Developer: IO Interactive
Publisher: IO Interactive
Release Date: 20th January 2021
Platforms: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One & Epic Store
Reviewed on: PlayStation 5
It may only be January, and we may be in for another decade of a year like 2020 – but if Hitman 3 isn’t near the top of my games of the year list when all is said and done I will be shocked. Granted I am a total mark for the bald assassin, with 2018’s Hitman 2 even making my games of the generation post, so my expectations were extremely high going into this world of assassination conclusion.
I am happy to report that not only has Hitman 3 lived up to the standard set by the previous two games, but it has exceeded it. This is, in my opinion, the best Hitman game ever. It’s IO Interactive taking everything they have learned throughout their years with the franchise and both refining it and iterating on it. While I find myself excited that the team is now going to move on to a 007 licensed game there is a sadness at what is being left behind.
For starters, the game is a technical marvel. Dubai is your first port of call and it is stunning. The large foyer area is made up almost entirely of glass and the reflections are so impressive. I was genuinely shocked to learn that the game has yet to receive an update adding ray tracing. In typical Hitman fashion, there are also large amounts of NPC’s scattered, and clustered, around each map. Many of which have their own set routines that can play into assassination opportunities directly or indirectly. You really feel like you are intruding on people’s lives and infiltrating the maps.
Like the episodic game in 2016 and the 2018 sequel Hitman 2, this final entry comes with six maps – however, you could argue that it is really five and an extended epilogue. That may not sound like much, but I can assure you Hitman 3 houses some of the best level design not only in the series but in gaming. Focusing just on the first five maps, I think Chongqing, while being the most visually stunning, is the weakest. It’s a little too vertical for me and in some ways feels like two separate levels sandwiched into one, with the mission stories almost being a necessity.
On the other side of the coin though you have Dartmoor. Possibly the best map in the whole trilogy. Now I may be biased as I do love a good murder mystery, but the fact that I had completed this map with four unique kills before even finding out this whole side story existed just shows you the freedom you have. The map also reminds me of the Anathema level in the original Hitman 2: Silent Assassin. This was my introduction to the series and the map that started my love for the franchise.
While the maps are all new, the gameplay certainly is not. This is very much a continuation of what IO Interactive has built with the previous two games. The only real meaningful addition is a camera, which can be used to scan objects for clues and also hack devices such as electronic window locks. It isn’t a bad addition by any means but it also didn’t feel like anything that the series had been crying out for and had very little impact overall. The rest of the gameplay remains solid. The 60fps is nice and the performance is smooth throughout.
As always the gameplay is at its best when you remain incognito. If a disguise is blown or you get caught in a compromising predicament things fall apart quickly. If you plan to play the game as a third-person shooter, you will come away disappointed and underwhelmed with how rigid the controls feel. Remain elusive though and these same mechanics work to your benefit. I say this with all Hitman games but make regular manual saves. Things can go wrong in an instant and I don’t see the point in enduring a frustrating 5 minutes getting back to where you were before.
Contract creation and featured contracts return from the two previous games. I personally don’t spend much time creating my own contracts, but the tools are solid should you wish to do so. There are hours of fun to be had taking on challenges that the community have created though. Then there are the timed elusive targets, where you get one chance to take out a high-value target for extra XP. This is a great feature and one that keeps people returning to the game even months after release.
Hitman 3 can almost be thought of as a platform. If you own the previous two games the levels are all accessible from the title screen, which is just an insane amount of content. The elusive targets and featured contracts make use of all the available maps and so even if this is your introduction to the series I recommend picking up all the additional content. Even aside from the ongoing additions, the maps themselves and the mission stories and challenges within them are outstanding.
Buying Hitman 3 on PlayStation 5 also gives you access to the PlayStation 4 version, which is PSVR enabled. I was sceptical how well the game would run and control, especially given the input method is the dual shock. But I dusted off Sony’s VR device, gave it a bash and was blown away. There are certain limitations, with the maps being less populated, plenty of pop in and a little bit of awkwardness with the controller input, but overall the whole experience is a major win.
Once you realise that the best way to use a weapon or shoot is to hold the controller with one hand it starts to feel much more natural. It definitely won’t be hardcore fans preferred method of playing, but being able to explore the maps from the entire trilogy in virtual reality was magical. Getting both the PS4 and PS5 versions for one single purchase also has trophy benefits. You pop trophies in one version and as soon as you load up the alternate version the same trophies begin auto-popping at the main menu.
Speaking of trophies, IO Interactive has listened to community feedback and included a platinum trophy for this installment. The list is very similar to the previous two games, asking you to reach mastery level 20 in each level and also perform certain kills in a given map. DLC trophies are also available at launch which incorporate the maps from both the 2016 and 2018 games.
In terms of value, as with other Hitman games, this will vary from gamer to gamer. If you follow the mission stories blast through the game you could be done in about six hours. However, if like me you enjoy going back and completing all of the challenges and reaching mastery level 20 in each map you could easily spend 70 hours with this one. Then you throw in the elusive targets, featured contracts and maps from the previous two games and you have an incredible value. This is more of a platform than a one-off game.
-Craig 🧐