Hitman: Absolution

Finished Hitman: Absolution. Absolutely gorgeous, though not perfect.



STORYLINE

Unlike it's predecessors, Absolution starts off with 47 betraying The Agency and going rogue to protect a mysterious girl on behalf of Diana Burnwood's dying wish.

PLOT

It starts with a plot twist, and ends with a plot twist. What's in between is quite predictable, but still enjoyable.

GAMEPLAY

It's more simplified and streamlined as compared to it's predecessors but just as unforgiving. Now, they have an arcade score system. The game loves to reward players for being stealthy and witty while punishing players for being otherwise. Brute force is an option if you're just sick of sneaking around. Fret not though, there A LOT of ways to eliminate targets (some are really funny) and that gives this game some replayability. HUD and interface are also less cumbersome and more compact.

A tiny logic flaw here is that 47 can't jump so it's a little awkward when you see this platform but realize you can never jump. A good example would be the nightclub level, where you can't access the stage except through the staircase. Also, the Gears o War cover system has another logic flaw? There was an occasion where this NPC walked to the window and started looking downwards where I was hiding in plain view but he couldn't notice my divine bald head.

GRAPHICS

Good details for weaponry and amazing details for the environment and disguises. Awesome bloom effects as well. However, the reflections for light will be blinding so 47's bald head always looks so divine. Probably just my graphic card though.

AUDIO

Their "dynamic sound" is just another way of saying "cool sound effects bro". But each little detail of sound from sound effects to soundtrack and voice acting is awesome. Sound effects and soundtrack are mostly orchestrated, but on some occasions they have awesome background music like the nightclub and cowboy bar level.

CONTROLS

Pretty simplified control scheme, though some buttons and options might conflict with each other but it's usually nothing too severe. Though I don't understand why they insist on button mashing for subduing instead of "hold" options. They should at least present that option, I mean, not everybody sneezes all the time.

SUMMARY

Play it, regardless of whether you like to sneak or muscle your way through even if it'll net a lower score. Because the story, soundtrack and hilarious kills will really make it worth your time.

P.S. I tried to find something funny about 47 but it seems that no one ever made fun of him.