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84%
PROS
Great maps, sound and music is well done, weapons are plentiful.
LOWS
No multiplayer, sneak mode is way too slow. Sometimes walking is just too much.
OVERALL
Still missing something, but recommended to people who take their time and like to explore
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Hitman: Codename 47 had a lot of potential, but it didn't seem to have that special something that would make it an excellent game. Eidos has tried again, and released Hitman II. This follow-up to the original game really kept me playing, but still lacks some fundamental elements that the game really needs.
The game starts off with this scene: you are retired, rich, and donating money to the church. You go to a confession stand to talk to Father Vittorio, and tell him how you have sinned by killing so many people in your lifetime. Once this cut scene is finished, another one starts with the Father being abducted. A man leaves you a package (this man wants you out of retirement to come and work for him) that tells you that the local Mafia Don has kidnapped Vittorio and wants $500,000 as a ransom. Now your problem: you have given all your money to the church, so it looks like 47 is back in business.
The first mission begins in the Villa, where the mafia gang is hanging out. Other missions lead you to St. Petersburg, Kirov Park, Temple City, and other various locations with stunning graphics. Each location is different, and has something special about it that really makes it feel real. One thing that is repetitive is the amount of dumpsters. There are so many dumpsters in each location that are used to hide behind, or to find equipment. At first, the idea is nice, but after awhile, you start to see it too much.
The weapons in the game are amazing.
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There are over 20 weapons that can be used, including the M4, M60, Hunting Crossbow, AK, SMG, Uzi, 9mm Pistol SD, SD, and M195. Besides these cool weapons, you get some pretty cool ‘torture devices' (as I like to call them) like the Golf club, Surgeon's Scalpel (double ouch), Fire Axe, and Kitchen Knife. With so many choices, bringing destruction to your enemy has never been better!
The new first person mode is nice when you want to take a look at some of the nice weapons that you have, but is not entirely useful. When you are walking through the large areas, it is good to use the traditional 3rd person view to ensure you see everything.
In order to use the notorious fiber wire, you must use a mode called ‘sneak' to get close up to the enemy without him noticing you, than choking him to death. This all sounds good, but the sneak mode is so intolerably slow, you are pulling your hair out to make 47 go faster. When a guy is standing there taking a leak, you sneak up to him in order to choke him. When 47 starts to sneak, it feels like an eternity for him to walk 10 feet! If you are an impatient person, this might ruin for the game for you.
The other two modes of moving in the game are the traditional walk and run. Everything here is fine, and the run mode is even pretty fast. Walking is what you will be doing most of the game, and since it is not the fastest thing on two feet, impatient people again may not appreciate this. Dragging dead bodies is also very slow. Hitman will take forever to move a body 10 feet behind a tree, and can never run while doing so. Really, if you were an assassin, and you killed somebody and had to hide it, would you really take your time and walk walk walk to drag a body 5 feet, when you are in a sealed room with nobody around you??? Well, I sure as hell wouldn't!
Overall, Hitman II is a game with amazing graphics, maps, weapons and cut scenes. The plot is intriguing, and killing people with surgeon scalpels has never been better! It just has some issues that need to be worked out in order to make this game a masterpiece.
