Metascore
73 out of 100

Mixed or average reviews - based on 32 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 19 out of 32
  2. Negative: 1 out of 32
  1. One of the coolest and most absorbing games we've played all year.
  2. The physics model in Hitman is a definite milestone in computer gaming. No other computer game to date has been able to achieve the realistic effects you'll find here.
  3. If not for the lack of a save game feature and the incredibly high difficulty factor, this game might be the best shooter ever made. Even despite these defects, it comes damn close.
  4. Since the first day I received it I've loved every minute of it. The wonderful, colourful graphics, the realistic and well-suited sounds, and the game's challenging difficulty make it great.
  5. 90
    The combination of "Thief"-style sneaking with smart enemy A.I. and the use of realistic weapons-piano wire, silenced pistols, sniper rifles, and even M-60s-creates an intense experience, though many gamers will be frustrated by the lack of in-game saving.
  6. Hitman suffers from horrendous pop-in with the scenery. You can't see a tree or building in full until it is a good 50 feet in front of you. This can create a problem when there are snipers on the roofs waiting to light you up with their rifles.
  7. This game has so many good things going for it that it hurts to rant about the shortcomings. To start, the controls are severely jacked.
  8. I love it - the challenge, the atmosphere, the blood.
  9. The translation from idea to reality was apparently too much for the poor thing, and it falls far short of expectations.
  10. Though far from an instant classic, Hitman is a decent (and bloody gruesome) game, that makes the most of graphical quality while not being tremendously complex, story-wise.
  11. Great story, missions lack direction, but once you get used to the feel of Hitman it is really a great game.
  12. 80
    If you are used to "running around and blowing everything up," Hitman will give you some problems. You can't play the game as though it were a fast and furious game of "Quake."
  13. The worst thing about this game, I thought, was that it was so difficult.
  14. I would not hesitate to recommend it to other gamers, but with the caution that you should be prepared for a game that probably won't fit neatly into any mental box you might have prepared for it.
  15. It was the iron-like grip of the plot Gestapo forcing me down the script line that griped my cookies. Still, you have to give them some credit just for attempting to make a game that breaks out of the mold.
  16. 77
    I really had been looking forward to this one and it let me down in so many ways. If only it had been longer... If only the camera had been different... If only it had been a bit more mentally challenging.
  17. A fun game that gets fatally sidetracked. I coulda been a contender. [Mar 2001, p.96]
  18. Looks good, plays great, drives you mad but keeps you playing. Not quite an essential purchase, but up there with fags and beer.
  19. A relatively fresh, stylish new variation on the sneaking man's shooter, and goodness, is it fun.
  20. 70
    It does a lot of things very well and were it not for a few mistakes it would be a classic.
  21. The visuals sound effects and gameplay concepts are great, yet the length of the game will surely make this product less popular than other FPS sneaker games like "NOLF" and the "Thief" series.
  22. The violence is a little excessive.
  23. Probably the best game-play design that I've seen in years; the game play is twitchy - if you're a purist you're going to have a conniption playing this.
  24. Hitman: Codename 47 does deliver a fair deal of excitement and suspense. The mysterious assassin, the stress on stealth, and a decent narrative make it well worth playing.
  25. If you are looking for an action title, but are getting tired of playing rehashes on the "Quake" formula, look no further than the generic assassin wearing a barcode on his head.
  26. The problems with the framerate and inability to save my game made me want to break the CD into tiny pieces.
  27. Relies heavily on stealth tactics and interesting scenarios, but often finds itself without a clear course for entertaining and compelling gameplay.
  28. Good ideas clash with rigid mission architecture and fruity design work. This is the same game in which you can authentically throttle a foe to death, but half a dozen body shots won't ice an opponent.
  29. Even if you like the basic premise and action of the game, a number of very serious flaws quickly sap its entertainment value.
  30. An exercise in taking a shrewd idea, giving you an idea of how great it could be, and then making it frustrating beyond belief. There is a sad reverse alchemy the longer you play, in which gold is turned into dross.
  31. While it did have its good qualities, the lack of any real replay value makes Hitman one of those games that just isn't quite worth the price tag.
  32. Styled to appeal to the shooter crowd. Unfortunately, it feels as if the developer lavished too much attention on making the violence stylized and realistic, and then just threw a game around it. Great concept, extremely sloppy execution.
User Score

Generally favorable reviews- based on 44 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 16 out of 18
  2. Negative: 1 out of 18
  1. This, plainly put, is the worst game I've ever played. Hmm... where to start? Story: I am currently on mission 3 and I have no idea what the plot is supposed to be and I have read all of the intro text. As far as I can tell, the only plot is to kill Asian mafia members... Controls: This game has some of the most broken controls I've ever seen in a video game. When I went to the control customization screen, I thought it was a joke that the default was the numpad. When I switched it to standard WASD controls, W was run, S was walk, X was back, and C and Z were strafe... WTF I've never heard of any game in existence using that control scheme. The use button requires (sometimes) pressing the right mouse button to bring up an options menu to choose what action to perform via mouse scroll. This makes sense except that it gives you no information on how to do this in the tutorial. I walked up to the first elevator, pressed E, and nothing happened. I then spent 5 minutes attempting to figure out how to use an object. Gameplay: I don't know what everyone is talking about with this gameplay being the best thing since "GTA4" (even though GTA4 came out 2008 and this came out in 2000) and not knowing "what happened to gameplay these days". While the gameplay concept is a great idea, it is probably the sloppiest execution for any "sneaking game". The AI is terrible, as the police don't notice you when they should, and notice you when they shouldn't. Graphics: Being on the third level, and especially given how small the levels are, I've encountered probably around 20 graphics errors, and they're obvious. If a game makes all entities disappear when you look at a certain part of the wall, you just don't release it. Ambiance: While the music in the background is very soothing and cool, it's the ONLY THING THAT HAS PLAYED SO FAR IN THE GAME! It gets annoying as hell to hear the same damn melody over and over again. Well, that sums up pretty much all of the categories. With broken AI, no good tutorial, and throwing you out in the middle of the city with no instructions besides "Hey, you, kill these guys.", this game is amazingly bad. I got the Hitman Collection during the Steam Christmas sale for $7.50. That makes H:C47 worth $2.50. If it goes on sale for 50 cents, don't get it. If it goes on sale for free, don't get it. It's not worth nothing. That's how bad it is. Full Review »
  2. Yes the graphics were terrible, you can't save the game and some missions can be long and tedious, but I prefer the "work it out yourself" approach, which beats Blood Money's endless clues and hints on how to play the game. Sure, Codename 47 isn't interactive as such, but the arcade-style gameplay means you're not restricted. The game is punishing if you try shooting through everything- ublike Hitman 2- even on Normal difficulty. This Hitman feels a lot more exciting and more fun to play than other Hitmans. It certainly has its flaws, but because you can't save and the missions can be long, it's definitely the most rewarding than other games in the series. Full Review »
  3. 10
    One of the only games ever with good game play and a good story. Shooting enemies with a shotgun makes them fly for five meters what is just AWESOME. Also the ending was really good and interesting. Full Review »