Product Features
- Genre
- Action and Shooter
- Publisher
- Eidos
- Release Date
- May 26, 2006
- Available Platforms
- PC, PlayStation 2, XBox, XBox 360
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Hitman Blood Money
In a nutshell: Agent 47 is back in the game that finally does full justice to the Hitman concept, with huge improvements to the graphics, controls and, most importantly, the number of ways for you to plan your hits - from wading in guns blazing to making it all look like a simple accident.The lowdown:Although the Hitman games were always a great idea they never quite worked the way you expected, with an awkward control system and camera and far less freedom than it at first seemed. This latest sequel solves almost all these problems, starting with a standard third person camera over which you have full control. Although you can ask for hints on how to carry out a hit you''ve so many options the game''s almost like a macabre graphic adventure - do you use the remote detonated bomb on the chandelier...
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Matthew Harris January 29, 2012 360
Hitman: Blood Money is one of those games that I always find myself coming back to as it is simply engaging and great fun to play for hours without losing its appeal. It still stands as the best stealth and free choice game in my opinion and it continue to be so for years to come. Even though it is now a six-year old title, it has a remarkable freshness to it that few games have managed to accomplish.
What makes this game great is that a storyline does not really matter too much. From mission to mission, there is a unique and engaging storyline that underpins why the character (Agent 47) is killing the targets that he does. There is also a certain flair for the dramatic within the storyline and, without spoiling it for you; I can say that the conclusion is fantastic and climatic while still leaving you wanting more! Agent 47 himself is a hitman for hire that will skilfully assassinate any target, given the right price. Playing as the man himself definitely makes you feel like a complete badass. All players will grow to like Agent 47 as he is subtly charismatic and the epitome of suave! Lastly, what makes the story stand out for me is that it centres on minor characters (and the bad-guys) and how they have been affected by the actions you complete in the missions. I have never seen a storyline as unique as this one, and I am sure every player of this game will agree!
Everything you can possibly need in a hitman game is here. You are completely free to choose how to 'take care' of the targets you are given during the mission. For instance, you can choose to take advantage of a target's appetite and poison a piece of food they will eat later, or conversely, you can instead run into the area with all guns blazing and fight your way to the target. Also, you are able to change into new outfits during a mission to allow access to blocked areas and to lower suspicion. The way you tackle the mission is entirely in your hands, but that also means the repercussions are as well! Each mission is graded on how quickly and silently the target is killed, thus leading to a big sense of accomplishment when you take out a target without anyone knowing you were ever there! At the end of a mission, the grading is given to you as well as a copy of the local newspaper depicting the impact that you had on the community. This leaves the player with a real feeling of choice and impact in the game. How well you achieve your objectives in a mission also governs how much money you will receive for its completion. Also, you are free to go back and complete a mission to try and get an even better rating, which nets you even more cash! The player is then free to spend this accumulated money on upgrades for weapons and other accessories that they see as a benefit to them. Each player will therefore play this game differently to the next, which is why it is such a unique game in the first place. The missions that take place are also of a great variety, including a Vegas casino and a wedding! Variety is key to each mission and none of them ever feel boring, even when repeated several times. There are also several difficulty levels that ramp up the action considerably. At the hardest level, people become suspicious of your actions after a time, you must retrieve any items left behind and you cannot save during a mission.
Upon close inspection, the game's graphics are not the best seen on the Xbox 360. This is no surprise since the game was ported from the original Xbox system back in 2006, meaning the graphics have only received a slight upgrade from the original. However, with a game as inventive and fresh as this, the graphical capabilities are not important to most players. Granted, they cannot stand up to a game like Gears of War, but they do accurately represent what they need to convey to the player. A few blocky textures may spoil the experience somewhat for a few players, but really it is not a problem considering how consistently amazing the gameplay is.
As I have said before, this is a fantastic game that I come back to again and again for pure entertainment. Playing with a few friends is also a blast as you can work out together the best plan of action for assassinating the given target. With a new Hitman game coming out soon, it is very wise indeed to pick up this one to get a feel for the hitman 'experience' that you will no doubt enjoy. -
Daniel Kelly July 26, 2010 PC
It can be argued that Hitman: Blood Money is an elaborate puzzle game. It isn't about the act of killing as much as it is about the build up, the anticipation, and the plan. You can't just walk in and shoot your target, you have to outsmart guards, smuggle weapons past security barriers, avoid detection by CCTV, fake accidents and escape without leaving a trace.
Each level can usually be seen as a tiered affair with certain outfits allowing access to different areas. With each outfit requiring a small part in your overarching plan and each plan requiring an average of three different uniforms, dressing up becomes a large part of the missions.
Many levels are a matter of timing as well, one in particular can be completed by using one target's death as a distraction to make the second target run under a rigged chandelier, which you then drop on him to kill him. Its elements like this, the plethora of methods and small tricks, that really make you feel like the options are endless.
There are however one or two small niggles that jar with the rest of the game, the first one that comes to mind is the interface. Even though it is a vast improvement over the previous iterations, it still isn't as polished as it could be. Some of the keys are context sensitive which works well for the most part but can leave you not quite knowing which control you need to press at a given moment. A quick glance at the indicator on the HUD is all that's needed, but can be a bit of a hindrance if you are frantically running away from armed guards. On the subject of guards, A.I behaviour can sometimes be a bit too predictable or silly unless you play on the higher difficulty levels, this isn't really a problem though, it can just break immersion a little every now and again.
At the end of the day Blood Money is by several orders of magnitude better than any previous game in the Hitman series, and should be on every gamer's "to play" list. It has depth, dark humour and the chance to wear a bird costume.