Hitman 2 successfully combines stealth mechanics with action sequences to create a unique and satisfying experience.
User Rating: 8.6 | Hitman 2: Silent Assassin PS2
Back in 2000, the world got a taste of the stealth-action game, Hitman: Codename 47. The game was unique because it put you in the shoes of a genetically enhanced contract killer. It also combined many stealth and action aspects in an interesting way. But many criticized the game for its sloppy controls and notorious difficulty. However, some enjoyed the challenge and felt that completing each mission was a rewarding experience. Now, Eidos and IO Interactive have stepped forward again to discover the Hitman series’ true potential in Hitman 2: Silent Assassin. Once again, you play as Agent 47, a bald-headed, genetically enhanced assassin. The game starts sometime after the conclusion of the first game and 47 has given up his violent ways as he works as a gardener at a Sicilian church, in hope of earning redemption from his friend, the priest. But early retirement doesn’t last long, as the priest is captured by a group of thugs, and 47 is forced to call upon his former agency to help find his friend. But they won’t spill the information until he does a few jobs for them. So, 47 is forced to don his suit and dual Hardballer pistols once more. What makes Hitman 2 unique is that you can complete each mission by either using stealth tactics or going in with guns blazing. Most of the game’s missions carry the same concept; get in, eliminate your target (or targets), and get out. For those of you who like to take things quietly, Hitman has a lot to offer. One unique strategy is to don an enemy’s uniform, which can be done with just about every dead or unconscious male character that 47 encounters. This can get you through security checkpoints, as well as direct access to your target. But this isn’t as simple as 47 just changing his pants and shirt. You’ll need to act like the guards around you. This includes walking, not running, and holding similar weapons as they are. It wouldn’t look convincing for 47 to be holding a machine gun in a room full of enemies that are holding pistols. But there are other stealth strategies too. 47 starts every mission with fiber-wire that can be used to silently strangle enemies. Other silent, stealthy weapons include knives, anesthetics, and sniper rifles. You can even do things like slip rat poison in their drinks or food. This is all satisfying, and it adds a good sense of realism. The game even uses the Hazard system, which is commonly referred to as “Rag Doll Physics”, in which, when you kill an enemy, he won’t just go through some scripted death sequence; instead his body will react realistically to gunshots as well as the world around him. For example, killing an enemy on a staircase may cause him to tumble down the stairs, or blasting someone with a shotgun will send him flopping through the air. Of course, this is most satisfying if you decide to blast away at all of your enemies in each mission, which can be just as entertaining as the stealth aspects of the game. But then again, why does it matter if you use stealth or not? Why not just blast away and get through the game in a few hours? Well that’s because the methods that you use are reflected in your overall performance grade that you receive at the end of a mission. Basically, your grade is determined by the use of two meters, one for stealth, and one for aggression. The meters oppose each other, so as the stealth meter goes up, the aggression meter will go down, and vice versa. Depending on how much stealth/aggression you used in the mission, will determine the title you receive. For example, a full stealth meter, and an empty aggression meter will earn you the “Silent Assassin” rating, while a full aggression meter will earn you the “Mass Murderer” rating. You’re encouraged to push for a high stealth meter, as it will earn you a few rewards. But hey, going on an all out killing spree isn’t at all a bad thing. Hitman 2 has well over 20 real-world weapons that include pistols, submachine guns, rifles, and shotguns. Also, whenever you complete a mission, any weapons that you have on you will be placed in a gun shed at your hideout, permanently, allowing you to bring whichever ones you want into the next mission. Hitman 2 isn’t a short game either, there are about 20 missions that will take you to countries like Japan, Russia, Malaysia, and India. The missions are also quite diverse; ranging from an ancient castle, to a towering skyscraper. The missions themselves throw a lot of puzzles and obstacles at you, making the experience more enjoyable, and preventing you from completing the game in a hurry. As with the predecessor, Hitman 2’s graphics are really spectacular. The environments and characters are finely detailed, and the cutscenes are presented very well. The sound is just as impressive. As you progress in missions around the world, you will notice that characters speak in their native language, and 47’s voice is very well done, as it truly brings out his dark personality. But the music is probably the best part of the sound. The soundtrack is made up of grand orchestral scores that were composed and recorded by the Budapest Symphony Orchestra, and the music does of good job of reflecting the game’s serious attitude. If you still have a bad taste in your mouth from the first game, Hitman 2 more than makes up for it. Even if you haven’t played the first game, you can easily get into Hitman 2, since you really don’t need to know what happened in the original title anyway. If a mix of stealth and action are what you’re looking for, then Hitman 2 will definitely satisfy your needs, since its mix of stealth, action, depth, and beautiful presentation combine superbly to create a spectacular game overall. 
