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Hitman Contracts

Hitman Contracts

List Price: $19.99
Your Price: $16.99
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: ! EVEN BETTER THEN THE FIRST 1 !
Review: Many people think that hitman 3 is excly as the first 1.
Well ure wrong !
The missions are the same as the first 1, but the suroundings are a little bit diffrent, and there is more wepons.
Simple things like a pillow can become a dengerous wepon.
You can drown people in a pool.
One more thing, to understand exctly what the hell is going on in the game, make shure you passed the 1'st game, or at least know what happened there.
You dont have to, but the game will bemore clearly if you do.

The game is a little bit hard and you kind of got to think what youre doing, but I passed it.
If you have a qustion what happened after the last level in hitman 1, well you will find out in hitman 3.
What i realy like in hitman 3, is that if you walk beside a guy he wont think ure bad.
In hitman 2 you just walk beside them, and ther alerted.
That realy pissed me off.
Is the game realestic?
Not exectly, and thats what I like about games.
In hitman 3 when you look in the keyhole you can look around.
In hitman 2 you saw him turning the knob, but not here, I dont care.
Graphics are great.
If you dont belive about what I just said, just get a demo and ull see what im talking about.
Anyways I suggest you get this game, you wont regret it.
:-)

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Not prefect
Review: The story line for this game was great it reviews his past missions. The graphis werte superb and the guns got better. But the game was for lack of a better word good. Not great not fantastic. The game is not worth 50$ it is worth 30 or 20 but not 50. The controls are bad too. The people who made the game should have left the orginal setup alone but if you do buy the game the training i would reccomend. Because you will need it

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: big dissapointment but still fun
Review: There are really only two major improvements over Hitman 2 in this game. You can sneak much faster in this game. Being very slow in sneak mode in the previous two games was a frustration. The weapons are also much better. There are more of them and they are more realistic. This game is by far the most realistic of the three games. There are so many things that are worse than Hitman 2. I have so many complaints, especially after so much anticipation for this game.
The game is a series of flashbacks. Almost every mission is a slight vaiation of a mission in Hitman 1. If you started playing the hitman series from the beginning, you know what to do in most of the missions. The misssion in Budapest for example is EXACTLY the same, except a few differences in the map. But that doesnt make sense that the hotel changed!!! Also, THERE ARE ONLY 12 MISSIONS!!!! That is the worst part about the game. Only 5 of the 12 missions had no influence from Hitman 1. Also, the missions get sort of repetetive. The Missons are set in Romania, Siberia, England, Rotterdam Harbor, Budapest, and Hong Kong. The inventory is also no longer scrollable with the mouse wheel like in the previous 2 games so you have to pause to access your inventory, which is a major pain. There is so much more that I could go on about. Bottom line, if you are a Hitman fanatic you should get this game but if you are new to the hitman series, Hitman 2 is BY FAR the best game in the series and I think that 95% of people would agree with that. I'm hoping that a Hitman 4 is in the works to make up for this game. I'm talking 40 missions all in new and interesting places with more interesting ways to pull off the hits. I hear they are talking about making a Hitman movie. Hmmm who should play 47?

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: I give it a C+.
Review: This game was more of a sequel to the first hitman, which I wasn't much of a fan, and completely ignores Hitman 2. If you are a fan of the first, you will probably like the third. But for those like me that logged 2000+ hours playing hitman 2, this game is somewhat of a disappointment.

The negatives
If you are using an intel graphics chipset, they lack "Hardware Transform and Lighting" which prevents you from seeing the walls and floors. I ended up having to go back to my old radeon 7200 card.

Only 12 missions, which are not long at all, or complex. Most objectives are in the same area. If you go stealth you can simply walkthrough the levels, except when in professional. Even if a guard does become alert, he is isolated. You can have a shoot out on one part of the map, and move to another area like nothing happened.

The cleaner graphics makes it more cartoonish, everyone is larger than the previous 2, and the blood animation is something that you will laugh at. I am done buying sequels when a selling point is an updated engine.

Positives

Other than the intel bug, the game so far seems bug free, except for a few occasions when someone disappears into objects.

There is a cutscene between every level that is in real time, while the missions are flashbacks. Gives the game a more cinematic feel.

Even though infammo isn't listed as one of the cheats, it still works.

The environment as a whole is more complex, but is more linear than the 2nd, about the same when compared to the first.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Is Deja Vu Worth it?
Review: This was a real disappointment. Having been a huge fan of Hitman 1 & 2, I was highly anticipating Contracts. What really confused me, was why IO/Eidos decided to remake most of Hitman 1. About 4 different missions in Contracts are remakes of the Hong Kong stages of the 1st game. Sorry, but when almost half the game is just a rip of the first, it just ruins the experience. In the end, what could have been a gem of a sequel, turned out to be a mediocre, seemingly rushed product that was way to short.
Having played both 1 & 2, the gameplay hasn't improved all that much. Perhaps Tobias (47) moves slightly better. Changing weapons is annoying. Why Eidos didn't associate the mouse wheel for that is beyond me.
Overall, Contracts is a worthy game for newcomers. But for veteran Hitman gamers, this is just a typical attempt to milk what's left in the franchise.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Hitman Hits New Low
Review: To a fan who greatly enjoyed "Hitman 1" and, to a somewhat lesser extent, "Hitman 2", "Contracts" was a serious disappointment. At the end of the game I found myself wondering: what exactly have IO and Eidos done to justify a new entry in the Hitman series, particularly one selling for a full-game price?

