Hitman Absolution Preview (PC, Xbox 360, PS3)

Hitman Absolution Preview: aged 47

Developing the local Danish IO Interactive, the return of Agent 47 had sunk a lot of ink after a presentation at E3 2011 mixed. Not inherently bad, the presentation left a slightly bitter taste to all the fans of the Hitman as it was difficult to find the killer character of implacable and undetectable in the middle of this brouhaha policeman led him to kill just about everything moved on the Hitman Absolution Preview screen … The developers had then explained that he was only an appetizer and we quickly find the Hitman that we appreciate for its discretion.

Same pattern as non-place

Because the clothes do not make the priestLogically, Square Enix has invited us to a second presentation of the game If it still was not directly subject to the famous character in hand, we discovered something much closer to the previous album. It takes more to keep in mind that the developers have presented a version called alpha of the game: in other words, there is still much work in Hitman Absolution Preview to be IO Interactive and many elements can be changed. We still found something reassuring in particular because of the dual approach adopted by our host: the same level has been presented in two ways, first by playing the discretion and then how big nag . To put things in the background and even though he was not about to go into the details of the scenario, we first learned that Agent 47 had a contract on the head of Diana Burnwood, his touch for some time in the Hitman Absolution Preview series. We do not know the ins or outs of this contract, but we know it then asked to find 47 / protect some Victoria … Girl we could find in the latest trailer – Orphanage – published by Square Enix. Without apparent reason, it is sought by a mobster named Dexter Blake, a kind of antithesis of Hitman.

This video orphanage serves as a kind of introduction to the mission that we discovered. Our Hitman, disguised as a priest, was to enter the Hitman Absolution Preview orphanage while men have obviously Dexter is a box. Also in the building, they are looking for Victoria and on this level, the Agent 47 was simply to reach an electrical panel to turn off the power. A task made ​​more difficult by the presence of henchmen Dexter – they patrol throughout the structure – but that can also discover the many possibilities for the Agent 47 as the silent killer in the bloodthirsty brute, it can take just nearly all attitudes.

Agent 47 more powerful than ever

Of finish for some actionsThe aim was to show how much the players Hitman is powerful, but also to give them all the keys to accomplish the mission in their own way. To do this, two main ideas have been implemented: the notion of instinct and of discretion . The first is an artifice designed to help the player while the second is more a part of gameplay we just put a spoke in the wheels. Instinct takes the form of a gauge at the bottom right of the screen. The Hitman Absolution Preview gauge goes up every time the player is acting decisively, but it seems that the techniques are much quieter and preferred a big nag earns very little instinct. Instinct is spent then in many ways, but the goal is still to come help the player. Thus, it is possible to use a kind of super-sight which tracks the position of all the characters , even through walls. More powerful, the trajectory function makes it possible to identify the route of a particular enemy to see if it will cross our path, for example. Finally, the instinct can also activate the shooting point , a technique that will awaken memories among players including Call Of Juarez: while time is slowed down considerably, we can mark down the enemies in succession without that ‘they can not fight back.

The decor has a role to playSome players – and that was our Hitman Absolution Preview position clear at the start of presentation – this option will find outrageous instinct that seems to help too much the player. In reality, the instinct will depend very much on the level of difficulty and it will be, the less decisive actions will be profitable. In addition, the player is never obliged to use instinct, as he seems to integrating mode “purist” which display all the information would be removed … even the number of bullets in our gun! To be confirmed. Finally, the point shooting because of its particularly violent nature and noisy should be used as a last resort: this shooting course annihilate all efforts discretion of the player who will immediately become the target of all enemies nearby.

Absolute discretion

Subtle transition that brings us to the discretion. In previous Hitman, or the player was located, or it was not binary, and this concept was not to everyone’s taste. As a result, developers have devised a four-step system – clear , curious , suspicious , Exposed – designed to reflect the state of alert enemies . An alert that evolves over time and the player’s actions: if an enemy is just curious after hearing a small noise, a prolonged silence and make him believe that he simply wanted! You can imagine then that the technique of point shooting will quickly move in our Hitman Exposed , fully revealing its position. To remain invisible, Agent 47 will have to be discreet, go in the back of the enemy, crouched forward, avoiding corridor into the light. When forced to eliminate someone, it must do so quietly and mostly hidden by the body in a closet, then in a garbage chute . While the level presented was small – other larger and more open seem planned – many solutions already appeared and we would have liked to take control of the Hitman to determine the extent of possible actions! We still missed several details that developers still have the opportunity to correct, they have assured us listen carefully to many returns.

Of these Hitman Absolution Preview complaints, we can not ignore the emergence of these huge signs clear or suspicious would have benefited from being more subtle or removed depending on the difficulty level adopted (to be confirmed in “purist” then). Similarly, the discretion of the Hitman was good relative: his shoes were not possible a fuss when the enemy seemed sourdingues ! Even more disturbing, it is impossible not to regret the introduction of an automatic regeneration: we should not punish the neophytes too … Again remains to be seen whether the level of difficulty you back over here while many of the problems mentioned can be fixed: in addition, our host has confirmed that its path was far from discreet to grant the status silent assassin wanted by all Hitman veterans. A status that is obtained by mission end when a screen needs to evaluate our performance.

