Tough decision. You could sneak up silently behind your target and eliminate her from behind, dumping her body in a nearby dumpster after you’ve finished your work. Then again, you could also rig a contraption near the rooftop with a mine, sending a piano crashing down on her once you’ve detonated the explosive device. Or maybe your patience has grown thin and you prefer to simply walk up to her and take her out with a gun.
"You’re given the freedom to accomplish your objectives taking whichever path you choose..."
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All of these malicious thoughts could be racing through your head while you’re walking through a festive Mardi Gras celebration, and you’ll know you have one big dilemma once you start pondering over ways you’re going to assassinate your victim. But that’s the beauty of Hitman: Blood Money — you’re given the freedom to accomplish your objectives taking whichever path you choose, and you’re limited only by the extent of your creativity. The sheer variety of methods you can employ to take out your target is sadistically satisfying, and with that, the dilemma turns into a blessing.
If you’re no stranger to the Hitman scene, you know the drill here. Our cold-blooded killer-for-hire named 47 receives an assignment from the Agency, infiltrates a specific location, dons numerous disguises to bypass security, and finally eliminates his targets. It’s a formula that has worked well for the series, and Blood Money doesn’t do much to rattle the foundations; instead, it refines what its predecessors brought to the table.
As expected, the game rewards methodical play, so you’ll need to plan out each and every move you make. Getting into the place where your target is located is by itself something to think over, and then you’ll still have bigger problems to worry about. The enemy A.I. is competent, so guards won’t hesitate to shoot at you if you present yourself as an intruder, and you’ll also need to get your hands on different clothes to blend in with the insiders. Then you’ll likely need to keep in mind that there will be a flood of citizens around (one of the nice changes in Blood Money) who aren’t supposed to see you do anything illegal. That means you have some sneaking to do — maybe even some minor kills to pull off. But if you choose to take the violent route, what are you going to kill with?
Why, with anything from lethal and tranquilizing syringes and the infamous air-depriving fiber wire to pistols and deadly rifles. You might want to refrain from using the latter, though.
"Ingenuity and clever plans are the name of the game here."
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That’s because ingenuity and clever plans are the name of the game here, and each level is designed so that all the resources you need to plan out your assassination (or assassinations) are right in front of you. Need a change of clothes to blend in at the White House? Wait for a staff member to walk into the restroom, then sedate him and change into his outfit. Need to get rid of a housewife in the suburbs? Rig the grill by the pool so flames shoot into her face the next time she wants to roast some poultry. Or maybe that’s too much — maybe you want to make your target’s death look like an accident instead. That’s fine — wait until your victim walks onto a terrace, then push the porn king into the murky depths below. True, the process of setting everything up for a perfect kill may be time-consuming and even tedious at times, and the trial-and-error gameplay could come off as frustrating. But it’s all worth it in the end — the sense of accomplishment you get when everything fits together is simply overwhelming.
Of course, you could also go gung-ho into stages with guns blazing, but you’ll likely run into some deep trouble taking that path. Guards will probably hear your shooting and will call for backup, and leaving a wide swath of dead bodies in your wake isn’t exactly a smart way to avoid having everyone know who you are. You don’t want to become a public celebrity, but that’s exactly what will happen when your notoriety increases. Yes, Blood Money includes a feature where you’ll be recognized more easily in future missions the more you cause mass destruction, which might give you the incentive to lay low. The twist to this whole system, however, is that you can bribe civilians, the chief of police, or, if you’ve really dug yourself into a hole, you can escape all the madness by obtaining a new identity. The only problem with this system is that you’ll make far more money by completing missions than you’ll need to spend to bribe people; nevertheless, the notoriety addition is an interesting concept, and hopefully Eidos can develop it further in future installments.
"...a great addition to the series and a great game in its own right."
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Though the 13-mission Blood Money can be completed within a weekend, the game just begs for several replays. The sprawling environments ensure that you can find new methods of murder during multiple run-throughs, and the game’s dark, twisted humor will keep the experience fresh.
Sharp graphics don’t hurt, either. The Hitman series’ distinct visual style is still present in Blood Money, and the game’s levels are all designed well, each with its own color scheme to set the appropriate mood. And the game’s sound is even better — the voice acting is great, and the sound effects are spot-on. Then to top it all off, Jesper Kyd adds his masterful touch once again, composing a superb soundtrack that’s both dark and subtly powerful. No worries about production values here.
In the end, Blood Money is a great addition to the series and a great game in its own right. It improves the gameplay that the Hitman franchise is known for and adds unique innovations, both while presenting a devilishly fun experience. In short, it’s extremely easy to get hooked. So, let’s get to it. How will you eliminate your target, Mr. 47?
