1. sentosasam

   9

   I've only completed around 20% of the game, but so far its been pretty fun. Anyway, here's a list of the good and bad stuff:
   
   The Good:
   
   - Some excellent non-linear missions
   - Excellent graphics
   - Superb crowd mechanics
   - Controls are generally fluid and there are some awesome moves such as faking surrender and subduing people with an elbow to the fact
   - Fluid melee combat - feels freaking awesome bashing peoples faces in with bottles and bricks
   - Shooting mechanics are pretty good, and it's the most amazing feeling to blow someone away with a shotgun when stealth is no longer an option
   
   The Bad:
   
   - Fairly graphically demanding (I'm running 30 fps on medium with a Radeon 6850, which isn't bad), but cutscenes and loading when respawning is so laggy that it drops to 1 fps. - Can't select equipment before your mission (so even though I spent 15 hours in the Sniper Challenge unlocking everything, it isn't available in the story missions)
   - There is a slight feel of "console port" (but this maybe just because of my mediocre FPS rate)
   - Large equipment can be concealed? This is a step back from Blood Money, where you had to hold anything bigger than a sub machine gun or drop it I'll add more stuff to the review as I complete the game.… Expand

   • Helpful? 28 of 56 users said Yes.
2. HopZ

   8

   A good game in it's own right, but too linear and simplified compared to it's predecessors. Loses points for elements of linearity, unappealing storyline, awful save-system, overuse of pre-rendered cinematics and un-enjoyable disguise mechanics. Gains some points back for great performance and graphics, solid gun-play mechanics and beautiful (albeit overly linear) level design. An underrated game, because it is not loyal to the original fan-base.… Expand

   • Helpful? 3 of 5 users said Yes.
3. StanleyStinklip

   7

   Don't uninstall Hitman Blood Money because Absolution isn't even close! It is a decent action-stealth game with some good moments and is worth playing through but as a Hitman game I mostly can't stand it. It just feels like Agent 47 got assimilated into the barely indistinguishable pool of action-stealth games. Having played and loved the Hitman series since day 1 on its original PC platform, many of the gameplay systems and input styles in Absolution have the stink of console development all over them. The usage of quick-time events and button hitting just for the sake of it made me think "this is so annoying and stupid, why the hell is is this in a Hitman game?" at least every 30 minutes. The levels are broken up into small linear sections instead of big playgrounds; there is no big inventory full of items and weapons to work with; no customized weapon lovin' for the missions; no briefcase and sniper rifle; the disguise detection system feels like a contrived third-wheel; no regard for the magical concealment of long guns; there's plenty more but no need to pile on here. There are indeed improvements to some important systems such as movement, shooting, body concealment/disposal, distraction options, and throwing things. Sound, graphics, framerate, stability and controls are all very good. It's just that...as a Hitman game...Absolution is a huge disappointment after Blood Money which I still play 6 years and hundreds of hours later. They traded some of the deepest and most distinctive elements of being Agent 47 for console game pacing and lots of cutscenes to tell a crap story. If these tradeoffs turn out to be permanent for the series, then Agent 47 just jumped the shark. Still, even with all the Hitman-series-related disappointments, Absolution a good game on its own and you should play it and think for yourself.… Expand

   • Helpful? 9 of 9 users said Yes.
4. Zeban

   3

   The Hitman you knew is gone.
   Be prepared for an ordinary Cover-based stealth shooter that is very linear and with a silly story. They really cheated me this time, by putting the enticing label of Hitman on there, and giving me this uninspired, linear and braindead stealth-shooter, where you're basically not even doing hitman-work. The freedom of earlier games is completely gone, disguises are tacked on and dont work like they should, gameplay elements seem to work against eachother. Broken checkpoint-saves. You're mostly just going door to door instead of planning and executing awesome assassinations...
   
   The most fun I had in this game was going crazy and just go on killing sprees, the stealth mechanics used are just so old and boring, clearing a mission through stealth and not killing anyone has never been this boring before... much of the time I didnt even have a target.... yawn.
   
   + Graphics, sound
   
   I was thinking of putting all the annoying game changes and disappointing quirks in Absolution here BUT I'm short on time so I'll cut to the chase and just say WHY this game FAILS.
   
   - It's masking behind the great HITMAN-label and dont deliver.
   - THAT and it seems they did'nt even try to make a hitman game. They put 47's face on Sam Fisher basically.
   
   I'm deeply disappointed and I dont understand how they could do this to Hitman fans. We waited so long too.
   I'm giving it 3 because of the Sniper Challenge, atleast that was fun while it lasted.
   
   Verdict Rip-off.… Expand

   • Helpful? 1 of 1 users said Yes.

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