted that it sends the curiosity level up, way up for even the most casual of gamers. Each word mentioned therein has a connotation that one realizes as one traverses the distance with this game.
Gameplay
My Rating 9.5/10
The game starts with ‘47’ living a life of peace and seclusion in a monastery as a gardener, regretful of his past and trying to make amends with his conscience. The plot thickens just around here.
The first mission (should one choose to call it first) begins with kidnapping of his spiritual guide and friend, a ‘Father’ (Padre) at a Church in Sicily, Italy. This kidnapping is supplemented by an extortion note quoting an impossible amount. Agent 47 is forced to seek information about the kidnapper ‘Don Guliano’ from the ‘Agency’ – his previous employer.
It is from this moment on that ‘47’ is lured into a trap as the ‘Agency’ never provides any services free of charge. In return for the help the ‘Agency’ wants 47 to complete a dangerous ‘hit’ on a high profile person. ‘47’ is hard-pressed to offer his services to a client in return for information on his friend and ‘Father’. Thus begins the game.
The great point is that there are several ways of completing each mission. So one can be rest assured that ‘ratings’ coupled with the different ways of completing a mission would compel several playoffs of the same mission.
Graphics
The game starts with ‘47’ living a life of peace and seclusion in a monastery as a gardener, regretful of his past and trying to make amends with his conscience. The plot thickens just around here.
The first mission (should one choose to call it first) begins with kidnapping of his spiritual guide and friend, a ‘Father’ (Padre) at a Church in Sicily, Italy. This kidnapping is supplemented by an extortion note quoting an impossible amount. Agent 47 is forced to seek information about the kidnapper ‘Don Guliano’ from the ‘Agency’ – his previous employer.
It is from this moment on that ‘47’ is lured into a trap as the ‘Agency’ never provides any services free of charge. In return for the help the ‘Agency’ wants 47 to complete a dangerous ‘hit’ on a high profile person. ‘47’ is hard-pressed to offer his services to a client in return for information on his friend and ‘Father’. Thus begins the game.
The great point is that there are several ways of completing each mission. So one can be rest assured that ‘ratings’ coupled with the different ways of completing a mission would compel several playoffs of the same mission.
Graphics
My Rating 8/10
Graphics is too good. Every mission is specked with detailed environment including snowflakes, rain, wind, fog, breath in cold areas, etc. All this is compounded with the most dramatic sound that one can hear. The characters are well thought of and detailed.
Agent 47 is a bald hunk with a body, attire, voice and persona to match.
Soundtrack/Background Score
Graphics is too good. Every mission is specked with detailed environment including snowflakes, rain, wind, fog, breath in cold areas, etc. All this is compounded with the most dramatic sound that one can hear. The characters are well thought of and detailed.
Agent 47 is a bald hunk with a body, attire, voice and persona to match.
Soundtrack/Background Score
My Rating 10/10
The background score or popularly ‘Soundtrack’ is a mix of techno and symphony orchestra. It is by far the best that I’ve ever heard in a game. Every mission has a track that is apt to the theme of the game. Jesper Kyd(www.jesperkyd.com) has done an amazing job with this. Kudos to him.
Value for Money
The background score or popularly ‘Soundtrack’ is a mix of techno and symphony orchestra. It is by far the best that I’ve ever heard in a game. Every mission has a track that is apt to the theme of the game. Jesper Kyd(www.jesperkyd.com) has done an amazing job with this. Kudos to him.
Value for Money
My Rating 9/10
This game through its immersive game play and minimal hardware requirement is the perfect value for money.
Summary
This game through its immersive game play and minimal hardware requirement is the perfect value for money.
Summary
Overall Rating 9/10
One has to admit that the thought of playing a 007 – Bondish type character branded a Hitman aka Agent 47, definitely is intriguing. I applaud the entire team for this great plot and an equally immersive game play.
Bottom-line: If you have a stomach for peeking around corners, sneaking up behind unsuspecting enemies, travelling to beautiful locales, wielding an impressive array of weapons and silently eliminating a target, then Hitman 2: Silent Assassin is the game for you.This game through its immersive game play and minimal hardware requirement is the perfect value for money.
One has to admit that the thought of playing a 007 – Bondish type character branded a Hitman aka Agent 47, definitely is intriguing. I applaud the entire team for this great plot and an equally immersive game play.
Bottom-line: If you have a stomach for peeking around corners, sneaking up behind unsuspecting enemies, travelling to beautiful locales, wielding an impressive array of weapons and silently eliminating a target, then Hitman 2: Silent Assassin is the game for you.This game through its immersive game play and minimal hardware requirement is the perfect value for money.
