My disappointment in Hitman: Contracts

First of let me say Hitman: Contracts is an excellent game (of course it is way too short), that being said it is no Hitman 2. I never got a chance to play the first Hitman so I can't comment on that part of the series what I can say is Hitman 2 is one of the best game I've ever played on any platform. I was hoping for that same greatness in Contracts and was disappointed why? Because Agent 47 no longer feels like an assassin but a government agent. I'll explain with a quick look at movies and real life... The Jackal, Nick of Time, In the Line of Fire, The Assassin, Assassins, The Professional, JFK, Ronald Regan, Traffic, Man on Fire the list goes on and on. What do all these Assassinations have in common? They perform hits when they are most opportune and ALL were during the DAYTIME. That aspect of Hitman was completely removed, listen I understand people like the skulking around in the dark aspect, hell I'm one of them, but lets be honest there is no lack of stealth action games out there that's all about hiding in the dark... Splinter Cell, Metal Gear Solid, Tenchu, Thief, Manhunt, Syphon Filter again the list goes on. The appeal of Hitman man to me was that even in broad daylight, without the cover of darkness you had to figure out a way to be stealthy and/or unnoticed. I LOVED the fact in Hitman 2, some missions 47 had to enter a crowded office building, create a diversion, get through the metal detectors, assassinate the target and get out unnoticed to get silent assassin rank or how about killing the Mob Boss in the middle of the day at his mansion. There was a higher level of strategy in this, you could be a grocery boy, deliver flowers, set of bombs to distract attention and come in as a fireman, ALL of that is gone in Hitman Contracts, yeah there are disguises but most are just members of the targets team, i.e. for the hunters you can be a hunter the gangs you can be a gang member, not very in depth. The bottom line is why are all the hits at night in the dark? If I wanted Splinter Cell Pandora's Tomorrow I would have bought it, I specifically waited for Hitman because it is different, it was the ONLY game that didn't rely solely on darkness for stealth, now it's just like all the rest, so there goes the allure of series. Don't get me wrong I liked the feel of some levels, the Meat King was ominous it was great and the feel in the closed off corridors of the hotel was nice, but 50% or more of the hits should have been during the day as more of paid assassins than special ops and espionage missions. And I know some people will say "I like the dark, I like the dark" but as I said before there are plenty of games for dark skulking were as Hitman was the ONLY series for people that like the the adrenaline of worrying about getting caught in the middle of the day just by someone looking over at you, no shadows, no dark, just the hope of "please just DON'T turn around or look over at me!" IO & Eidos screwed those people because there are no other options for a game like that, all I can hope now is some other company makes a similar title like Hitman 2. A perfect hit to me would be having the kill a target that was making a speech in the middle of a crowed park in the middle of the afternoon, with opportunities to get him or her (are there ever any female hits?) in their room as they sleep as room service, or poison there meal, as they take the elevator on the way to the park, snipe them in the park, or bomb the limo all in the mist of people without being noticed, that's what I thought Contracts was about, I mean there is hope that Hitman 4 will go back to the glory of part 2, but that kind of thing rarely happens, once a path is chosen it's usually ridden out until it fizzles because no matter what; since Hitman 2 was so good, Hitman Contracts will sell great, hell I bought it, so Eidos will believe all is well. It will take Hitman 4 doing worse sales for them to realize any problems and that's way too far down the road for me. When I heard there was a Hitman 3 and 4 coming I was extremely excited, now I feel like I did with the Matrix situation, where now I don't really care either way about the 4th, there are plenty of similar games that can tide me over or allow me to skip it completely. Hitman 2 wasn't a clone of any other game, it was original and great on its on merits which I believe most people that bought and played it would agree. I can only hope that this is kept in mind for future releases.

[Devistater]

Eidos when advertising this game said it would be a DARK game. The whole atmosphere would be dark. This means rain, nighttime, etc. If you didn't want this, then why buy it?

