Review: 'Hitman: Absolution' Is Precision Gaming Personified

Hardcore gamers around the world have a particular affinity for the "Hitman" franchise. In gamer circles, the series is particularly revered because of the freedom it gives the player in choosing methods to inflict mayhem and the unrelenting difficulty which spawns plenty of challenging gameplay moments. As Agent 47, you play as a genetically engineered clone extremely adept in the art of assassination, and are tasked throughout the series with the silent elimination of a number of targets.

Leaving any bodies out in the open, or killing anyone unnecessarily causes your grade to be lowered and your rank as a quiet killer in question.

But in Square Enix's "Hitman: Absolution" (PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PC), 47 is given a much needed makeover. Developer IO Interactive managed to make the suit-and-tie killer a tour de force of awesome, all the while improving the gameplay and level design of the "Hitman" franchise. In "Absolution," you are entrusted with the safety of a young girl named Victoria, and the cloned assassin's cold as ice demeanor melts a bit when he realizes that their lives parallel.

With Agent 47 on the hunt, doing what he does best, this marks a shift in storyline for the charismatic-less character. But does that upgrade mean a must-play for gamers like yourself? Navigate our review to find out the answer, which you can see for yourself, above.

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"Silence is the true mark of an awesome assassin." —

Channel your inner assassin in "Hitman: Absolution" by utilizing the skills of a trained killer—anyway you want! One of the key ingredients to enjoying IO Interactive's latest third-person shooter is by playing the levels multiple times. There's a lot of incentive for replaying them and finding alternate ways to kill your target without being noticed by the public. Whether it's taking pills from a cabinet or closet to poison your target's coffee or food, or shooting a level that impales your target with a heavy object — there are numerous ways to get your kills in "Hitman: Absolution".

Getting a high score or exemplary grade depends on how clever and strategic you are. The more points you earn, which are tallied at the end of each mission, allow you to unlock certain special skills and abilities. The way you go about taking out targets is all about your choice, making the stealth aspects of the true mark of how talents an assassin you are. While it may appeal to your inner gunslinger to blast away at a group of hired thugs, the greatest satisfaction comes when you focus your strategies all upon your target.

"Hitman: Absolution" is the most fun when you wait, watch, and scope out plans of attack and avenues of escape. Whether you're unlocking disguises or slaying targets in your suit-and-tie, this game delivers an intensity that true assassins will enjoy.

"A clunky AI makes this game act out in strange ways." —

There are a few gameplay elements in "Hitman: Absolution" that have been simplified, based on the game's difficulty level. These changes, along with the presence of QTE's (quick-time events), require gamers to have quick reactions times and even quicker trigger fingers. The downside to these upgrades is that they take some of the engagement away from the experience. The unpredictability of "Hitman: Absolution" and Agent 47's bad guys may come off a bit unfair, as the enemy AI is prone to moments of flight and fancy.

Take for instance the way Agent 47 can easily fool a guard just by distracting them—while standing near or next to them! A hired goon could actually spot you and begin hunting for you, only to begin shooting at the last place he saw you despite the fact that you've moved to another part of the level. Even worst is when you decide to disguise Agent 47 and you have an enemy bumping into you while yelling, "Show yourself!" as if he's (and thereby the AI) is clueless.

These small gripes could turn into healthy concerns from gamers looking to experience excellent stealth gameplay in "Hitman: Absolution".

"For the notoriously bloodthirsty assassin, 'Hitman: Absolution' is the game for you!" —

IO Interactive has given gamers a lot of ways to skin a cat. Through vicious gunplay, utilizing your instinct (which lets you tag enemies for quick-rapid fire executions), or simple stealth — you, as Agent 47, are able to enact your brand of assault. Things like that are what make the game's replayability a huge factor. Levels are designed for that fact, as the series of challenges outlined encourage the player to find more than one way to destroy your target. Every time you attempt the level, you are afforded an opportunity to unlock the trophies and challenges to improve your ranking both in the country you've purchased the game from and around the world.

Whether you're a hardcore gamer or a casual newcomer, "Hitman: Absolution" offers several difficulty settings that greatly affect the overall gaming experience. Veterans of the series may find the lower settings not so challenging, while others may look forward to the bountiful rewards playing on the hardest setting would offer. While it has been six years since IO Interactive has let Agent 47 loose on the public, "Hitman: Absolution" is worth the wait.

This is one of the best games of 2012, you'll just have to get back the horrible enemy AI.

Don't take our word for it, you can see the "Hitman: Absolution" trailer below for yourself: