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[Xater]

The PC Gamer review seems like a weird outlier at this point. Let's hope they are wrong!

 

[Derrick01]

The PC Gamer review seems like a weird outlier at this point. Let's hope they are wrong!

In score only. I feel like I have to keep repeating this since most only look at score so I'll just quote myself from last night.

Most of the reviews that have been posted have said things like smaller levels, much more linear in a lot more places than normal, less choices in the kills etc. But most of those reviews treated those things like small nitpicks or tiny flaws in a masterpiece of a game. But as a Hitman fan I look at those and I'm like "but wait a minute that's....that's what the whole series is about! Why does this have a 9/10 with those negatives?" It's like giving a racing sim like gran turismo a 10 after saying the car handling is abysmal, there's only 5 tracks and most of the customization options were taken away.

PCG was the only one who apparently recognized this and scored it accordingly even though it had many of the same complaints as those reviews ^

 

[a secret-boss]

I wonder if body of the text is what the reviewer really feel and the score is just for the companies who only care about metacritic score.

 

[indigo-cyclops]

I was looking for info on that game the other day... I think its pretty much dead.

Yea I think so too. Last time it was shown was in 2010. Though they haven't explicitly said it's dead. Let's hope, as it looked awesome.

 

[Stat!]

I'm really excited for this game. I'm going to pick it up during the Christmas sale.

I really hope that they have a lot of different paths. I don't mind linearity but I want in some of the open world levels to really carve my own path and not be "one true way"

 

[Ravensmash]

In score only. I feel like I have to keep repeating this since most only look at score so I'll just quote myself from last night.



PCG was the only one who apparently recognized this and scored it accordingly even though it had many of the same complaints as those reviews ^

I understand what you're saying, but should a critic judge a game primarily by it's predecessors? What if the PC Gamer review is clinging on to comparisons with games released 5-10 years ago, whereas the other writers are looking at it as an individual product?

That's not to say that there shouldn't be any mention of that, because it's obviously a sequel in a well established franchise, and I want to know how it stacks up to previous titles, but it shouldn't just be given a poor score because it's different - what about Absolution as it's own product?

 

[Sinatar]

I can't find an easy way to download it online. Got any stores that sell it?

There was some kind of licensing issue with some music in the game and instead of just patching the offending music out they just stopped selling the game.

 

[Interfectum]

There was some kind of licensing issue with some music in the game and instead of just patching the offending music out they just stopped selling the game.

that sucks. updated OP with that info.

 

[ezekielpacman]

The thing I find most curious about the PCG review is that the same guy gave Diablo 3 a 90, a game which also betrays its roots / streamlines - arguably a whole lot more than evidence suggests Hitman:A does.

Just seems a little odd that there is such a chasm in score difference if this principle of "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" is really what he believes in.

 

[GashPrex]

In score only. I feel like I have to keep repeating this since most only look at score so I'll just quote myself from last night.



PCG was the only one who apparently recognized this and scored it accordingly even though it had many of the same complaints as those reviews ^

Keep fighting the good fight! The truth cannot be suppressed

 

[pa22word]

what about Absolution as it's own product?

It lost that right when they put "Hitman" on the box. If they didn't want to be compared to the last game in the series they should have released it as a new IP.

This is the Deus Ex Invisible War fallacy all over again, tbqh...

 

[jimi_dini]

I understand what you're saying, but should a critic judge a game primarily by it's predecessors? What if the PC Gamer review is clinging on to comparisons with games released 5-10 years ago, whereas the other writers are looking at it as an individual product?

 

[Derrick01]

I understand what you're saying, but should a critic judge a game primarily by it's predecessors? What if the PC Gamer review is clinging on to comparisons with games released 5-10 years ago, whereas the other writers are looking at it as an individual product?

That's not to say that there shouldn't be any mention of that, because it's obviously a sequel in a well established franchise, and I want to know how it stacks up to previous titles, but it shouldn't just be given a poor score because it's different - what about Absolution as it's own product?

They should have made a new IP then. Sequels don't have the luxury of not being compared against their predecessors and it's even worse when it's a series that has at least 1 legendary game in it.

 

[Ravensmash]

It lost that right when they put "Hitman" on the box. If they didn't want to be compared to the last game in the series they should have released it as a new IP.

But what if this is my first Hitman game? I want a review which reviews this product, not just an essay of comparisons between this and previous titles - that's no use to me?

