Hitman: Absolution is a game that belongs to the very rare genre of "purebred" stealth games. No trendy gadgets, sensors, or scanners. Just cold calculation, stealth, and a garrote in your hands. The innovations introduced by the developers at IO Interactive in Absolution shifted the focus from hardcore gameplay to "mainstream appeal," so the new game doesn't quite reach the benchmark set by the exemplary Hitman: Blood Money.
Story
Did IO Interactive make the right decision by choosing to run the entire game through a strong storyline? Fans are still debating this topic, but the plot of Absolution is simply too good to be considered a drawback. Yes, at times there is a hint of excessive theatricality and a lack of realism, but that's actually to our benefit—after all, it gives us more options for completing the game.
Rescuing the "lab experiment" from the hands of the government is just a cover, beneath which lies a story worthy of a Hollywood film. The writers skillfully guide Agent 47, and as soon as he deals with one problem, a new, more complex and exciting one immediately arises. Every plot element is so seamlessly intertwined with the gameplay, the setting, and the overall picture that it's impossible to tear yourself away from the game, literally from the very first mission.
It’s also worth noting that the animators of Absolution truly understand acting. The characters’ facial expressions, the conveyance of emotions, and the high-quality localization—all of this is done by talented professionals with love and care. I wouldn’t be surprised if, in the near future, a compiled movie appears on YouTube, where fans merge the in-engine cutscenes into a single whole.
Gameplay
And while the story truly deserves top marks, in terms of gameplay, Absolution falls short of its competitors on all counts. The developers overlooked so many interesting features and innovations that have appeared in stealth games over the past six years that it feels as if the game was released around 2007, not at the end of 2012. The setting itself is good, but just not for the Hitman series, which was famous for its abundance of tactical possibilities.
Only by immersing yourself in the game will you truly appreciate how well it meets your expectations—no review can convey the feelings you experience while playing. Nevertheless, if you’re a hardcore enthusiast, Absolution won’t bring you much joy. But if you’ve never heard of the stealth genre before, IO Interactive’s new creation will definitely appeal to you.
The "root of all evil" lies in the fact that the developers have cut the gameplay options to a minimum. The player’s choices are extremely limited: if you don’t want to shoot or strangle, you’re left with making deaths look like accidents, but even here the developers’ imagination fell short. By the end of the game, the options to crush, throw, or electrocute someone start to blur together. With such a set of “accidents,” even a novice assassin could cope, let alone the seasoned 47.
Apparently, all the developers’ efforts went into crafting the gripping story, and there just wasn’t enough energy left for original “accidents,” the preparation of which could have been a challenging but very interesting process. Now, Absolution only offers an imitation of improvisation, and even that comes with a lot of limitations.
The "Instinct" feature, designed to combine a variety of functions, only harmed the gameplay, bringing more arcade elements into the game. Now, you no longer need to determine the guards’ lines of sight, memorize patrol routes, plan your tactics a step ahead, or create distractions. Just press the instinct button—and all the information you need is served up on a silver platter. You can even spend instinct to avoid detection in a critical situation. That is, you’ve just taken someone out, you’ve been spotted, but (SIC!) the “magic facepalm” will save you from any suspicion.
The AI’s abilities also raise complaints. On one hand, computer opponents are very weak in firefights—they immediately run out into the open, exposing their heads to gunfire. But if you try to simply walk past them in the same uniform, they’ll notice you even from a hundred meters away. How is that not arcade-like?
Graphics and Visual Design
It’s impossible not to mention the beautiful artistic design of most of the game’s locations. Chinatown, the streets of Chicago, the Terminus Hotel, Dakota—all of them will stay in players’ memories for a long time. Each location is built very convincingly and does a great job of conveying the surrounding life. Wherever you are, there isn’t a single spot untouched by the hand of a designer. And in Chinatown, it’s simply impossible to tear yourself away from admiring the wonderful world the developers have created! No wonder the developers chose it as the “face” of the game in the benchmark.
It's also pleasing that the developers didn't skimp on designing the structure of the game’s locations. You see, these aren’t just straight paths from the starting point straight to the finish. Sometimes you have to combine hidden routes or even walk in circles, searching for the most fatal position for your target. However, you won’t need to spend a lot of time exploring the game world, since the notorious "Instinct" also highlights possible secret paths here.
As for the graphics overall, they’re good. The engine produces a fresh, vibrant picture, even if there’s a bit too much blur. I’m not sure where you’re supposed to see DirectX 11 here, but in terms of most modern visual effects, it definitely competes with this year’s top hits. It’s a shame that the gameplay fell short, as it clearly doesn’t deserve such beautiful scenes.
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Surprisingly, 2012’s Hitman: Absolution falls short of last year’s Deus Ex: Human Revolution and Batman: Arkham City, even though nothing seemed to prevent IO Interactive from releasing a true hit.
