HITMAN: Blood Money

Hey there!

The game came out a few days ago in Europe and should be in store over here, either today or tomorrow.

I haven't really played a HITMAN game, for obsure reasons that defy logic, but when a demo popped-up on XBOX's Marketplace, I tried it out immediately. I was baffled at how great the immersion was, even if it was pretty short, the feeling I got out of it was pretty cool.

So I grabbed CONTRACTS last week-end and now, I can honestly say that I'm a HITMAN fan. The power you feel accomplishing those 'hits' is just mind-numbing.

Anyone else excited about this release?

Jam it back in, in the dark.

I'll get the game. I think it ships today and it'll be in stores tomorrow. I'll get it for the XBOX for $40. The one thing that worries me is the save system. Mid-level saves get erased when you quit the level or game. That means you have to complete a level in one sitting. Your game is only saved for good when you complete a level. I don't know why the makers changed this.

xman25

There's nowhere I can't reach.

this game is great! just like the first one, those in between sucked so much. This is a throwback. It's hard, cool and extremly good looking.

Most amazing jew boots

How much of a pain is the save system?

xman25

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

well it all depends on how much you wanna challange yourself. On easy you got unlimted saves, on normal you got 7 and then on hard you got like 3 and on extreme (i dont remember the real names for the diffucultys) it's no saves at all.

no homo

The engine is EXACTLY the same. The ragdolls are horrendous from what I've seen. If folks even bother with them, you should make them look nice. Otherwise, go with Call of Duty 2's approach and have 'em flop.

I also kinda groan at the gun physics once more. Shotguns don't make people go airborne... Also, shitloads of the character models are identical. I could spot several of the same copy on various scenes of trailers.

But the gameplay is always where this shines. Make up plans to get to your hit and perform nicely. The run-and-gun was often easy in the last ones but GOD can it be badass for some reason. Maybe the ridiculous physics adds to it.

Hitman 1 I never played. I played #2 and Contracts. Both were great. But I remember #2 being kinda lengthy with a very nice story. On the other hand, Contracts was short and had a pretty bad story.

Also, Contracts rubbed me wrong in the way that you could collect weapons, but only use 'em in the shooting range. NEVER in the game itself. You'd be left with what was lying in that level alone. I recall #2 letting you grab whatever you wanted from your collection and what-not.

God damn. I should buy #2 =I

How does this work on weapon collection? Can you carry things to the next level/add to USEABLE collections?

I'll definitely play it soon. I guarantee that. Might play Tomb Raider first though. Hitman always did offer a nice window of fun.

Still, I hear that this is short like the others.

Total length is...:

10 levels from what I read, 11 counting the training level. Sounds too short, despite how long they spent on this... ;_;

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

13 levels. I'm at 'YOU BETTER WATCH OUT...' right now and it rocks. The lightings effects and modeling is top-notch!

FELIPE NO

I just got this game. I've played the first two levels, so far so good. The one thing that I don't like is that you can't have mid-level saves. They get erased when you quit the game. It wasn't like that in the other games.

xman25

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

No and seriously, I don't mind since finishing a level ain't that long. Also, it helps when you quitted during a level to come back a few days later and have to do it again as a sort of reminder.

I'm at DEATH ON THE MISSISSIPI and the game is getting real tough ever since YOU BETTER WATCH OUT. I had SA rankings up until now, but man is it tough! Anyhoo, I'll re-do them with a SA ranking later. It's all for the better.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

I've yet to sample the final code, but I played a preview code on Xbox, and it was pretty fun. What I really like is all those little easter eggs, only understood by Danes. That's just so great.

I'll get the final edition of the game because... Well, I am patriotic after all.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Originally Posted by Zip

Can you please use spoiler tags....

Sure, I use those whenever I put up spoilers, which in this case I didn't.

Quote:

I've yet to sample the final code, but I played a preview code on Xbox, and it was pretty fun.

You sound like, either a Videogame Journalist or a pirate.

EDIT: Nevermind.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Just what Zip said,when i reached at 'New life' level, i said to myself 'this' is Hitman.I loved the original and was not happy with SilentAssassin and Contracts that much,but this one revived the spirit and memories of original.

Murder of Crows level is just plain BADASS, just look at the crowd ,the atmosphere,leveldesign.Even on PS2 no slowdown and hundreds of NPC's.
Fuck next gen.I give award to IO for doing such a thing on PS2.

Apart from graphics there are so many ways to finish the goals creating high replay value with multiple solutions which are fun,interesting and not superficial.
The FirstPerson shooting is fun too,i hardly play in 3rdperson.

Above all i loved the Story line,the plot twists and voiceacting to top it off stuff like Porn aficiandos to child prostitution,this game is fucking mature.
The news clipping thingy that explains 'your doing' is also cool.

BTW Sketch play the original too.
Pretty old now but you will know when you will play it, that what you are missing.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

Well. The game came in the mail today (<3 Gamefly) and I just finished playing the tutorial and the Vineyard levels. All I've got to say is WOW. I love the upgrade system. Plus, this Hitman lets you PICK your weapons finally, unlike Contracts.