"Contracts" is, essentially, a mission pack. Most of the missions given in this game are shallow rehashes of ones seen in previous versions of "Hitman", which is a tremendous insult to the loyal fans who have followed this series for years.

As the advertising promised, there are some visual upgrades to the game but that doesn't really matter - the engine for "Hitman 2" was more than adequate to present the necessary gameplay world. The new details don't add anything to the game. There is no tall grass to hide in, the nice wavy cloth doesn't actually conceal you. Just seeing the same old surface-level textbook rendering additions found in every other engine in the market doesn't impress me.

"Hitman" just seems dated. Stealth has progressed quite a bit as a game concept in past few years. Sadly, "Hitman" has not. Everything is exactly the same as you remember it from "Hitman 1". You can garrotte with a wire, you have some pistols and machine guns, you can use a knife. Rather than improve or add to this formula, IO has simply redesigned the interface again, and even removed several of the elements previously added to deepen gameplay considered shallow years ago.

For example, "Hitman Contracts" gives you no control over your inventory. You simply start a mission with some equipment. It turns out that this isn't usually a big deal, but doesn't that set off some alarm bells? If it doesn't matter what you bring with you, how robust is your game world?

Adding to the injury is the insult of Eidos' lie about this aspect of the gameplay. Yes, there are "environmental" weapons to be found, but they aren't anything interesting. They aren't even part of the environment - they're just objects placed in a few select locations, all with the same characteristics. You find a meathook? To kill someone you slash it like a knife, they groan and turn into a floppy doll. You find a meat cleaver? Slash like knife, groan, floppy doll. Some levels contain objects that would be cool to use, but they are completely non-interactive. For example on one level there are meat grinders everywhere, but you can't feed a body into them. Most levels simply minimize or eliminate the dynamic objects available.

And killing itself is utterly boring. Run-and-gun shooting is lame because the AI dead rushes you, and you have inhuman stamina. Stealth is not only boring but astonishingly lacking in polish. All of the kill animations are just as poorly coupled as they have been since "Hitman 1", with animation partners misaligned and the distinct feeling that you're watching something canned. And the animations are the same, or very similar, for all stealth weapons available.

General navigation still remains a problem. Despite years to investigate such matters, the developers opted to not give Hitman a useful crouch attack, or even the ability to go prone. Hitting someone at your feet is impossible. Hitman does have a leaping attack, something I greatly appreciate in stealth games, so you can spring at your enemy without first becoming awkwardly familiar with their back half. But stalking people is still completely context-insensitive. If I am inches from my target and he starts to turn around, I would like to move to the opposite of his turn direction and pounce. Good luck getting that to happen in Hitman - the controls are just too imprecise, and it's still hard to tell whether or not someone can see you.

All of this is further hampered by the uncooperative gameplay experience. This game is so rigid, so irritatingly constrictive, that all joy is quickly sapped from your being. It is impossible to be ranked a "Silent Assassin" unless you do exactly what the game developers intended. You can come up with your own ways (mostly) to get from point A to point B of the pre-set plan, but coming up with your own plan is virtually impossible. Because the game arbitrarily enforces rules which it does not even tell you about. The first level of the game has a shocking example of this. The asylum you are in is raided by cops. Think you can steal a cop uniform and walk out the front door? Good luck. Even fully covered with a SWAT uniform and acting completely unsuspicious, you will be recognized and shot. This hit-and-miss rule enforcement occurs throughout the game.

There are so many other minor nitpicks. Why do I only have one passive means of disposing of people, which is itself only effective for a few minutes? What kind of knockout drug lasts five minutes anyway? Why can't Hitman kill anyone with his bare hands? Why can people see me through curtains and doors? Why does running when everyone else is running make me suspicious? Why is there no icon indicating what is in my quick-draw slot, and why does the inventory open to the wrong item when I check it that way? Why can't I pick up a dead body rather than drag it slowly behind me? Why am I considered suspicious when I get close to any NPC, even when my face is fully covered? Why is it so difficult to get the "take clothes" action to appear in the action menu?

"Hitman Contracts" is a frustrating experience. Depending upon how much you are willing to tolerate the long-existing flaws of this particular stealth game, you might enjoy it. But I definitely recommend renting it first. The fact that the game feels identical regardless of your platform indicates how shallow the game really is. Definitely a disappointment, and possibly a franchise killer.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Hitman Hits New Low
Review: To a fan who greatly enjoyed "Hitman 1" and, to a somewhat lesser extent, "Hitman 2", "Contracts" was a serious disappointment. At the end of the game I found myself wondering: what exactly have IO and Eidos done to justify a new entry in the Hitman series, particularly one selling for a full-game price?