[Capone]

lol actually i thought hitman2 really wasnt all too great, i loved the first one because you could do whatever you wanted (guns-a-blazin to completely unnoticed and everything inbetween) and still had to put statagy into saving money for weapons and ammo. To be completely honest I dont like the rating system used in hitman 2 and 3 because if you dont get silent assassin then you feel like your doing the game wrong so you do the mission over and over again until you get SA, then you dont even want to do it again after that (why should you if you know you did it the best way possible?) In hitman 1 you could do whatever you wanted and as long as you had a decent amount of money for the next mission, then you decided if you did it best.

And whens the best time to catch someone sleeping than nighttime?

actually in the first one you couldnt do what ever like kill everyone, but you can in the second and third and i never felt like i was doing it wrong if i didnt get silent assasin, almost evry mission i got mass murderer on 2 and 3. also in the first one if you killed too many civilians you couldn't continue. i think you are confused.

[[PAK]Krwawy Lew]

I didn't like hitman 2, in fact i sold it 2 months after i bought it.
The whole feel of hitman 2 was, well to be frank, boring. The missions were boring as well as the hits. I really loathed the japan/ninja/sayonara missions cause they all felt, you guessed it, boring and stale.
The first mission where you could take out the mafia boss was ok i guess, but what I really loved where the parts in hitman 1 where you snuck around in the hotel trying to knock off your targets. Or going into the lee houng restaurante and poison their food and then sneak away before anyone notices you're not the real waiter.

In short, I loved Hitman 1 (well most of the missions) and disliked Hitman 2. Since hitman 3 are basically old missions from the first game but in a darker atmosphere I was considering buying but then again I already finsihed hitman 1 so paying full price for updated graphics was just not an option I was willing to take.
Maybe when this game hits the 25$ marker i'll consider some more about buiing it.

[a74gh83]

I'd have to agree that more daytime missions should have been put in. That said the game series is certainly getting there to the pinnacle of stealth. Starting to have more control, but the one major thing about the game series is the lack of random movement. Guards always follow the same path, always doing the same things. But i guess thats not an easy thing to develop in terms of programming, but u can always hope right?
On a seperate note, i found H2 was harder than contracts. The only missions that could be really considered hard in contracts were the last two, but still relative to h2 i found them to be pretty easy

Devistater let me educate you a little, when something is dark that does not always mean nighttime, a movie can be dark that doesn't mean every scene will be filmed at night. Dark can mean "Being or characterized by morbid or grimly, characterized by gloom; dismal" that can still be and there could have still been more (ANY) daytime missions. As to why I bought it, maybe you just did not read my post, if that is the case please do not reply. I bought it because as I said Hitman 2 was probably my favorite game. Going off of that notion I bought Hitman: Contracts with those expectations. I now realize that was a mistake but that is past. As I said previously there are plenty of stealth in the dark games, when I think of assassins, as with the many examples above, I think of a person preforming a hit when the target is in public and easily accessible, most often during the day. Hitman was the only game that had that aspect to it, is gone, it has nothing to stand it out from the rest now. I really haven't heard anyone give Contracts shining reviews or point out what makes it better that Hitman 2, the biggest change to me is the atmosphere which would have only been good in moderation. The stealth aspect of Hitman should not be (only, or mostly) darkness and shadows it should be misdirection, caution and being stealthy when the elements and environment are not necessarily conducive.

[xarax]

I don't understand why some people complain that the following text is probably the worst English ever:

"It was a dark and stormy night."

I think some people think that night implies "dark", so the statement is redundant. However, I read it as "dark"=="evil" or maybe "dark"=="malevolent". Some nights are less dark than others, depending on the phases of the moon and proximity to city lights.

Yet, that quotation is often cited as the one of best examples of atrocious English.

[BridgeBoy]

Originally posted by xarax
I don't understand why some people complain that the following text is probably the worst English ever:

"It was a dark and stormy night."