Not sure what happened at one point, but in Vineyard, I was sneaking up behind a lone guard to human shield him then knock him out. Well, he turned just as I drew my weapon and we were left literally standing face-to-face. Somehow, I made him drop his weapon. Glitch? Or did I hit some button that doubled as disarm?

The newspaper front pages are fantastic. Some of the stories are tied to your previous hit, others forshadow future ones, and others are just hilarious (see Lemonade Stand article after tutorial mission). The whole forensics report, favorite weapon used, rounds fired, status of victims, etc is fantastic. Masterfully done. Got mine on the Xbox (not 360) and it's going nicely.

Question, though. Isn't there a way to reload your weapon even if there's ammo left in the clip? I have a pet peeve of having a full clip right before I go into some combat situation. I don't like having half of it gone =p Anyhow, does this not have any manual reloading command? I haven't spotted one thus far.

Oh yeah. Has anyone found any cinematic-like executions thus far?

Vineyard:

I watched the father but he just played his cello then moved to the balcony. I used a sedative syringe on the guard on the couch (I was in VIP guard uniform) then I walked over and shoved him off the edge. Didn't see a widescreen effect. Dunno if this was the special way to kill him. Or does not everyone in this have a special death sequence? Contracts and such had a few special scenes it seemed.

Oh yeah. What anime or other game is the reporter's voice from? He's very familiar.

I was speaking idiomatically.

Quote:

BTW Sketch play the original too.
Pretty old now but you will know when you will play it, that what you are missing.

Yeah, I bought Contracts a week before Blood Money and I was very satisfied with it. Sucks that it's the only one compatible on the 360. I'm opening my eyes for the PC version of the first and second game though.

Quote:

Oh yeah. What anime or other game is the reporter's voice from? He's very familiar.

There you go.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0293342/

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Clicked on it once I started playing again -- it's the fella who plays Ishikawa =)

I must say, the Opera level is fantastic. I do so enjoy using scapegoats and remote bombs.

FELIPE NO

Originally Posted by Gechmir

Clicked on it once I started playing again -- it's the fella who plays Ishikawa =)

I must say, the Opera level is fantastic. I do so enjoy using scapegoats and remote bombs.

Did you find the Easter Egg in the level?

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

Easter Egg? Which? =p I hear there are lots of joke only Danes would catch.

No, I don't think I found it ;__; Care to enlighten me?

How ya doing, buddy?

Originally Posted by Gechmir

Easter Egg? Which? =p I hear there are lots of joke only Danes would catch.

No, I don't think I found it ;__; Care to enlighten me?

Spoiler:

Go to the basement, where the garbage is stored, there should be three or four rats. Shoot them all and a keycard should appear on the edge of the table at the end of the room. Grab it and go upstairs, near the Dressing Rooms. Go in the Exit door on the right side of the guard sitting on a chair. Move up the stairs and go left of the two guys talking. There should be a door with a keycard reader. Use it and go inside. Weirdness ensues.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

What wierdness? i am reluctant to try,please spill it??

And Yeah you can manually reload by pressing R2 on PS2.

Most amazing jew boots

Lovely =p But I'm playing on the Xbox, I'm afraid. I've tried all the buttons and combinations I can think of. I'm missing it somewhere though. I'm sure of it.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

@Gechmir: It's the black or white button.

@SexNinja: It's a RAT CLUB. Rats are playing poker, drinking and boxing. It's quite surreal.

I was speaking idiomatically.

I beat this game last weekend and I have to say it's by far the most superior title in the Hitman Series, The graphics, The Gameplay and especially the Sound all shine. This is probably one of the best titles released for the PC and Consoles.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

This game is badass.
It's the first game in the series where I don't feel compelled to just run into the hotel/mansion/etc. with guns drawn, and run around shooting all the baddies inside.
It feels really rewarding to make the kills as accident-ey as possible. (though I'm not that skilled at it... I always end up with at least one or two obvious assassinations)

FELIPE NO

I'm reluctant to try this one, because the first one I tried, either 2 or Contracts, whichever one where the levels are his memories, had a really bad problem with people spontaneously discovering me and thus fucking the level over. Sometimes I'd be disguised as someone and out of nowhere I'd be caught. Does this game still do that?

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

The detection meter was a little jumpy in the past ones. It's hard to get ID'd unless you're creeping around someone and/or plant yourself near them for too long. NPCs don't like weirdos =p I turn on vibration so I know when someone gets REAL jumpy around me.

Only times someone'll get hostile-like similar to that is if you stand near them and do something weird like crouch or if you walk onward while a guard tries to frisk/metal detect on you. They do that quite often.

I got used to suspicious enemies in the last ones. This is much easier to do things covertly. You can actually run around and not have enemies going "WTF Y R U RUNING" then open fire.

Althought I did have a cop open fire on me for changing clothes in a back alley once =p Weirdo.

Jam it back in, in the dark.