Hitman 3 ps5 review series#
Serving the narrative has its positives and these sections are fine, but sacrificing such a core element of the series drags these parts down. Two of these changes are unexpectedly narrow, funneling a classically freeform series into something rather strict and comparatively less fulfilling. Most of these unexpected wrinkles work out well, but a couple of them butt up against what Hitman stands for and suffer a bit because of it. Meticulously searching around is inherent to Hitman so it’s only natural to use those same skills to solve a murder rather than commit one. The best of these ideas, like the oft-discussed Knives Out-esque murder mystery, take the core of Hitman and cleverly put those mechanics in a different context. Only two of the six stages are more typical Hitman missions where 47 is dropped in an area with a couple of targets, meaning that the other four take that idea and mix it around. IO instead chose to innovate in how it doles out assassinations. While IO deserves credit for maintaining that level of quality, unparalleled openness, replayability, and detailed sandbox level design are carryovers from the last two games. Numerous challenges and unlocks extrinsically motivate players to experiment while the joy of finding and performing them is the intrinsic reward, both of which work together in harmony to make Hitman 3 almost endlessly replayable. Whacking a target is then followed up by all the “what if” assassinations that could have been. Jamming a ton of different toys and opportunities into each stage organically makes them so replayable, too. Levels are brimming with ways to assassinate and that freedom is still unmatched, especially the satisfying special or accidental kills that are filled with IO’s signature dark humor. The targets in each mission can be shot, burned, stabbed, blown up, or crushed in an uncountable amount of ways and all rely on the player’s wit and exploration skills. Its array of unique atmospheres make Hitman 3 a pretty game that, like the protagonist himself, can take many distinct forms and its architecture gives 47 the playground he needs to do what he does best: murder without restraint. The manor is stacked with multiple, detailed floors with its own smaller side areas while the Chongqing map is more about a few medium-sized facilities and how they link together.Īll of the maps find ways to express themselves differently both aesthetically and architecturally like this to great effect. For example, the old rural English mansion is wildly different from the gorgeous, neon-soaked streets of Chongqing and both even exhibit their depth in their own ways.
IO has shown its mastery in that regard and it’s truly remarkable how the team can continually explore new territories while also maintaining such a high level of quality.
Hitman 3 ps5 review full#
These exquisitely rendered locales are immensely dense, lived-in areas full of different subsections that all intelligently weave in and around each other somewhat like a Soulslike game. Hitman 3, in typical Hitman fashion, takes 47 to a handful of exotic locations around the world. It achieves such highs by knowing when to utilize Hitman’s strengths, when to deviate from them, and when to mix them around. Advertisement Oh, the places you’ll go (to commit murder)