I think some people think that night implies "dark", so the statement is redundant. However, I read it as "dark"=="evil" or maybe "dark"=="malevolent". Some nights are less dark than others, depending on the phases of the moon and proximity to city lights.

Yet, that quotation is often cited as the one of best examples of atrocious English.

I'm not sure where you've seen that sentence as an example of poor english; but in my opinion it is perfect use of the english language. "dark" and "stormy" are merely adjectives describing the "night" in the same way as "It was a wild and crazy night" would be.

[exo]

Ever heard of point form?

saves people a lot of time and gets your point across a lot quicker...

either that or make paragraphs for godssakes...

go back to school

[Heero]

Yes, I do feel a lot of people on this forum failed Key Stage 3 English...

I dont mind it being dark and grotesque from time to time but the sound-fx could use some work. Completely new scream-sounds.. Seriously, people dont "moan" when u pop their knees off nor when u shoot them in their stommachs. They scream, badly.. I would love to see an update like that in a near future.


happy hitman -->

[BridgeBoy]

I am only playing the demo, but after having been playing FarCry for awhile, the guns do not sound very realistic when fired either....at least not in comparison to those in FarCry. The guns sound whimpy in Hitman. And I play both games with an Audigy 2 soundcard on a Creative Megaworks 6.1 THX surround system.

Originally posted by BridgeBoy
the guns do not sound very realistic when fired either....

And that! I couldnt agree more

[NosferatuX]

Originally posted by BridgeBoy
I am only playing the demo, but after having been playing FarCry for awhile, the guns do not sound very realistic when fired either....at least not in comparison to those in FarCry. The guns sound whimpy in Hitman. And I play both games with an Audigy 2 soundcard on a Creative Megaworks 6.1 THX surround system.

i dunno why but this comment reminded me of this guy who i use to play counter strike with. he was missing online for a very long time, then one day he just pops up on my aim buddy list. so we start talkin and he told me that he had to move because his father killed his mom. so he told me the story that his dad came home and they were in the room and what not and heard these sounds that they didnt notice to be shots at first. so a bit later my friend goes into his moms room and sees her on the ground laying in blood and how he ran to tell his brother that their mom is dead mom is dead. so hearing this im like damn thats messed up. then my friends says the most oddist thing ever to me. he say's those shots didnt sound anything like the shots on counter strike. i'm like so the point of this story is....game guns dont really sound like the real ones. well not in this case.

[BridgeBoy]

Originally posted by NosferatuX
............................... he say's those shots didnt sound anything like the shots on counter strike. i'm like so the point of this story is....game guns dont really sound like the real ones. well not in this case.

That is a sad story...however, I think the difference here is that the guns fired in that example were heard through walls and other obstructions.....they weren't shot while they were in the same room. The sounds of the guns in Hitman I'm talking about are the guns that Agent 47 fires himself....right next to your ears. And I am just comparing the sounds to those in FarCry......which has been well praised for its realism in modelling both their gun's looks and sounds.

[Heero]

even *real* guns on TV dont give the impression on how loud guns really are...

Firing a gun for the first time is akin to going to your first F1 Grand Prix... ear drum piercing is an understatement...

the only guns that games have ever gotten right are silenced ones... just like the only engine sounds that games have ever gotten right are the ones cars make when they're switched off (yes, silence)

(either that or all cars sound as positively annoying as the ones in colin mcrae...)

[Astalder]

This was my first of the Hitman games, and while I enjoyed it I understand exactly what you're saying. I loved the Splinter Cell games (the sneakiness is why I bought Hitman Contracts), but I was hoping for something a bit different in this game. While there are some missions that are creative (the two you listed come to mind), most of the time I felt like I was playing Splinter Cell except with an inferior character. That took a lot of the joy out of the game for me, because I could never shake the feeling that I was playing a mission of Splinter Cell with a substandard skill set.

Overall a good game, worth the money, but if I'm going to stick with the series (aka buy the next one) I'm going to need some indication that the next one isn't trying to copy games that use the shadows as the key to the game (and frankly, do it better).

