Hitman: Contracts (PC Games, 2004)

The mature rating isn’t there just for show. Hitman: Contracts is a game intended for a mature audience. Whether you are a devoted fan who has been following the adventures of Agent 47 since the beginning or just a newcomer, this game will satisfy even the most deviant of gamers. This is the third installment of the now successful Hitman series.

The majority of the missions are triggered by brief flashbacks presented in excellent quality via cut scenes. It is almost safe to say that if you have not played the first game (Hitman: Codename 47), you are in for a treat. Multiple missions are just a rehash of assignments found in the very first game. The developers were either lazy or just thought that this would be the perfect occasion to re-explain everything for those who are unfamiliar with the game. Although a clever technique, it has not pleased too many fans. Despite the fact that this is a good game, this is not the only flaw. The term “flaw” may not be the best way to explain this; let’s just say that this game is surprisingly similar to Hitman 2: Silent Assassin. The animations are all the same, the awkward “skating” movements are back, and there are some minor clipping issues.

Although this all might seem like an expansion to the second game, it has been confirmed that this is a brand new game. Albeit the few errors, there are memorable moments and you will not regret playing this game. It has been released on all platforms but the best experience will be found on the PC. Not only are the graphics sharper on the PC version, but the mouse/keyboard combination works out really well. A new addition to this game is the ability to go into first person mode. This is a nice touch since it adds to the versatility of the game. Gamers will be able to play the entire game in either first or third person. (They can even mix and match if they wish.)

The system requirements aren’t too demanding and almost any machine can run the game. Even on the lowest settings, the game still looks impressive. Although [re]playing missions you (may) have already played in the first game might seem like a chore, the brand new implementations to the graphical engine are a sight for sore eyes. What stand out the most are the weather effects. Every mission is played during the night and only a few actually have nice weather. The rest of the levels contain rain, snow, etc. Surprisingly, none of these effects slow the game down. The only time where the game slightly slows down is when you are facing multiple enemies on the screen or are experiencing the after-smoke effects following multiple gunshots. The special effects have been totally redone for this game. The weather conditions are perfectly done and every gun has a different sound and muzzle flash. The smoke lingers after each shot which adds to the authenticity of the game. Smaller calibers have less smoke while shotguns and rifles have a lot more smoke. It's little details like this that make the game seem so realistic.

Hitman: Contracts may seem like a cheap imitation the first time around but as you play it, you will learn to love it. It is quite unique in its own style and every single “main” character in the game is different in every sense of the word. Each mission is different with its own respective weather effects. Whether you are stealthy or just enjoy shooting everything that moves, this game is for you either way and you will not get bored with it anytime soon.