So...Hitman: Absolution?

[KingsGambit_v1legacy]

I've closely watched all the info for this game over the course of its dev cycle. Sadly every new screenie, blurb, trailer and gameplay video has made me progressively less excited about it than I was at the start. I've read some reviews, the main point from which I drew was the it wasn't Blood Money 2. While this is a shame as that's really what I as a fan from the first game until the last wanted most.

But Absolution then. I've seen screenies, read reviews, watched a talk show dude playing it with hilarious commentary, but it would be great to hear from players. Escapists have never let me down here, often giving insights and anecdotes no critic or reviewer can.

What is it like? Is it fun? How are the missions? The gameplay mechanics? How's the UI? Is it possible to make it through the game with only your specific targets dying? Why is Diana always in the shower? What would happen if you scanned 47's head at the supermarket checkout? The weapons? AI? Ambience? Is David Bateson as 47 as cool as he should be? If 47 and Sam Fisher had a fight, who would win?

 

[Valen_Starwalker]

Um, from what I can tell so far of the game.
The first few hours are very linear.( I don't know about later on though)
There's really no special targets like in older Hit Mans game.
They're just random thugs, and mob bosses must of the time apparently. (This might have changed later on)

The disguise mechanic is a little weird, because you can put on a police outfit, and *Every* police officer will look at you funny. Now I know that if you work at a place you get to know everyone, but not every police officer knows every other police officer. This should have a "Chance" Mechanic instead of a instant effect. This happens all the time with other disguises as well. It's quite annoying.

But I think it's great so far, just a little linear so far from what I can tell.

x.x This is all I know. Sorry!

 

[Valen_Starwalker]

Double Post. Sorry. Don't know how this happened.

 

[hazabaza1]

Please ignore this and stop quoting me

 

[Valen_Starwalker]

Um, from what I can tell so far of the game.
The first few hours are very linear.( I don't know about later on though)
There's really no special targets like in older Hit Mans game.
They're just random thugs, and mob bosses must of the time apparently. (This might have changed later on)

The disguise mechanic is a little weird, because you can put on a police outfit, and *Every* police officer will look at you funny. Now I know that if you work at a place you get to know everyone, but not every police officer knows every other police officer. This should have a "Chance" Mechanic instead of a instant effect. This happens all the time with other disguises as well. It's quite annoying.

But I think it's great so far, just a little linear so far from what I can tell.

x.x This is all I know. Sorry!

I think it makes sense about the whole disguise thing. Cops will know all the little intricacies of how other cops act so when one seems out of place they'd probably get suspicious.
From what I hear it needs some touching up and it gets a bit silly at times but for the most part I can see it working.

I agree with what you're saying, but the first part of the game they have police officers from other districts come in, and help catch 47.
Now.. I don't think every police officer knows every other police officer in the entire city. That's what I am getting at. The same station sure. I can buy that, but not from other cities.
Maybe all the chiefs, and lieutenants, sure. But the entire task force.

That's all.

 

[DoPo]

I think it makes sense about the whole disguise thing. Cops will know all the little intricacies of how other cops act so when one seems out of place they'd probably get suspicious.

That...makes very little sense. Cops are normal people, too, so not each and every one of them would act the same way. Besides, 47, while not really master of disguises, should be at least moderately familiar with them, considering he's been using them for years. Not to mention that he's canonically a ghost - nobody has ever seen or heard of him, and most people who've heard of him, think it's no more than an urban legend. I'll understand, if some cops would be able to recognise, say, people not from the department on sight, but recognise 47 for not being cop like enough? Heck, I can put on a uniform and I bet I can get away with it, at least until I start talking to a cop (even then, I may get away with it). And I don't really have any talent in acting or disguises.

 

[distortedreality]

I'm just gonna quote myself from an earlier thread -

I'm really enjoying it. It's a deviation from previous games - more cinematic, smaller levels, more set pieces.

Having said that, the cool and inventive ways to carry out the missions are still there, and not as obvious as they have been in previous games. While people are raging at the new disguise mechanics, I'm really enjoying them, they're quite a challenge, but extremely useful when done right. The game does tend to have a lot more stealth elements (ala DXHR) than previous games as well.

As far as the story goes, so far it seems about as fleshed out and convoluted as Blood Money was. The missions are tied together, and there is a definite sense of moving towards a goal, but it's not brilliant by any stretch. But I doubt many people play Hitman for the story anyway.

Overall, I'm having a right blast. Not sure what the PCG reviewer was playing, but it certainly wasn't this.

 

[hazabaza1]

I think it makes sense about the whole disguise thing. Cops will know all the little intricacies of how other cops act so when one seems out of place they'd probably get suspicious.

That...makes very little sense. Cops are normal people, too, so not each and every one of them would act the same way. Besides, 47, while not really master of disguises, should be at least moderately familiar with them, considering he's been using them for years. Not to mention that he's canonically a ghost - nobody has ever seen or heard of him, and most people who've heard of him, think it's no more than an urban legend. I'll understand, if some cops would be able to recognise, say, people not from the department on sight, but recognise 47 for not being cop like enough? Heck, I can put on a uniform and I bet I can get away with it, at least until I start talking to a cop (even then, I may get away with it). And I don't really have any talent in acting or disguises.

I imagine that cops have certain procedures, certain ways of acting at a crime scene that are mostly universal.
Maybe it's a bit of a stretch, but I'm just trying to explain stuff. Probably badly, but dammit I'm trying.

