IO Interactive began modernizing and updating the Hitman series in 2016. The result was a great game that made a few mistakes. But the franchise has been on an upward trajectory ever since. Subsequent releases of DLC and a sequel ensured that the stealth series was here to stay.
Hitman 3 is the latest act in this trilogy and obviously has a lot to live up to. The question is whether the new game is able to keep the same addicting gameplay without getting stale. For the most part, the third installment is a monumental success.
History
When Hitman 2 ended, Agent 47 had to figure out exactly what The Constant and Providence were. The sequel follows with the protagonist hunting them down, putting an end to their plans once and for all. In previous titles, the story felt like an addition. More of a way to set the scene for the action rather than the main attraction. This is certainly still true with Hitman 3.
However, it now appears that IO Interactive has placed more emphasis on narrative this time around. The overall plot takes more of a center stage. There are more footage and things definitely tie together better than ever. There are also many interesting little stories in the individual levels. Characters will discuss strange plans and events, while some levels have very intriguing storylines. Hitman 3 won’t win any awards for its story yet, but it’s a lot better than what fans expect.
However, to come to a satisfactory conclusion to the story, sacrifices had to be made. The final level of the game is completely linear. It looks out of place with the open nature of the rest of the series. IO Interactive’s Hitman reboot is not suitable for this type of closed gameplay. However, it might be the only way the developer could think of to end the storyline with a clear conclusion.
Giving players the ability to do exactly what they want would likely make an effective conclusion impossible. The narrative comes together in a conclusion that works well and resolves outstanding issues. It’s just a shame that it comes at the expense of the open world gameplay that players are used to.
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