Atmosphere in Hitman Absolution Preview

If it still raises many questions, this second view has quite reassured about the intentions of the developers. They had indicated that the E3 presentation only focuses on a small aspect of a game and it seems to be confirmed: it appears that the Hitman and the notion of silent assassin has not been forgotten by IO Interactive who sees the opportunity to play the bloodthirsty brute as an addition, but not the purpose of this episode. IO Interactive also provides a large technical work to immerse ourselves in the mood. The graphics – here on PS3 – is pretty convincing when a grain effect is report injuries of our hero. Most of the objects of the set can also be used as a weapon of fortune as the bible that we imagine to knock out a radical manner. The soundtrack also seems to be very important throughout the adventure. It identifies the enemy, to understand their progress while the music is there to emphasize the player’s actions : what we really plunge into the atmosphere. If we E3 presentation was cool, we can say that this new insight was quite warmed the hearts … hoping that the developers are as open as those of Deus Ex that had finally accepted the withdrawal of visual aids in difficult . It should therefore be cautious, but we will follow the next steps in the Square Enix communication with renewed interest. Hitman fans, we recommend more than ever cross your fingers: there are risks, but also potential.

Say that the return of Hitman Absolution Preview  Agent 47 is an event for many players is putting it mildly! These same players who despaired of seeing Io Interactive crash masterfully with Kane & Lynch and then – because when it wallows as well do it in style – with Kane & Lynch 2, then resumed hope that the rumors of development of Hitman 5 is were more accurate. Rumors confirmed shortly before the exhibition opens, while Square Enix prepared the first official presentation of the Hitman Absolution … Get ready, the Bald’s most famous game is back!

47 is back, but Timothy Olyphant

In absolute fan of Agent 47, I stamped the idea to attend this presentation and I already regretted that the appointment made ​​with Square Enix is limited to 30 minutes, obviously too short to enjoy the return of the bald. Alas, first sentence and first regrets: Our host insisted on a certain accessibility of the game and look resolutely great show … Two elements never the agenda of the Hitman series and even go against the elitist side doing much of the charm of the saga: the missions were hard, we really shat to achieve the best Hitman Absolution Preview possible result, but the reward of Silent Assassin took a lot of sense. But do not start to play the old farts embittered and rather give the benefit of doubt to the small guys at Io Interactive. In terms of presentation, we are witnessing a single mission followed by some questions / answers to try to see things more clearly. The mission is undertaken in Chicago as the Hitman is locked at night in an old library in the city. Without it no one knows yet why the Hitman is pursued by the police who just invested the building. The aim of our heroes is to escape, but history complicate things a bit, 47 does not have any equipment on it [Comment Damien: Bald can!].

A Hero … but deadly

Once will not hurt, the one that used to be hired to perform a specific contract, is in the position of the hunted: the hunter becomes the prey . This spin aside, how the game is – on paper – substantially identical to the previous Hitman missions. Agent 47 must pay attention to their immediate environment to achieve its ends: here, this amounts to oversee all police officers in the library, be as discreet as possible so as not to arouse suspicion and retrieve objects lurking in help him. Logically, the discretion appears to have to be the watchword.

Unfortunately, in practice, it is quite off the mark and in fact discretion, our host methodically removes all officers who pass within range. Of course, it does so with a certain elegance and generally sees to avoid arousing the suspicions of others, but the Hitman Absolution Preview result is still there: the Hitman is transformed into a machine to make carnage … not too much in the spirit, that! Even more annoying and despite some welcome remarks based bin, where he left him? , other police officers do not seem too worried of losing – almost one to one – their colleagues and do not advance to the last known position?!

Worse, he uses subterfuge sometimes rude to attract the attention of law enforcement: while an officer is visibly changing a fuse on Hitman decided to sabotage the breaker … Said agent is obviously on the side of the circuit breaker without thinking one second that this may be the work of the type they are looking for! However, Hitman Absolution Preview police behavior is interesting and so you can hear all these people talking, to keep abreast of research and – normally – call for help if something goes wrong. “Normally,” because our host left little opportunity for the poor police.

Here, he used an electric cable to stifle an agent when there is a marble bust that allowed him to spray the skull of another officer. Of course, different twists necks were also on the program history a pleasant change, but we would have liked our guest leaves more AI expression . It is a pity that the small guys at Io Interactive took the time to explain that the graphics engine used on Hitman Absolution was done internally, so just to offer a maximum of realism to situations where specific encountered by our hero.

Accessibility and big show?

Named Glacier 2, said engine seemed more than convincing with – including – a very effective management of shadows and light. The texture of the costume of the Hitman seemed more surprising, but the realization of all breathe a job well done. Do not spoil the entertainment of our hero – but probably also the other characters – are very nice when many movements have been added to the range of actions of Hitman. To convince us, the Hitman Absolution Preview representative of Io Interactive has also increased the acrobatics with ease: of course, he knows his game very well, but perhaps should be seen as a consequence of the increased accessibility that speaking developers.

Another consequence of this Hitman Absolution Preview accessibility, it is much easier than before to impersonate someone else. Thus, when the Hitman gets a police uniform and leaves the scene of the hunt – walking against the current of other agents – no one worried. It also seems much easier to get around the various NPCs and when he crosses a squat junkies , the Hitman can benefit everyone still several seconds during the window … Note here that the soundtrack beautifully highlights the changes in atmosphere and the adrenaline rush of our hero , which then passes close to a group of police officers. The presentation is completed when the Hitman makes its way – in the city – through a crowd particularly compact. Unfortunately, this conclusion is not really to rejoice in that it does not answer any questions that we ask ourselves: will the Hitman does all this album to flee the police? Will it still contracts to complete? What of his former employers? So many questions that Io Interactive will respond quickly if he does not see the curiosity of fans of the series melt very quickly. In the state and except for the outfit of the hero, we do not have the impression to discover a new Hitman … But given the work on this demo, we still want to believe it!

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