After opening up our inventory to select a coin we then had no idea how to throw it. Running through its tutorial level, “Death of a Showman”, we had to distract a couple of guards. Not only that but its control scheme and general gameplay is shocking. Character models are repeated and you can definitely see where some graphical shortcuts were taken given that Hitman: Blood Money was released in 2006. Its enhancement to 4K helps it a touch in the graphics department but it still shows its age. I’ll concede that the level design is excellent but beyond that, it’s a bit of a mess.
Though if I’m honest, I couldn’t see what all the fuss was about. Up until now this reviewer had never played what is considered, by some, to be one of the best Hitman games released. It was an absolute revelation to play Hitman: Blood Money and see a totally different approach. The Parisian level is easily one of the best in the franchise By doing so it muddied the waters, leaving longtime fans with an overwhelming feeling that things were dumbed down just a bit too much. It was as if it knew fans of the franchise would aim to be the perfect assassin but at the same time wanted to reward the rowdy yahoos that just wanted to blow stuff up. There were also some missions - we’re looking at you Terminus Hotel - which were an absolute pig to complete without us starting a mini massacre on your way. Hitman: Absolution sort of wanted you to do that but it was a point-based system meaning you could do some bad things but make up for it elsewhere. No witnesses, no collateral damage and definitely no casualties beyond your targets. Doing so in Hitman: Bloody Money meant you barely caused a ripple. Many who play any Hitman game aim to achieve the coveted “Silent Assassin” ranking. It lacked Hitman: Blood Money’s excellent level design first and foremost but it also seemed a little uncomfortable in its own skin. Whilst apologies were quickly made it certainly tarred what was, overall, a decent entry in the series. It wasn’t quite as well received as Hitman: Blood Money - released six years prior - and was marred in controversy surrounding the “Attack of the Saints” trailer featuring gun-toting nuns. If you ask most fans of the franchise, Hitman: Absolution marked a low for the series.
What IO Interactive attempted with Hitman: Absolution was to try and tell a cohesive story whilst, at the same time, offer the sandbox assassin playground that its predecessors had. They were like that when I walked in… honest! Whilst it was no slouch or even that ugly back in its 360 days, the enhancements brought about by this remaster really do spruce things up nicely. If there’s one thing Hitman: Absolution got right it was its gunplay and general control of Agent 47. Couple this with the bump to 60fps, gameplay is fast, fluid and most importantly fun. The Glacier 2 engine has aged well though you can definitely see the improvements on the rendering and the textures in its new 4K environment should you be able to play this collection on the Xbox One X. Working backwards, Hitman: Absolution is the more recent of the two, originally released in 2012.
Whilst both can be played via backwards compatibility, these remasters feature improved 4K visuals and gameplay at a smooth 60fps. So I was mightily surprised, and delighted, when IO Interactive announced that they were going to release Hitman: Absolution and Hitman: Blood Money in a remaster on the Xbox One. Part of that was down to the casting of Timothy Olyphant in the first one and Zachary Quinto in the second, but they were also silly fun. Personally, I’ve even enjoyed the two movies it spawned. We’re big fans of the Hitman franchise and its protagonist, Agent 47.
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