Hitman III Review
Picture this: you are a trained assassin tasked with eliminating a high profile target at a lavish party at an Argentinian vineyard. You have multiple options of how to approach your objective including a diverse selection of murder weapons ranging from a simple ballpoint pen to a sniper rifle and everything in between. Welcome to the world of assassination.
Hitman III concludes the trilogy story of Agent 47 established in Hitman (2016) while utilizing the power of next gen hardware to create an incredibly complex murder sandbox level for players to explore and enjoy. IO Interactive has proven once again that their ability to create excellent stealth action titles has only improved over time. While I bounced off previous Hitman titles early on, the attention to detail in Hitman III hooked me in a way I was not expecting. Let’s break down what makes this title so special.
The star of Hitman III is its gameplay. The amount of thought that must have gone into the level design is astounding and makes exploring each level so rewarding. Each level is packed with intel to uncover that leads to unique ways for the player to eliminate their target. One of my favorite missions involved disguising myself as a private investigator who is tasked with solving a murder mystery while I also attempt to assassinate the owner of the mansion. The level draws heavy influence from films like Rian Johnson’s Knives Out and features an interesting cast of characters to learn about as you explore the sprawling mansion estate. The best part of the level design in Hitman III is the fact that each playthrough feels completely different from the last and contains countless hidden challenges that makes replaying the levels over and over feel exciting rather than tedious. Each time that you play through the level you pick up new information that leads to a new idea of how to approach your objectives. If you factor in competing against friends’ scores/times within the Hitman leaderboards, there is a lot to love in the world of assassination.
It is worth noting that if you own Hitman (2016) and Hitman (2018) on the same platform that you purchase Hitman III, you will be able to receive all of the levels of the previous games for free and have them integrated into Hitman III. The option to purchase the previous levels is also available within Hitman III for new players stepping to the series for the first time.
In the past I have bounced off of other Hitman games because the story didn’t grab me. While I still argue the Hitman series is more remarkable for its unique gameplay systems and level design, I think the story of Hitman III is an engaging tale that builds off of previous entries and humanizes the rather blank slate character that is Agent 47. While the overarching narrative boils down to Agent 47 must find a way to take down Providence (Big Evil Organization) by eliminating key members of their group across various scenic locales, the story telling shines in the small character moments that Agent 47 witnesses as you explore each level. These moments often lead to unique gameplay opportunities. For example, in the opening level in Dubai you have an opportunity to disguise yourself as your target’s bodyguard and learn more about his character. Moments like this are totally optional but the fact that you make constant discoveries throughout your time in each of the six levels makes Agent 47’s journey feel more personal as you craft your stories of how you choose to complete each mission.
The environments of Hitman III are absolutely stunning. From the sun scorched windows in Dubai to the neon streets of Chongqing, each level feels fully realized and brimming with an attention to detail. The lighting effects in the game are especially top-notch as shadows and sunlight reflect off of every surface. Each level has a unique visual style as Agent 47 travels from a luxury art exhibit in Dubai, to a dark industrial dance club in Berlin and more. The attention to detail is particularly striking as you explore each level and interact with objects. Each level feels like it was inspired by the best action movies of recent memory, like Mission Impossible or John Wick. I found myself spending hours walking around each level taking it all in.
After finishing Hitman 3, I immediately wanted to go back and keep replaying levels to find new secrets and complete challenges. It is a true masterclass in level design as the levels always have something new to offer each time that you play. My time with Hitman 3 makes me even more excited for the release of IO Interactive’s James Bond title that is currently in development. If IO can utilize their masterful assassin sandbox design with the Bond license, I believe there is an incredibly bright future ahead for the studio. But for now let’s run through Hitman 1-3 again...
