Gameplay:
Hitman Blood Money is the fourth in the series, yet you needn’t play the previous ones to love this game. Agent 47 is at it again, taking contracts and traveling all over the country in order to uncover the inner workings of some secret organization that has been deeply involved in his history as a Hitman. Play through twelve levels and environments to assassinate your target, or targets. The unique part of Hitman is always the variety of ways you can assassinate the target, thereby establishing your various ratings in stealth, accuracy, and so forth. Go for the poison, the knife, the detonator, and the sniper rifle among other weapons. Rank Silent Assassin to unlock new weapons that increase the game’s replay value and overall fun. The best part, however, is the ending, but you’ll have to play through to understand, or you can be lazy and read the spoilers.
Graphics:
The graphics for this time period are astonishing, played on a PC that can handle it. The lighting is detailed and brings the environment to life with the bloom effect. Each level has a theme, whether it is a garden sanctuary or an Egyptian-themed casino, and the scenery is up to par with the gamer’s expectations. The environments are sometimes quite massive and realistic, such as the suburban neighborhood where you can roam around and shoot harmless people who are watering their lawns. Basically, you lurch through free environments with nothing but your guns and a nice suit.
Sound:
The best aspect of sound in this game is the ambience and environmental soundtrack. Parties and gambling go on in the background as you search for your targets, and accompanied with the music you feel like a real assassin. Gun sounds, as always, are quite impressive, and there is a range of sounds from your victims, such as the classic screaming and whimpering. Sounds also play an important role in the gameplay. For instance, you must attend an opera and wait for the loudest point from the orchestra to take your shot. With a sniper rifle almost longer than your body, you better believe you’ll need that orchestra.
Replay Value:
The replay value is surprisingly good taking into account that it’s a single-player first person shooter. With numerous ways to kill your victims and with massive environments to explore (with all kinds of people to torture), you’ll find yourself playing at least three times over in order to experience the game to the fullest. Blood Money offers more replay value than the previous Hitmans, on account of the better-detailed environments, so you’re sure to get your money’s worth.
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Rating:
Story: 8.5
Gameplay: 9
Controls: 9
Graphics: 9
Sound: 9
Replay value: 8.5
Overall: 9.0
Own, Rent, Avoid:
Own: Blood Money revolutionizes the first person shooter in a way that makes the environment come alive for the assassin and his possibilities. Do yourself a favor and experience this game.
Last Thoughts:
Hitman Blood Money is the first of the Hitman series which creates environments with possibilities that exceed your mission’s requirements. As a cold-blooded killer, you’ll find yourself delighted from mission to mission as you take on different costumes and roles to kill your target in highly original ways.
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Written By
Ryan David Leack
1/26/2009
