Review: Hitman 3 is a must-own, but only if you own the previous games
For 20 years, the Hitman series has delivered some of the most ambitious and most creative stealth games on the market, and that trend is set to continue with Hitman 3, the final entry in the World of Assassination trilogy that started with 2016’s Hitman reboot. Players are thrust back into the bespoke suit of Agent 47, a genetically-engineered assassin tasked with killing some of the most infamous people in the world.
Since adopting an open-world design in Hitman 2016, IO Interactive has been able to polish and build upon the non-linear gameplay of earlier Hitman games to staggering new heights. As a result, Hitman 3 offers some of the best missions in any Hitman game yet. However, uneven pacing, a massive paywall, and a lackluster conclusion cap the new trilogy with a limp whimper instead of the thunderous applause the series deserves.
Just shy of greatness
Hitman 3
Bottom line: Hitman 3 features some of the most complex and most creative levels in the series history while polishing the gameplay to perfection. Unfortunately, it’s held back by some hefty paywalls, uneven mission pacing, and some occasional clunky AI.
Pros
- Gorgeous graphics
- Some of the best missions in the series history
- Stealth gameplay is satisfying and polished
- Lots of replayability
- Can import content from previous Hitman games
Cons
- Some clunky AI and gameplay quirks
- A disappointing conclusion to the series
- Much of the content requires previous Hitman games to access.
What I liked about Hitman 3
Source: Windows Central / Zackery Cuevas
Category | Hitman 3 |
---|---|
Title | Hitman 3 |
Developer | IO Interactive A/S |
Publisher | IO Interactive A/S |
Genre | Action & adventure |
Platforms | Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Epic Games Store, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Stadia |
Game Size | 61.8 GB |
Players | Single player |
Xbox Game Pass | No |
Price | $50 |
IO Interactive spent the last three years refining the core Hitman gameplay, and it is near perfect in Hitman 3. The game just feels good to play, and the densely packed levels breathe life into every encounter. Hitman 3 delivers some of the most complex and interesting missions in the game’s history, made larger than life thanks to some very cinematic opening sequences. Some of my favorites include solving a murder mystery reminiscent of 2019’s Knives Out and playing a game of cat and mouse with a group of assassins in a crowded underground rave. No one creates a murder-filled playground quite like the Hitman devs.
Source: Windows Central / Zackery Cuevas
The game encourages multiple playthroughs and it’s unlikely that each one will be the same.
Every mission also features a set of challenges that earn the player experience points that unlock more options for mission replays. Challenges include pulling off specific types of kills or changing into specific outfits found throughout the mission. Despite there only being six levels, the game encourages multiple playthroughs and it’s unlikely that each one will be the same.
You can still import missions and modes from Hitman and Hitman 2, as well as your progress from Hitman 2 directly into Hitman 3 as long as you own the previous games. This allows you to experience older levels in the latest game engine and play the entire story in one go. Players can also create custom contracts to share with other players online in the same way they did in previous games, although you’ll need the older Hitman games to access the older game’s contracts. Sniper Assassin, the multiplayer mode introduced in Hitman 2, is no longer playable online, but can still be played solo. Hitman 2’s Ghost Mode, on the other hand, was cut entirely.
What I didn’t like about Hitman 3
Source: Windows Central / Zackery Cuevas
The Hitman series has a habit of taking one step forward and one step back.
I also had a problem with the content available in the game. If you purchase Hitman 3, you’ll have access to six missions and the contract mode… and that’s it. If you want access to the previous game’s missions or the Sniper Assassin mode, you’ll have to buy the older games. Depending on your preference of digital or physical, getting all the game’s content could cost anywhere between $50 and $150 on top of Hitman 3.
While it’s by no means necessary to own the previous games, aside from the new story missions there’s not much else that’s new. Hitman 3 feels like an expansion pack that’s incomplete without the previous games. I also wish that IO Interactive could implement an account system that would allow users who own the game across platforms to still be able to access their content instead of locking it to a single platform.
Source: Windows Central / Zackery Cuevas
Hitman 3 Xbox review Should you buy?
Source: Windows Central / Zackery Cuevas
At its core, Hitman 3 is fun to play and the first few levels of this installment are some of the best in Hitman’s history. Unfortunately, the game starts to lose steam as it approaches the finish line. If you own the previous games, or if you’re willing to spend the additional cash necessary, Hitman 3 has a lot to offer, and even if you don’t, it’s still a lot of fun to explore the incredibly detailed levels and find unique ways to pull off the perfect kill.
With IO Interactive’s upcoming James Bond project on the horizon, I can only imagine what the Hitman team will be able to do, especially considering how sophisticated the Glacier engine has become. Until then, the bald man with the bar code on his head is more than enough.
Just shy of greatness
Hitman 3
An imperfect kill
Hitman 3 is an excellent entry in the Hitman franchise but requires the previous games in the series to be appreciated as a whole.
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