The newest instalment in the HITMAN series has had a troubled start in the eyes of players. For the first time a decision was made to break the game up using the Episodic release model. It had a controversial delivery plan which publisher Square Enix scrapped and changed due to the reaction. Now it’s full speed ahead to its launch on March 11th and as a reward for pre-ordering, this past weekend the HITMAN Beta was held, exclusive to PlayStation 4 players, giving a first look at what we can expect from HITMAN in 2016. Here are my impressions of the Beta content:
The HITMAN Beta gave access to the main game’s ‘Prologue’ section set twenty years before Agent 47 worked for the ICA. It takes players through 47’s introduction to the ICA organisation and his first team up with the handler Diana Burnwood. Set in an ICA secret training facility, it contains two test missions where old assassinations are recreated with 47 challenged with completing them to prove his skills.
I really enjoyed HITMAN Absolution and found the gameplay in this beta flowed on from that title. For the first test mission, with the second being the final exam, the player is guided almost in a handheld fashion to completing the mission and teaching you the fundamental skills 47 will use in the field. I found it to be a good tutorial for new comers to the HITMAN series and a great refresher for more experienced player. Below is my first attempt at the mission
Even with the hand holding it was clear from the mission location that are multiple ways in which to complete each assassination. Using disguises will allow you to move in certain sections easier but it is not fool-proof. Each type of disguise, a guard uniform or in the case of this mission a mechanic, is like a character group. Each group will have certain NPC’s who will notice that you are not part of the group and will be suspicious of you if you get too close and walking into a section that group’s uniform is not permitted will see 47 being warned off or risk alerting guards. Strategic use of disguises is key and when used well can aid in escape.
Now my first attempt was messy, unrefined and pretty rubbish actually. Yes I killed the target and escape but it did not feel clean or very Agent 47ish. Once you complete it you are encouraged by Diane to replay it but to look for different methods of completing it. Like Absolution, the mission has a Challenge list in the menu showing objectives to complete the mission such as using certain ways to distract a guard or setting up a sequence of events such as disguising yourself as the guest the target is having a meeting with, have that meeting and use it as an opportunity to kill the target. Whilst some will see this as a ‘kill by numbers’ cheat sheet, I used it to practice the skills and techniques needed to make a better and more Agent 47 assassination. Now comfortable with those skills it was time to move on to the Final Exam.
The Final exam is a more challenging affair but again it serves as a tutorial into how the game will play. As this mission opens, and how I completed the test in the above video, each mission will have ‘opportunities’ to create and initiate a sequence of events that will help take out the target. Some will be theatrical whilst others more subtle but they all feel the most HITMAN. These can be tracked on the map so you can pick one to follow, in this beta the triggers were all shown to be selected but by exploring the location you will discover possible chances by eavesdropping conversations. To complete each opportunity to must complete each of its setup such as getting the right disguise in order to get the right object to be placed in the right position and so forth. Each opportunity is different requiring certain objectives to be met. Now Diane will comment on each stage offering a little background on what to do, the player will still have to work out how to achieve certain tasks. They are not always clear and so chances can be missed if you fail to follow the objectives correctly.
Overall I really enjoyed this Prologue section, which will also be included in the first available game content. Although it only had two missions, it served as a great way to learn or relearn the techniques needed going into the full missions the game will have. Each mission location did feel small and contained but as they were set in a training facility I am expecting much larger areas to work in the main game. The freedom to choose how to complete the assassination was fun and uncovering new ways and completing the challenge list showed the depth in each mission if you take your time to really study what the location offers.
Visually the game looks great although I did experience some lag and stuttering during cut scenes as the game loaded in the background but whilst in mission the gameplay was fluid and smooth. I found myself learning escape routes and planning where to take out NPCs in order to position disguises at key points to help that escape. The multiple ‘Opportunities’ are fun to explore by replaying the mission to try out different ones.
The satisfaction of a clean kill is why I have been a fan of the HITMAN series all these years and though I acknowledge that it has been made more player friendly it still has depth and rewarding gameplay. This beta confirmed for me that the new HITMAN game will still appeal to fans but a question mark still remains over the episodic nature of it. If enough content is given in each episode and their release is steady and on time then I feel it will work.
The first episode of HITMAN releases on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC on March 11th 2016
