Hitman: Contracts First Look

Spring 2004 promises to be a fantastic time for PC games. Come summer 2004, you'll probably already be playing games like Lineage 2, Everquest 2, The Sims 2, Battlefield Vietnam ... and of course, the 900lbs gorillas of the PC gaming industry, Half-Life 2 and Doom 3. Amongst all these games we also expect the sequel to Hitman 2: Silent Assassin. Yesterday, right out of the blue, our friends over at Eidos Interactive sent along a press release notifying us that the next installment in the famed Hitman series is well on its way and will be hitting stores in Spring 2004 for Xbox, PS2, and PC.

Lock'n'load, baby!

Don't! It ain't worth it!

Hitman 3, now officially carrying the title Hitman: Contracts, is being hailed as the darkest and most disturbing of all installments. The game was concisely encapsulated in the promotional slogan, "Signed in Blood," which should indicate we're looking at a dark and sinister continuation of the series. The trailer itself doesn't unveil any in-game action, but it does convey a pretty clear picture of the kind of atmosphere we can expect to experience throughout the missions. Agent 47 is back, he's armed to the teeth, and he's nastier than ever. What more could you want out of a Hitman sequel?

Our third venture with the world's most dangerous hitman begins in Paris. Trapped, seriously wounded, and all alone, the main character finds himself in hot water. Counting on his skills as a deadly assassin, he'll have to find his way out a life-threatening situation (well, no surprises there). At present, there's really not much to tell about the story. One thing we do know for certain though, is that the developers intend to preserve the feel and spirit of the original, so it's safe to assume you'll be treated to a similar experience as before. Still, it appears that the writers mean to tighten the plot and make it a bit more interesting by adding an epic feel to it. As we can observe in the recently unleashed teaser trailer, our hero, Agent 47, is still doing what he does best - rubbing people out. By the look of it, he managed to maintain his reputation as a clean, cold, and methodical contract killer. This should suggest we're probably about to encounter a savage character, who's slightly less remorseful for his many wrongdoings this time around. Naturally, that doesn't mean that there won't be any character depth. Actually, it was announced that the game delves deep into the main character's psychology, scrupulously capturing the personality of a merciless hitman. Of course, we have yet to wait for Eidos to divulge additional info on characters, locations, and events that are vital to the plotline. A good story is the key to an immersive gaming experience, so we're keeping our fingers crossed that Hitman: Contracts can deliver.

Hitman: Codename 47 (the inaugural title in the series) suffered from several glitches that remained a great hindrance throughout the entire game. Beyond any doubt, the clunky controls and somewhat flimsy camera movement were the chief negative aspects of what was otherwise an imaginative and original concept for a 3rd person action sneaker. The follow-up, Hitman 2: Silent Assassin, elaborated on this concept, and managed to fix many of the interface and camera issues. In addition, it added a diversity of impressive innovations to the game, all powered by a highly modified version of the old engine code. The way Io listened to the fans and dedicated themselves to polishing up the gameplay mechanics indicated a keen determination on their part for overall improvement. This is why we hope Hitman: Contracts will be a success. Hitman's third reincarnation brings a variety of technical innovations and employs a completely new technology which will demonstrate character models in greater detail. The new engine also promises to provide a stable foundation for the game's huge and complex new locations (which we hope to learn more about pretty soon).

Yep, it's smooth enough...

Another day, another dollar.

As far as the gameplay is concerned, Hitman: Contracts should have enough features to ensure an addictive experience. The developers are gearing towards a superb single-player 3rd person sneaker. For starters, they vowed to add some changes to the game's control system. "An improved control system and more gradual learning curve will ensure that the game is accessible to all aspiring hitmen." Hm, "aspiring hitmen?" I like the sound of that. Who wouldn't want to become a hitman! Io promises to allow players even more freedom in terms of how they want to go about accomplishing their goals (icing people), and if the AI in Freedom Fighters was any indication of the kind of computer smarts we should expect in Hitman: Contracts, then I'd say we should be in for one heck of a ride! Players will get a chance to prove themselves in a wide range of challenging and action-packed missions, traveling to various locations throughout the world. Agent 47 is well-trained and equipped to deal with almost any type of... err... problem. Apart from his standard arsenal, he'll also receive a commendable array of additional firearms and special items, designed to make his life less difficult when he sets out on perilous tasks. As we all now, one of the world's deadliest assassins doesn't always rely on guns and rifles, so we can assume the traditional equipment will make a welcomed comeback (ya know, the fiber wire, chloroform ... all the good stuff).

Although somewhat short, Io Interactive's history boasts of high-quality games such as Freedom Fighters and the Hitman series, which gives us even more hope for Hitman: Contracts. It should be a thrilling single-player challenge all the way. For the present, we do not expect any multiplayer modes in the game - after all, Hitman was always a solo operator, hence the concept of multi play seems a bit pointless. The developers are still hush-hush on the specifics of their new engine, but they declare it as one of the most advanced technologies on the market.

And so, we wait for the coming of 2004, when Eidos will hopefully bless us with more information and media about Hitman's third incarnation... here's hoping.