And what if I'm open to the idea of change? I want a review of how these changes work/don't work not a check list of what's different and how it sucks because it's different.

(this isn't my first Hitman game, and I am interested in seeing what the contrast between this and Blood Money is, but my point is that a review which simply clings on to predecessors and attacks the game for simply being 'different' is no more useful as a review than one by a die hard fan in denial)

 

[Ravensmash]

Good example, but looking back at Conviction as it's own entity I feel like I had a lot of fun with it.

Is it a good 'old school' Splinter Cell game? No. Do I think that this prevents it from being a good fun game in it's own right? Absolutely not.

 

[jimi_dini]

Is it a good 'old school' Splinter Cell game? No. Do I think that this prevents it from being a good fun game in it's own right? Absolutely not.

They should have made a new IP then.

.

 

[pa22word]

But what if this is my first Hitman game? I want a review which reviews this product, not just an essay of comparisons between this and previous titles - that's no use to me?

A good review should do both, and then state that this is an inferior product to its predecessor due to the changes being for the worse, made simply for the sake of accessibility.

And what if I'm open to the idea of change? I want a review of how these changes work/don't work not a check list of what's different and how it sucks because it's different.

This doesn't even make any sense. Have you actually read the review in question?

 

[Messofanego]

Death to Spies is ridiculously janky, don't know if I would recommend it. A more polished Hitman clone if you're into disguises and puzzles rather than killing, go for Stacking: http://store.steampowered.com/app/115110/

Let the GIFs commence!

Disguises

FUCK DA PAWLICE

Shank!

Cool guys don't look at explosions

Tools of the trade

SWAG

It's a long way down

 

[Interfectum]

But what if this is my first Hitman game? I want a review which reviews this product, not just an essay of comparisons between this and previous titles - that's no use to me?

And what if I'm open to the idea of change? I want a review of how these changes work/don't work not a check list of what's different and how it sucks because it's different.

(this isn't my first Hitman game, and I am interested in seeing what the contrast between this and Blood Money is, but my point is that a review which simply clings on to predecessors and attacks the game for simply being 'different' is no more useful as a review than one by a die hard fan in denial)

For me a lot of the fear is if Absolution veers too far away from what Hitman was then we may never get another game like that again.

Remember, there are a lot of stealth games out there but there are not a lot of games that play like, say, Blood Money does.

 

[Confidence Man]

There aren't even a lot of stealth games anymore.

 

[indigo-cyclops]

that sucks. updated OP with that info.

Yea, it's very lame; I just picked up a copy on Amazon for dirt cheap and I can't wait. It's a real shame they are letting this one fade into obscurity.

Death to Spies is ridiculously janky, don't know if I would recommend it. A more polished Hitman clone if you're into disguises and puzzles rather than killing, go for Stacking: http://store.steampowered.com/app/115110/

DTS 2 is improved, and Stacking, no pun intended, doesn't quite stack up to what Hitman and Death to Spies try to do. The old Hitman games are quite clunky as well, so it shouldn't detract people from checking out Death to Spies. It's the closest equivalent if you ask me.

 

[Dance Inferno]

The PC Gamer review has me wary. I was keeping an eye on this after thoroughly enjoying Dishonored, but it seems that the freedom I was expecting this game to provide may be limited in several ways. Will wait for further impressions.

 

[Interfectum]

DTS 2 is improved, and Stacking, no pun intended, doesn't quite stack up to what Hitman and Death to Spies try to do. The old Hitman games are quite clunky as well, so it shouldn't detract people from checking out Death to Spies. It's the closest equivalent if you ask me.

Yeah I've yet to find another game that is as close to the Hitman experience as DTS 2.

 

[xXBetter Off DadXx]

Really excited for this. They seem to have added little things that will help someone like myself who sucked at Hitman 2 be able to enjoy it more.

 

[ezekielpacman]

The PC Gamer review has me wary. I was keeping an eye on this after thoroughly enjoying Dishonored, but it seems that the freedom I was expecting this game to provide may be limited in several ways. Will wait for further impressions.

A RE6 fan not keeping an open mind regardless of reviews? What is this nonsense!

 

[Messofanego]

So who is actually committed for a Purist playthrough?

The developers have put the gauntlet down that not many will be able to complete it.

 

[Stet]

So who is actually committed for a Purist playthrough?