[Heero]

erm, I dont see how Hitman and Splinter Cell can be compared...

Splinter Cell relies on the use of light, gadgets as well as stealth... Hitman just relies on general sneakiness and being a bastard with no morales...

Splinter Cell is rock hard, if not impossible to play by being a shooter... largely due to the 'no kills' restrictions... you're an undercover subvertive operative...
Hitman allows you to go ballistic for fun if you want... you're just there to kill... its just up to you how violent you are...

also, ive found people in Hitman are generally stupid until they suss you out...
in Splinter Cell, you're dressed in a heat-reducing body suit with a small military arsenal strapped to your back... you have to avoid the world, their grandmothers and the family dog...

I dunno, I just dont know how they can be compared...

[Sagi_y15]

I agree with a part of what Capone said, In the first Hitman game you could see the money you work for, and actually use it to buy weapons, ammo and tools. You could plan your move from the start; see the map, info, guns, before going to the location.
That was really much nicer then the way Hitman Contracts handles it. That's my opinion.

And all that darkness was really a bit too dark.. heh.
I agree that some missions should have been in day time, or at least not in the rain.

I have another complaint, when I sneak behind a red guard (for this case) and the light drops 47's shadow right in-front of this red dragon, he doesn't seem to think he is being followed. :-J
A bit stupid if you ask me. See a shadow of a man that wasn't there before and do nothing about it? A bit surprising.

[The Grim Reaper]

Firstly, those comparison to splinter cell are out right stupid, all you di in sc is following a straight line and either shooting with your silenced gun or stayin "invisible" which isn't that hard since in all those missions with "invisibilty" guards' patrols have moon sized holes in them.
On the other hand in Hitman you can do whatever and however you want, your goal is to slay your victim, whether you poison it, shoot, strangle, bomb, snipe or go on an all out killing spree concerns no one.
In sc on those "invisibility" missions if you raise an alarm it's automatically mission over, in Hitman if you raise an alarm targets start to flee and you have your last chance to correct your mistake.
So please no more moronic sc comparisons, first sc was a bad linear stroll, second sc was a bad linear stroll with a multiplayer.

Secondly, Hitman 2 is far away from being great, it's good but not great, the AI is almost completely retarded, if you wear the same uniform as they are they can spot you across an entire courtyard, however, if you were in a diffrent outfit they almost ignored you. If you chloroformed somebody without taking their clothes the dumb thing would wake up look around and continue standig guard as if nothing happend(I guess they are used to being sedated on a regular basis).
The unsilenced SVD in St.Petersburg still leaves me baffled, the Agency is too poor to provide a silenced SVD or the idea is to alert half a regiment of AK weilding soldiers ?
The japanese missions - walkng around, walking around, walking around, walking around and some more walking around...GRRRRRRRRRRR...wanking around.
The massacre in the last mission, wtf is it quake or Hitman ? where is my ellegant and beautifully executed SILENT ASSASSINation ? I think Mr. 47 is a professional assassin and not a little boy with a big gun.

Thirdly, daytime missions are a BRILLIANT idea, stroll into a civi packed place and pull a gun out, I bet Mr. 47 always wanted to make it into the evening news.
The drug lord mission in H1 was one of the lamest missions, obviously the smartes way to take out a drug lord is to take on his private army instead of luring him out or sniping him from a nearby hill or tree, at least we know why there was a minigun on that mission, right ?

One more thing, guns sound diffrently in diffrent environments, a gun will sound weak in an open field since most of the sound waves travel forward and sideways from you, however, in a small concrete room the sound will be deafening becase sound waves are rebound from the walls
all around you.
Also H3 isn't THX certified so THX system means squat in this game, THX is used only in games like HFS:Underground which is THX certified.
Far Cry utilises EAX 2, H3 utilises EAX HD(EAX 3 and above) which, unlike EAX 2, takes into account the materials of which the environment consists of like wood, stone etc. so the weapon sounds in H3 are more accurate than in FC since wood and stone reflect and absorb sound diffrently.