"Contracts" is, essentially, a mission pack. Most of the missions given in this game are shallow rehashes of ones seen in previous versions of "Hitman", which is a tremendous insult to the loyal fans who have followed this series for years.

As the advertising promised, there are some visual upgrades to the game but that doesn't really matter - the engine for "Hitman 2" was more than adequate to present the necessary gameplay world. The new details don't add anything to the game. There is no tall grass to hide in, the nice wavy cloth doesn't actually conceal you. Just seeing the same old surface-level textbook rendering additions found in every other engine in the market doesn't impress me.

"Hitman" just seems dated. Stealth has progressed quite a bit as a game concept in past few years. Sadly, "Hitman" has not. Everything is exactly the same as you remember it from "Hitman 1". You can garrotte with a wire, you have some pistols and machine guns, you can use a knife. Rather than improve or add to this formula, IO has simply redesigned the interface again, and even removed several of the elements previously added to deepen gameplay considered shallow years ago.

For example, "Hitman Contracts" gives you no control over your inventory. You simply start a mission with some equipment. It turns out that this isn't usually a big deal, but doesn't that set off some alarm bells? If it doesn't matter what you bring with you, how robust is your game world?

Adding to the injury is the insult of Eidos' lie about this aspect of the gameplay. Yes, there are "environmental" weapons to be found, but they aren't anything interesting. They aren't even part of the environment - they're just objects placed in a few select locations, all with the same characteristics. You find a meathook? To kill someone you slash it like a knife, they groan and turn into a floppy doll. You find a meat cleaver? Slash like knife, groan, floppy doll. Some levels contain objects that would be cool to use, but they are completely non-interactive. For example on one level there are meat grinders everywhere, but you can't feed a body into them. Most levels simply minimize or eliminate the dynamic objects available.

And killing itself is utterly boring. Run-and-gun shooting is lame because the AI dead rushes you, and you have inhuman stamina. Stealth is not only boring but astonishingly lacking in polish. All of the kill animations are just as poorly coupled as they have been since "Hitman 1", with animation partners misaligned and the distinct feeling that you're watching something canned. And the animations are the same, or very similar, for all stealth weapons available.

General navigation still remains a problem. Despite years to investigate such matters, the developers opted to not give Hitman a useful crouch attack, or even the ability to go prone. Hitting someone at your feet is impossible. Hitman does have a leaping attack, something I greatly appreciate in stealth games, so you can spring at your enemy without first becoming awkwardly familiar with their back half. But stalking people is still completely context-insensitive. If I am inches from my target and he starts to turn around, I would like to move to the opposite of his turn direction and pounce. Good luck getting that to happen in Hitman - the controls are just too imprecise, and it's still hard to tell whether or not someone can see you.

All of this is further hampered by the uncooperative gameplay experience. This game is so rigid, so irritatingly constrictive, that all joy is quickly sapped from your being. It is impossible to be ranked a "Silent Assassin" unless you do exactly what the game developers intended. You can come up with your own ways (mostly) to get from point A to point B of the pre-set plan, but coming up with your own plan is virtually impossible. Because the game arbitrarily enforces rules which it does not even tell you about. The first level of the game has a shocking example of this. The asylum you are in is raided by cops. Think you can steal a cop uniform and walk out the front door? Good luck. Even fully covered with a SWAT uniform and acting completely unsuspicious, you will be recognized and shot. This hit-and-miss rule enforcement occurs throughout the game.

There are so many other minor nitpicks. Why do I only have one passive means of disposing of people, which is itself only effective for a few minutes? What kind of knockout drug lasts five minutes anyway? Why can't Hitman kill anyone with his bare hands? Why can people see me through curtains and doors? Why does running when everyone else is running make me suspicious? Why is there no icon indicating what is in my quick-draw slot, and why does the inventory open to the wrong item when I check it that way? Why can't I pick up a dead body rather than drag it slowly behind me? Why am I considered suspicious when I get close to any NPC, even when my face is fully covered? Why is it so difficult to get the "take clothes" action to appear in the action menu?

"Hitman Contracts" is a frustrating experience. Depending upon how much you are willing to tolerate the long-existing flaws of this particular stealth game, you might enjoy it. But I definitely recommend renting it first. The fact that the game feels identical regardless of your platform indicates how shallow the game really is. Definitely a disappointment, and possibly a franchise killer.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: The biggest disappointment yet
Review: Waiting for this game to come out was a big mistake. However, purchasing this game turned out to be a HUGE mistake. I can't believe how Eidos screwed everyone over with this piece of garbage.

--> only 12 missions - are you kidding me??
--> out of those 12, seven are the same ones from Hitman 1 (WTF??)
--> WAY too many AI bugs and glitches, if you haven't encountered them, that means you're just shooting your way through levels, instead of playing it with stealth
--> took me just a few hours to achieve Silent Assasin rating on every mission and the game was over before it started
--> controls are bad, sluggish at times, and having to pause the game to change weapons/inventory is a pain in the ASS.

There are many more where these came from, but I'm not going to waste any more of my time. This game was rushed, in order to scam the customers and get their money. Eidos has finally lost my respect.


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