Absolution reminds me just how great previous Hitman games were, and how far this falls short.
On first impressions, the game looked good. The graphics are gorgeous and run very smoothly, even on my medium spec PC. What's more, it appeared to have retained all the gameplay elements that made the previous games so great.
However, as I continued playing, I started to feel a sense of disappointment creeping over me. Something about this game just didn't seem right and I found myself getting bored rather quickly.
In previous installments of the Hitman series, the player was given a wide range of diverse environments - a suburban house, luxury hotels, a Mardi Gras parade, a christmas resort in the mountains, a derelict fairground and a sleazy fetish party in a meat factory, to name just a few. In Absolution, however, the enviroments are very generic and lack any character or diversity. In fact, a lot about this game felt quite generic.
Another thing that I found very disappointing is the use of quicktime events. In my opinion, pressing the right button at the right time is not gameplay. You are not in control of the character; you're just indicating what animation sequence comes next.
The worst addition, however, has to be the "instinct" power, which allows you to see through walls, predict the paths of enemies and so on. Oh god, Hitman now has magic powers! Maybe he went to wizard school since the last time we saw him.
The reason I hate this so much is because the appeal of these games is in its grittiness and grounded gameplay. When you start adding science fiction or magic, it ruins the realism.
Unlike previous Hitman games, this is much more story driven. That's not such a bad thing really, but I'm not liking the fact that Hitman is now the number 1 most wanted man in the world and you have guards in each level looking out for you. I much prefer being able to blend into an environment where most people are oblivious to you and your intentions. I love being able to dress in a disguise and pass myself off as a member of staff or a passer by, explore the environment and take your time to plot your assassinations. In Absolution, however, there are way too many suspicious NPCs and patrolling guards and you need to be on guard all the time, not just in secret or private areas, as in prior games in the series. This limits your chance to explore and makes the game feel more rushed.
What's more, your opportunities to set traps or pass the assassination off as an accident are very limited and not all that creative. It makes a lot more sense just to shoot your target with a silenced pistol and leave, which poses no real challenge or enjoyment. Unlike the Notoriety metre from Blood Money, which affects your wanted level as you progress, the new points system is a very half assed idea and doesn't add any incentive for creative or silent kills.
With the exception of the points system and instinct, which are two features the game would be better without, there is a real lack of evolution since previous games. Hiding bodies is very formulaic and most of Hitman's moveset is the same now as it was in the original game.
While this may seem like a very minor point, the soundtrack was very lackluster compared to the previous games. We no longer have the orchestral music giving the game a cinematic feel or adding to the tension during significant moments. What music is there tends to blend into the background and is barely even noticeable.
On the whole, Absolution isn't a bad game and there are some enjoyable levels scattered throughout. The bad guys are also very well developed and gives you pleasure when hunting them down. That said, I couldn't help getting bored and a little frustrated...and for me, that's the first while playing a Hitman game.
With all its faults and shortcomings, Absolution has reminded me of all the great aspects of the previous games and left me with an urge to play Contracts or Bloodmoney again.