The developers have put the gauntlet down that not many will be able to complete it.

I still have no idea how to do a purist playthrough of BM, even after getting Silent Assassin the whole game.

 

[Derrick01]

There aren't even a lot of stealth games anymore.

Yeah I see Blood Money from 06 and mark of the ninja this year and that's pretty much it for true stealth games in this generation. Unless there's another indie game like mark of the ninja that I never heard about.

The rest is poorly designed hybrids like Human Revolution and Dishonored :\

 

[Interfectum]

Yeah I see Blood Money from 06 and mark of the ninja this year and that's pretty much it for true stealth games in this generation. Unless there's another indie game like mark of the ninja that I never heard about.

The rest is poorly designed hybrids like Human Revolution and Dishonored :\

You've played Mark of the Ninja? Is it as good as the hype suggests? I've held off because I'm backlogged enough as it is.

 

[keltickennedy]

Really excited for this. They seem to have added little things that will help someone like myself who sucked at Hitman 2 be able to enjoy it more.

If you had a difficult time with Hitman 2, I can see you having trouble with this as well.

 

[xXBetter Off DadXx]

If you had a difficult time with Hitman 2, I can see you having trouble with this as well.

Well I don't expect it to be easy per say, just having checkpoints will be helpful to someone like myself who isn't very good at stealth games in general.

 

[Derrick01]

You've played Mark of the Ninja? Is it as good as the hype suggests? I've held off because I'm backlogged enough as it is.

Yeah it's really good. Don't buy into the best stealth game ever hype from some people on here but it is really really good.

 

[Sn4ke_911]

woah, shinobi602 again banned? what the hell is that guy doing?

 

[Tizoc]

Well the game's out over here in middle east, so you guys in the US might find it in some mom n' pop shops etc.

 

[MMaRsu]

Well I don't expect it to be easy per say, just having checkpoints will be helpful to someone like myself who isn't very good at stealth games in general.

Why are checkpoints better than a manual save?????

 

[keltickennedy]

Well I don't expect it to be easy per say, just having checkpoints will be helpful to someone like myself who isn't very good at stealth games in general.

The save anywhere feature is way better than the checkpoint system in Absolution. Checkpoints have to be activated. And they don't work as a current save state. There are instances where you will kill 1/2 targets and then activate a checkpoint. If then something happens where you reload that checkpoint, the first target that was killed is now magically alive again. Also, say you have a full instinct meter. Sometimes reloading a checkpoint will not give you the same amount of instinct that was saved at that previous point. Its really bizarre. There are some levels that don't even have checkpoints too.

Wish they kept the save anywhere or having a limited amount of saves per level like Blood Money.

 

[xXBetter Off DadXx]

Why are checkpoints better than a manual save?????

The save anywhere feature is way better than the checkpoint system in Absolution. Checkpoints have to be activated. And they don't work as a current save state. There are instances where you will kill 1/2 targets and then activate a checkpoint. If then something happens where you reload that checkpoint, the first target that was killed is now magically alive again. Also, say you have a full instinct meter. Sometimes reloading a checkpoint will not give you the same amount of instinct that was saved at that previous point. Its really bizarre. There are some levels that don't even have checkpoints too.

Wish they kept the save anywhere or having a limited amount of saves per level like Blood Money.

Hahahaha, you know, I think I just realized that one of the reasons I found Hitman 2 to be so tough, was that I played it on PS2, and having not played very many PC games at all all those years ago, I don't think I understood until now, that you could manual save. I would literally try and play through a level, die, start over, die, thinking that I had to do an entire level in one, unsaved run.

So yeah, nevermind, I wish that the manual save system was still there, haha.

Edit: And I didn't realize the checkpoint system would work like that in Absolution, sounds not that great.

 

[SonicVolcano]

I thought this was an interesting read. Don't shoot the messenger.

GameReviewerByTrade • 8 hours ago −
↓

I have reviewed this game, although I would like to remain anonymous. I can honestly say that the comments Mr Francis has made about the game are entirely false. Assassinations are NOT cutscenes any more than they are in Blood Money (IE an animation once the 'accident' is set up or whatever is the way it's always been – it's not a cutscene because you're either choosing to stick around and watch – in full control – or you're already making your escape or whatever, NEVER is control taken away from you).

