| Hitman 2: Silent Assassin | |
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The cover artwork for Hitman 2 |
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| Developer(s) | IO Interactive |
| Publisher(s) | Eidos Interactive |
| Composer(s) | Jesper Kyd |
| Series | Hitman |
| Engine | Glacier |
| Version | 1.02 |
| Platform(s) | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2, Xbox, Nintendo GameCube |
| Release date(s) | |
| Genre(s) | Stealth, third-person shooter, first-person shooter |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
| Rating(s) | |
| Media/distribution | Optical disc, download, cloud computing |
System requirements
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Hitman 2: Silent Assassin is a stealth game developed by IO Interactive and published by Eidos Interactive. Released for the Xbox game console on September 30, 2002, it is the second entry in the Hitman series and the sequel to Hitman: Codename 47. Microsoft Windows and PlayStation 2 versions of the game were released on October 1, 2002, and a GameCube version was later released on June 19, 2003. Hitman 2 has sold more than 3.7 million copies as of April 23, 2009. The game was re-released for Windows through the Steam online distribution service.[1].
In the game, players assume the role of an assassin known as Agent 47. The game advances as players carry out contract killings by solving puzzles to arrange for stealthy, untraceable assassinations.
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Hitman 2 features mission-based gameplay. On each level, the main character, known only as 47, is given a set of objectives to complete. Most levels require the assassination of one or more people. However, how missions are completed is up to the player, and there are almost always a variety of ways to complete missions. Instead of simply running and gunning through the mission, one can set sneaky traps, like poisoning a drink, to terminate the target in silence. Once again, it's up to the player to decide how he or she will kill the target.
47 can find disguises or remove them from an incapacitated person to blend in with his surroundings and access restricted areas. This plays in with the "suspicion" system; a bar beside the health meter on the HUD represents how much suspicion 47 garners. There are multiple ways to blend in more effectively; for example, the player can make sure to carry an AK-47 assault rifle while disguised as a Russian soldier. Despite the usage of a uniform, proximity to fellow guards will simply increase the suspicion as they would have an opportunity to more closely examine 47. Also, running, climbing and being in restricted locales are other ways to garner concern.
47's cover can be blown if suspicion gets too high, and the disguise will no longer be of any use. It is possible to switch between multiple disguises throughout the level.
Hitman 2 also uses the concept of a post-mission ranking system, in which the player is given a status based on how they completed the mission, rated along a stealthy-aggressive axis, between "Silent Assassin," a stealthy player who manages to complete the level without being noticed and only killing two non targeting people excluding the intended target(s), and "Mass Murderer," a non-stealthy player who kills everyone. The game rewards the player for critical thinking and problem solving, encouraging the player not to treat the game as a simple shooter. Achieving Silent Assassin status on multiple missions rewards the player with bonus weapons. These weapons, plus items found in previous levels, can be carried over into future ones, allowing for differing means of accomplishing the tasks. Big weapons like rifles and shotguns cannot be concealed, thus the player has to either be wearing an appropriate disguise to match the weapon, or make sure no one sees the player use it.
Agent 47 has retreated to a church in Sicily to seek peace. During his time in the church, he works as a gardener for the priest, Father Vittorio. 47 views Father Vittorio as his best friend and mentor, attending regular confessions to admit his sins. The priest understands that 47 has killed many but believes the man is decent at heart.
One day, after confession, Father Vittorio is kidnapped and a ransom note is left for 47, demanding 500,000 dollars in two days. 47 decides to go back to his old job as an assassin to track down Father Vittorio. He contacts his agency, who thought he was dead, and makes a deal with his handler, Diana. He will work for them if the agency can help him locate Father Vittorio. They accept the deal.
Diana informs 47 that Father Vittorio was kidnapped by a Sicilian Mafia capo named Giuseppe Giuliano. The man is holding the priest in a cell under his mansion, dubbed Villa Borghese. 47 infiltrates and kills Giuliano, but fails to find his friend. He is later told that a satellite image shows Father Vittorio being taken away by 'Russian-looking types in uniform'.
47 works with the Agency to repay their attempt to find Vittorio. After both sides are satisfied the deal is fulfilled, 47 negotiates for a pay raise and continues to accept contracts. He travels to different countries, including Russia, Japan, Afghanistan, Malaysia and India, to carry out his missions, assassinating the assigned targets ranging from terrorists and criminal bosses to enemy agents and generals. Eventually 47 gives up his search for Vittorio, believing him to be dead.
47 eventually learns that the entire thing was a scam by a man named Sergei Zavorotko who is an important figure in Russian organized crime. He also has ties with the Russian government and military. Sergei was an Agency client whom 47 had been working for all along. Sergei had hired 47 to kill all the people who knew anything relating to a major nuclear warhead he had purchased. Sergei was also the brother of Arkadij Jegorov, who was one of 47's "five fathers". Sergei believes 47 told the UN about the device, and sets up an assassination. 47 is then tasked by the UN to kill Sergei, but it is actually a trap. The actual client was Sergei, and he attempts to use 17, another clone of 47 to kill him. 47 then kills 17.
Finally, 47 tracks Sergei back to the church in Sicily, where he holds a terrified Father Vittorio hostage. After a running battle with Sergei's men, 47 eventually kills Sergei. Vittorio gives his old crucifix to Agent 47, asking him to follow the right way and find peace in his life according to his inner soul. Agent 47 takes a final look at Father Vittorio and leaves the church, hanging the crucifix on the church's wooden door. He realizes he will never find peace there and goes back to a life as a hitman.
One the major complaints critics made about the first game was that it was inaccessible to most players due to its unfriendly nature.[2] Despite the problems with the first game, it did show potential for the underlying technology and gameplay. Improvements were made to the game's AI and the new levels were made smaller and more focused. Additional items would be available in the second installment including chloroform for quietly taking down enemies and a crossbow which could silently kill opponents. The initial story for the game would take place after the events of the first game. After hearing the changes planned for Hitman 2, PC Gamer declared in December 2001 that "Hitman 2 should be everything we wished of its predecessor – and that gives us extremely high hopes."[2]
Hitman 2: Silent Assassin received generally very favorable reviews. On Rotten Tomatoes the PC version received a rating of 90% fresh, 8.8/10, based on 19 reviews.[3] On another meta-review site, Metacritic, the PC version scored 87/100 based on 20 reviews.[4] The reviews of the PC version of the game were the most favorable, but reviews for other platforms, namely Xbox, GameCube and PlayStation 2, were comparable to the PC version. Gamespot gave it a score of 8.6 out of 10, saying that it "fixes virtually all of the problems of its predecessor" and is still an "outstanding" game.[5] Electronic Gaming Monthly scored Hitman 2's GameCube version 7/8/8.5: the first reviewer criticized its artificial intelligence and mission briefings, but said that "each time I circumvented the immeasurable odds and made the crucial killing blow, Hitman 2 was briefly a blast"; the third reviewer summarized it as "an engaging adventure title that rewards patient players".[6] Despite the 7/8/8.5 scores given by Electronic Gaming Monthly, the cover of the Gamecube release says "9/10 Electronic Gaming Monthly Gold Award." This score is erroneously taken from the magazine's review of the PlayStation 2 version. When confronted with the issue by Electronic Gaming Monthly, Eidos said it would remove the score in future printings.[7]
The game's release sparked controversy due to a level featuring the killing of Sikhs within a depiction of their most holy site, the Harmandir Sahib.[8] An altered version of Silent Assassin was eventually released on all the platforms with the related material removed from the game.
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