Metascore
74 out of 100

Mixed or average reviews - based on 27 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 27
  2. Negative: 0 out of 27
  1. 84
    This is more of the exact same Hitman you played with Hitman 2. It's good, it's deep, but it's not really all that new.
  2. Given that "Hitman 2" was such a huge improvement on the original, it's inherently somewhat disappointing that the new Hitman: Contracts is really just a rehash. It's more of the same, replete with everything that was good and everything that wasn't so good about the 2002 game.
  3. It wasn’t landmark on any level, but it can compete with the current PC action big boys.
  4. 60
    Typical sneak/shoot-'em-up action that relies too heavily on remade content and brittle gameplay. Although it was novel four years ago, games have come much farther than this.
  5. 75
    If you're looking for some stealth gameplay in a sandbox environment, this is a great beginner's course into the world of Agent 47. If, however, you're expecting something as revolutionary as the multiplayer in "Pandora Tomorrow," or the high polish of "Snake Eater," this isn't for you.
  6. But between the overly tight scripting and the split-second timing required to pull it all off, I thought it was a little difficult to play the missions out the way they wanted you to, finding Hitman: Contracts instead played like an average first person shooter with excessive stealth elements.
  7. More of the same? Absolutely, but whether this is a good or a bad thing depends on your enjoyment of the previous games in the series.
  8. Hits the target despite not moving the concept on much.
  9. It's a shame he's such a one-dimensional character, wasting an exceptional opportunity for a compelling psychological backdrop to join the pervasively strong imagery. [June 2004, p.56]
  10. The picaresque form allows the levels to function as discreet puzzles rather than as parts of a story arc: the objective remains pure and always the same. The obstacles and methods open to you are what change, and it's in these areas that Contracts has both expanded and improved. [June 2004, p.103]
  11. A handful of glaring errors and nagging problems hamstring the title, preventing it from garnering overly high acclaim.
  12. The whole thing smacks of laziness - of the 12 missions, we count a total of four completely new ones...the annoying thing is that Contracts is an enjoyable game; that IQ had the cheek to crib from its previous work almost doesn't matter when the result is still worth playing. [June 2004, p.98]
  13. The intricate level construction and enhanced AI are appreciated, but I still felt like I was playing nothing more than a glorified expansion pack. [July 2004, p.66]
  14. From the story angle alone Hitman: Contracts is a worthy addition to the series, and will particularly entertain fans of the franchise who’ve played both the predecessors. That said it’s certainly time for some innovation.
  15. By the end, even if you've blasted your way through the entire game in under ten hours, you get a strange sense of years having elapsed not far removed from an absinthe hangover. [Aug 2004, p.54]
  16. Gritty movie atmosphere and clever storyline fail to outshine the unforgiving gameplay. It's got some great ideas but could've been so much better.
  17. Rather too over-familiar, but still a very entertaining stealth experience.
  18. Missions are short, but the trial-and-error of finding out how to accomplish each one compensates for it.
  19. 72
    The level of freedom offered may be a dream come true for some but will simply be far too much for others, thusly alienating this title from a majority of gamers.
  20. The new Hitman game does bring a lot of moodiness and great cinematic value, in addition to some of that customary gameplay that drew me to the franchise in the first place. Ultimately, however, because of some rather silly design mistakes, it fails to deliver the kind of experience I was hoping for.
  21. Despite the patient sneaking this game encourages, Contracts seems a little rushed. [Aug 2004, p.73]
  22. In some ways the game feels like an expansion, or maybe a half-sequel. It doesn’t have as many levels as Hitman 2, but they’re longer, and usually more interesting.
  23. It’s best to think of Hitman: Contracts as a mini game to keep fans of the series satisfied until a true sequel is released.
  24. 90
    Elaborate levels and the multiple paths you can take to solve them go a long way in making you forget about the lack of narrative element.
  25. I found it annoying that there was no mission briefing. There was no introduction information on your target or why you were there that came up prior to the mission starting.
  26. For many, HC will be a disappointment, but its inventive storyline and intricate level design will entertain lounge-room assassins.
  27. Though there’s not a ton of replay value to this one, if you play it on the medium (or highest, if you’re totally insane) difficulty setting, you’ll have enough of a challenge to get a big dose of the sick and twisted Hitman-style gaming all us psycho-killers have grown used to over the years.
User Score

Generally favorable reviews- based on 46 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 9
  2. Negative: 0 out of 9
  1. As much as I loved the other games of the series, this one is too unoriginal for my tastes. A few of the levels are very well done, such as the "Meat King" one, but most of them are remodeled and retextured maps of levels from the first two games. Full Review »
  2. c0l0r
    10
    Hitman is just one of the best games for shoot and! stealth + all the different ways a player can go through the missions.
  3. 6
    Hitman Contracts is a great game. However, the game was too easy in certain parts (the final level took me 5 minutes to figure out) while other levels are appropriately scaled. I like how there are multiple approaches to each level, whether you go full stealth or rush in guns blazing (Which is sometimes the best approach)
    I thought the sensitivity to being uncovered was a bit much. Simply talking to the guy at the bar in "Meat King" often elicited a response from guards, even though nothing out of the ordinary had occurred. All in all, Hitman Contracts was an enjoying game but it left me yearning for a more rewarding experience.
    Full Review »