In this captivating outing, 47 revisits the past while modernizing the nagging flaws of his previous games, making for his best trail of assassinations yet.
If you really enjoyed those previous missions, and I know I did, then you will really enjoy the new ways in which you can approach them. The new graphics engine and some more 'weight' to the story make for a more immersive game which is punctuated by a great new music score.
I have a sprawling video game collection, have played hundreds of AAA games and plenty of AA's as well, but there's no game that even comes close to replicating the infectious tone on display in this one. The rainy day aspect of the whole game makes you realise how disturbing and crumby of a life Agent 47 lives, and the eerie atmosphere it brings makes you nervous to turn every dark corner, you just don't know what can happen. Of course, the negative aspect of the game being (now) elderly is that stepping out of line completely strips away the immersion because you are now in an unwinnable firefight with every NPC on the map, but unlike Hitman 2 all you want to do is follow the rules because at some points it does indeed feel like a movie, the atmosphere of classic missions like the Butcher or the Chinese Restaurant Massacre (among countless others of course) feeling like dreams when you look back at them, as 47 is doing in the game. Plus, the soundtrack by Jasper Kyd never gets annoying and throws you deeper into the level, unlike the menu chanting in the new Hitman 3. For its success in providing such an atmosphere, it deserves a 10.
My rating for Hitman Contracts is actually a 8.5. No game deserves a 10 in my opinion no matter how great they are. This game is still the best hitman game I've played that speaks volume about the identity of the hitman games. The previous two games dating back in the early 2000s' gameplay weren't fully developed and hadn't truly peaked yet. Contracts is the hitman game that finally achieved all of that.
The disguise system in this game is the best as it will reward and punish you when deserved. It's important to note that Contracts is part sequel and part remake consisting of 6 new missions and 6 remade missions. With the assassination rating and the refined gameplay, I believe most of the remade missions are very good missions. Love all the remade missions. The new missions are truly the special kind of missions as they contain superior maps. It's very refreshing and fun to play. This is the most atmospheric Hitman game ever; it includes dark moments and bits of horror as well that will provide something new for the players. Final comment I would like to make is that Contracts is a great game when you've become good at it and even a better game when you learn to speedrun it. Great game.
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.
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.
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]
The player has a choice. Doe she coax out Contracts' subtlety, or coes he play essentially the smae game he's been playing for two decades? The first option may have him tearing his hair out. [June 2004, p.90]
Not my favourite Hitman game, lacking in the difficulty and nerve that Silent Assassin produced. The graphics are well done for the time this was produced and it is by far the darkest Hitman game, but really doesn't feel like a Hitman game. All of the other releases have followed a storyline that kept the player engaged and excited for the next mission, however Contracts is a simple run of random levels, being excused by being 'flashbacks'. It's clear the developers didn't put much into this game and it's a shame as it had so much potential. With the graphics they had in hand and the writing team they had on their side Contracts could have easily made its way to the top of the list, but it didn't and after completing it, I felt slightly empty, feeling as if I had just wasted a lot of time and money. Needed more effort.
SummaryHitman: Contracts takes you into the mind of Agent 47, the most ruthlessly efficient contract killer in history. The game begins in Paris as Agent 47 finds himself wounded and trapped in what is a dangerous situation, even for him. Hitman: Contracts explores the dark psychology of killing for a living and promises to be the darkest, most...