 

[DoPo]

I think it makes sense about the whole disguise thing. Cops will know all the little intricacies of how other cops act so when one seems out of place they'd probably get suspicious.

That...makes very little sense. Cops are normal people, too, so not each and every one of them would act the same way. Besides, 47, while not really master of disguises, should be at least moderately familiar with them, considering he's been using them for years. Not to mention that he's canonically a ghost - nobody has ever seen or heard of him, and most people who've heard of him, think it's no more than an urban legend. I'll understand, if some cops would be able to recognise, say, people not from the department on sight, but recognise 47 for not being cop like enough? Heck, I can put on a uniform and I bet I can get away with it, at least until I start talking to a cop (even then, I may get away with it). And I don't really have any talent in acting or disguises.

I imagine that cops have certain procedures, certain ways of acting at a crime scene that are mostly universal.
Maybe it's a bit of a stretch, but I'm just trying to explain stuff. Probably badly, but dammit I'm trying.

Unless they have a whole guidebook on what body language to use at all times and each and every one follows it strictly, I don't really buy that. Also, if the previous games are any indications to base assumptions on, 47 wouldn't be constantly waltzing through crime scenes.

 

[Valen_Starwalker]

I think it makes sense about the whole disguise thing. Cops will know all the little intricacies of how other cops act so when one seems out of place they'd probably get suspicious.

That...makes very little sense. Cops are normal people, too, so not each and every one of them would act the same way. Besides, 47, while not really master of disguises, should be at least moderately familiar with them, considering he's been using them for years. Not to mention that he's canonically a ghost - nobody has ever seen or heard of him, and most people who've heard of him, think it's no more than an urban legend. I'll understand, if some cops would be able to recognise, say, people not from the department on sight, but recognise 47 for not being cop like enough? Heck, I can put on a uniform and I bet I can get away with it, at least until I start talking to a cop (even then, I may get away with it). And I don't really have any talent in acting or disguises.

I imagine that cops have certain procedures, certain ways of acting at a crime scene that are mostly universal.
Maybe it's a bit of a stretch, but I'm just trying to explain stuff. Probably badly, but dammit I'm trying.

So.. I have to walk down the stairs a certain way at a crime scene?
It still doesn't make sense.
Cops don't act all that differently during crime scenes.

Unless.. They all secretly teach the police force to actually hover 1 inch off the ground while during a crime scene.

 

[hazabaza1]

snip

snip

You guuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuys

I'm just trying to give some sort of way to at least somewhat explain game mechanics...

Bugger it, I've edited my OP, this was a stretch at first and I can't be arsed to do quote wars with all the people who'll inevitably enter this thread.

 

[DoPo]

You guuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuys

I'm just trying to give some sort of way to at least somewhat explain game mechanics...

But it doesn't wo-o-o-ork... :/

 

[daveman247]

I've only done the first few missions, and dabbled in the contracts mode. Im really enjoying it so far. The missions ARE smaller and cut up into sections. There isnt as much of a sense of scale as in blood money (like the heaven and hell party). But already there have been several fairly open missions. 47 controls better than ever and the contracts mode lets you set up some maddening missions


As for the disguise system, yes it doesnt make total sense but not having an "invulnerable" disguise will keep you on your toes.

Also the difficulty modes scale up nicely - NOT just taking the usual route of less health - tougher enemies but phases out the help you get (radar, instinct and how it recharges) as well as making the AI sharper and actually adding more guards to the level too.

 

[Valen_Starwalker]

I've only done the first few missions, and dabbled in the contracts mode. Im really enjoying it so far. The missions ARE smaller and cut up into sections. There isnt as much of a sense of scale as in blood money (like the heaven and hell party). But already there have been several fairly open missions. 47 controls better than ever and the contracts mode lets you set up some maddening missions


As for the disguise system, yes it doesnt make total sense but not having an "invulnerable" disguise will keep you on your toes.

Also the difficulty modes scale up nicely - NOT just taking the usual route of less health - tougher enemies but phases out the help you get (radar, instinct and how it recharges) as well as making the AI sharper and actually adding more guards to the level too.

Yeah, but it needs to be re-vamp just a little so it's not every single time. That's all I ask for. Just to make it make sense.

 

[daveman247]

Yeah, but it needs to be re-vamp just a little so it's not every single time. That's all I ask for. Just to make it make sense.

Yeah a bit more of a delay would be good. The system works, most of the time, on levels with different disguises to grab. But the levels full of cops is where it starts to fall apart a bit.

 

[wabbbit]

I'm not a massive fan of the new disguise system but it works for the most part. What I don't like is how quickly they see through your disguise over a distance which is a bit annoying.
EditAlso in the first real mission in China Town I found it awkward at first to work out what was "off limits" and had points deducted as the game gives you about half a second

Also Its a bit annoying having the missions cut up into sections in the respect that you can't go back and get your suit like the old Hitman games.

Could somebody confirm if the missions open up at all? It just seems like I'm hiding from people all the time instead of blending in and setting up elaborate traps. In fact I spent most my time bludgeoning people with various items and shoving them into boxes rather than being a ghost - total opposite of Blood Money and Contracts!

Here is where I am in the story atm..

Spoiler

I've just got to china town for the second time when you find out that guy sold you out.

Very nice game other than that though so far.

 

[Adam Jensen_v1legacy]

It's funny how things turn out sometimes. Actual campaign is not what a Hitman game should be IMO. Contracts mode is the Hitman game we've been waiting for.