Here's a point to ponder: did the stealth genre reach the pinnacle of its prowess somewhere around four years ago?
We only ask this because it seems, in retrospect, that was the last time gamers could take it for granted the genre's heaviest hitters - your MGSs, your Splinter Cells, your Hitman(s) - would offer a pure and refined stealth experience. This purity has been curdled in recent years by developers widening their stealth game experience to include aspects one would more expect to find in straightforward third-person-shooters.
It's tempting to blame Rocksteady Studios for this. While Batman: Arkham Asylum and Batman: Arkham City didn't exactly set out to break the stealth genre, they did prove it was possible to widen its experience to include mechanics that didn't involve having to stick to the shadows completely. Stealth game developers took note and made an attempt to cater for tastes beyond their core audiences. This may explain why Sam Fisher returned as preternaturally agile thug with a penchant for making multiple headshots in Splinter Cell: Conviction, and Raiden isn't even going to bother being stealthy at all in MGS: Revengeance.
Three, who were torturing a security guard, were bludgeoned to death with a fire-axe. Around ten or so were put down with a volley of gunfire as they tried to flank a table he'd taken cover behind. The level ended as Agent 47 used a mark and kill mechanic to take out a roomful of opponents; after targeting a series of noggins and explosive devices, the screen filled with cinematic slow motion swirl as thugs collapsed to the ground and detonated gas canisters belched fire into the air. John Woo would've been proud.
At this stage, if you're part of the shooter faithful, Hitman: Absolution probably looked as though it'll tick all of your boxes and them some. If you're a long-time fan of the Hitman series, however, you may be about to close this browser window in disgust. For those players, we beg your indulgence. Hold on, for just a moment. Things aren't as bad as you think.
The action-packed playthrough was only half of the demo - the second half, as it happens. During the first half, IO Interactive demonstrated a playing style they dubbed the 'Pro Play' method of tackling Absolution. Here, the classic Hitman gameplay was in full effect; all of the tactics and abilities that series veterans would expect from Agent 47 were used to complete the same series of rooms. We watched as the titular protagonist glided through his spooky surroundings, silently taking down the odd thug, swapping clothes and stashing the odd unconscious body in a nearby cupboard or chest freezer.
Comments
16 comments so far...
ensabahnur on 11 Jan '12 said:
As long as the option to go complete stealth is still there then i don't see any problems with the game. There was nothing better than walking away from a kill with nobody even knowing you'd been there.
El Mag on 11 Jan '12 said:
While dressed as a suspicious looking clown, baker or village person.
bamozzy on 11 Jan '12 said:
This is certainly one of the games I am watching closely for 2012. I like a lot of what I have seen so far. As for stealth, I do like it but also I like action too. Some games that use stealth can get rather repetitive and boring (i.e. move, hide wait for enemy to walk by, move, hide wait for enemy to walk by, move, hide wait for enemy to walk by, etc) so think that the balance needs to be right. This appears to have a good balance of both with different options on how to get through the levels - different stealth, action and impact based on your decision so looking forward to it...
ensabahnur on 11 Jan '12 said:
If you haven't played a Hitman game i'd suggest picking up Blood Money on 360. The stealth is completely different to other games and being able to disguise yourself as NPC's opens up a wealth of opportunities. Once you crack the Opera house mission without being spotted and with what looks like an accidental kill you'll have a mighty grin on your face as you just walk out the front door without a problem.
Only downside is its one of those games that needs to be played at 50hz, even if its being played in HD it still won't load until you've changed the settings.
gmcb007 on 11 Jan '12 said:
I was fuming when I found out about this ironic problem. I was really in the mood to play it too. God damm TV and HDMI being too advanced for it's own good...
As for this game, I feel like the original fans have been told to shut up and face facts that action and movie like shooting is the way forward in stealth games. I'm really on the fence for this one. If the stealth is incorporated in such a way that it's limited to certain missions and sections then the Hitman I played and loved is dead.
darry on 11 Jan '12 said:
Deus Ex HR managed to balance stealth an action pretty well last year - I stealthed through pertty much the whole thing, then decided to blast through the last couple of hours. Both were enjoyable. Hopefully this can manage the same...
Balladeer on 11 Jan '12 said:
Someone couldn't get to the B button in time.
skabone on 12 Jan '12 said:
yo dawg - I heard you like being an adventurer.... so I put an arrow to your knee, inside....an arrow to your knee....peace dawg
...but seriously - don't mess this up! Conviction wore thin quickly but it was cinematic and fun while it lasted....hitman was all about the replayability - trying different ways to assassinate....gotta keep that or don't bother....
hitman 2 back in the days had amazing missions....the japanese castle was heavy - and his home and practice ground were inspired
steve w on 12 Jan '12 said:
Looks rubbish so far never liked hitman, max payne 3 looks better.
paulhudd on 12 Jan '12 said:
they've said from the start that there is still the silent assassin achievement and you can swap clothes as normal, hides bodies as normal do different kills as normal. but on this one, you have MORE freedom to go crazy if you wish too, like the original allowed you on SOME missions. but on this, you can go nuts on most missions but stealth the entire game if u want. I think the only difference with this one is they have got rid of the map. which I thought was crap and unrealistic anyway, they have gave you a more "immersive" map by the way of the instinct feature which allows you to see through walls, a sort of closer proximity map. I love doing CVG's work for them and report everything to reassure the readers.
MrPirtniw on 12 Jan '12 said:
I was a little worried when I first read this but thinking about it it still has potential to be great. I love the Hitman games as there's nothing else really quite like them. I hope if you do balls up Agent 47 doesn't just turn into some action hero shooter- he should be at his most vunerable at those times with just a few bullets being able to kill him.
slick loose on 12 Jan '12 said:
So it's like it's always has been? You could massacre your way through a mission in the old days OR do it in a variety of different, imaginative and stealthy ways. You can play back any mission like 10 times and STILL have fun with it as you approach it differently.
The only thing that worries me about this is this 'Instinct' s**t. How is that going to be explained or is it just magic? Otherwise, this game may be the same old Hitman we have always loved and always wanted on the next gen (properly, this time).
ensabahnur on 12 Jan '12 said:
Aye and hopefully we can all put the horror that was Kane and Lynch 1+2 out of our minds. They weren't that bad but they weren't that good either.
legion on 13 Jan '12 said:
From the gameplay video i seen on XBL of the Library level it looks pretty good, alot better than the last one which didn't impress me much.
gmcb007 on 13 Jan '12 said:
I'll tell you what though. I wouldn't mind seeing Hitman 2 and Contracts being re-released on the 360 & PS3. Would love to get tore into 2 again.
Mr_Jellyfish on 8 Mar '12 said:
I can't bloody wait for this game! I think I'm more excited about Hitman: Absolution than anything else in 2012