[hipnocat]

Posted buy Grim reaper

Firstly, those comparison to splinter cell are out right stupid, all you di in sc is following a straight line and either shooting with your silenced gun or stayin "invisible" which isn't that hard since in all those missions with "invisibilty" guards' patrols have moon sized holes in them.

Yes, i agree. Splinter Cell (namely pandora Tomorrow) IMO Is more linear than mario brothers.

[Heero]

Hitman's guards are as retarded as Splinter Cells... its like this for gameplay reasons...

altho Splinter Cell's grunts do react to their surroundings, like sound, suspiscuous activity, etc.... Hitman's only react if they see you in the wrong uniform or brandishing a gun...

tbh, the games are identical for dumbness because in Splinter Cell, nobody notices the huge lights on fishers head... but in Hitman nobody is suspicious of a anorexic bald guy with a barcode on his head

Because Agent 47 no longer feels like an assassin

Yes...HITMAN 3 is BORING ! Extravaganza on promo ! But the game is fackin boring! More like expansion but not good enough...

I think if EIDOS/IO interactive want more action style..so make 47 can jump, rolling or else..make it like Max Payne or else..Thats a new feature on Hitman series...

HITMAN 2 : Silent Assasin is one of the best game I've ever played on any platform
Yes i totally agree with mr.ddemon here...47 lost the 'touch'...
Hitman 2 more dramatic...

• there was a confession (catholic atmosphere), Italiano style...
• even you can hear the moslem prayer...which make me amaze !
• 47 ride a 'tuktuk' vehicle in India...amaze by giant tower Petronas in Malaysia...
• the Mission reports tools more details and lively (got more info,sounds,etc..more lively)
• Everytime start new level, there was a cool conversation.."Even the Thick Wall was a weak point, etc"..The Hitman 3, only FMV which mixed up, YES its cool maybe but poor..not get the 'touch'
• When sniping the head target, there was a missunderstanding with the contacts: "Wait wait..No he isn't a smoker, yes he is drinker"..etc etc..AND Thats dramas here..sh1T and thats cool!
• lots lots things..and this is a real mad sick assasin in this HITMAN 2

Yes yes yes...HITMAN 2, i lost the adrenalin!! When I finished that game, even I duck and sneak when using ladder! Heh..What a fakin cool game, make me freak dissoriented! I miss that thrilled! ALL MY RESPECT GOES TO THIS SEQUEL! HAIL TO THE PROGRAMMERS! SALUTE!

47 is baldy fackin cool assasin...he should be like in Hitman2, in the crowd.. in the middle of ordinary people...juz focus on the target...kill the target and gone embark with the crowd...thats this baldhead belongs ! He is an mad fackin HITMAN for god sake !
Why he bothers with nuclear bombs ?? what a s.h.i.t ??
He is not DOBEL O SEVEN ! HE IS FORTY SEVEN !!
He supposed cut someones throat for some cash ! Smashing head with golf club for money!! God damn it!
Stupid mistakes!

Like i said if want make new things...Well then..make him jump or something..and thats make big differences from the prequel!
Make it more lively for action, thats make me accept the differences in HITMAN 3!

BIG DISSAPOINT for HITMAN 3 !
Next sequel please...and please bring me back the real FORTY SEVEN!

Thanks for sharing...

I just wanted to comment on those who said they don't see how Hitman and Splinter Cell can be compared. Well of course the blanket statement of "they are the same" can not be made. However it is easy to see the similarities in games of that type, with a guy that must be stealthy, incapacitate or kill enemies and accomplish a goal. Once this is established, that is where the comparison can be made, in that respect Hitman Contracts is much closer to Splinter Cell than Hitman 2 was, and I personally don't see that as a good thing, because as someone else stated the Hitman Series is inferior for that type of gameplay but not for the style that was starting to develop in Hitman 2 which I hope Eidos/IO gear Hitman 4 towards again.