As for checkpoints THEY ONLY EVEN EXIST ON LOW DIFFICULTY. Meaning this reviewer played it through on easy or medium and since he claims to be an experienced Hitman player, he should know that these difficulty levels were not made for him. He has essentially failed to do the job he has been paid to do.

The 'pointless' objectives (open a door) refers to exiting the level once the hit has been complete. YOU HAVE ALWAYS HAD TO EXIT THE LEVEL ONCE THE HIT WAS COMPLETE.

Some of the levels are small, sure, but THERE ARE FIFTY OF THEM.

The AI is fantastic as always. 47 is the catalyst. Mix him with the AI in any way and entertaining (and often unexpected) things happen. Just as they always have, but way, way better than ever before. The story is, admittedly, quite poor, but it's also irrelevant. It ties one playground to the next by a thin thread and that's all that matters.

Do not listen to Tom Francis. He has failed to do his job and speaking as a fellow reviewer, in my opinion deserves to be severely scolded for it, both by the general gaming public, who he has failedf, by the developer and publisher of the game, who he has failed, and by the company he works for, who he has failed. Once you lot get to play the game, you will immediately see how FACTUALLY incorrect this review is. It's chock-full of out and out lies.

 

[Dance Inferno]

A RE6 fan not keeping an open mind regardless of reviews? What is this nonsense!

Haha. I said it has me wary, not that I won't buy it. Reviews shat all over RE6 and I thoroughly enjoyed it, so I'm not ruling anything out.

To be honest I think RE6's crappy reviews made me enjoy the game even more, because I was expecting crap and was pleasantly surprised.

Yeah I see Blood Money from 06 and mark of the ninja this year and that's pretty much it for true stealth games in this generation. Unless there's another indie game like mark of the ninja that I never heard about.

The rest is poorly designed hybrids like Human Revolution and Dishonored :\

Hey man don't bash Dishonored, that game was quite good as a stealth game. Maybe it wasn't "hardcore stealth" but it had some pretty interesting and fun mechanics to play around with.

 

[jimi_dini]

Hahahaha, you know, I think I just realized that one of the reasons I found Hitman 2 to be so tough, was that I played it on PS2

It was a bit broken as well. All guards were ultra-suspicious and very trigger happy. And how I hated Hidden Valley.

Sniper has aquired target
Sniper has aquired target
Sniper has aquired target

I never completed every level with SA. I did so on Contracts + Blood Money.

 

[Derrick01]

I thought this was an interesting read. Don't shoot the messenger.

50 levels? Sure buddy :lol

 

[Ravensmash]

Interesting.

Can't wait for impressions to start rolling in to confirm the above (or correct it)

 

[D4Danger]

I thought this was an interesting read. Don't shoot the messenger.

It doesn't surprise me that a reviewer would blast through it on easy. I guess we'll see who's right when it's out.

 

[SonicVolcano]

50 levels? Sure buddy :lol

20 chapters divided into 54 sections.

 

[Derrick01]

20 chapters divided into 54 sections.

Walking 10 feet to a door that leads to another room isn't a level.

 

[GashPrex]

Walking 10 feet to a door that leads to another room isn't a level.

Are you like some consumer advocate program or something?

 

[SonicVolcano]

Walking 10 feet to a door that leads to another room isn't a level.

Sub-level, whatever.

You clearly haven't watched the Streets of Hope walkthrough.

Gosh, why do I even bother to reply.

 

[Castor Krieg]

The save anywhere feature is way better than the checkpoint system in Absolution. Checkpoints have to be activated. And they don't work as a current save state. There are instances where you will kill 1/2 targets and then activate a checkpoint. If then something happens where you reload that checkpoint, the first target that was killed is now magically alive again. Also, say you have a full instinct meter. Sometimes reloading a checkpoint will not give you the same amount of instinct that was saved at that previous point. Its really bizarre. There are some levels that don't even have checkpoints too.

Wish they kept the save anywhere or having a limited amount of saves per level like Blood Money.

The bolded part - your targets stay dead.

General thoughts - save anywhere feature is terrible for a Hitman game. Try Purist & Silent Assassin where you cannot save and reload at every corner, ok? "I'm so like 47, I did every mission perfectly - reloading and saving each 10 seconds until I got it all right". Truly, perfect way to play Hitman game.

 

[jimi_dini]

I thought this was an interesting read. Don't shoot the messenger.

Original source from here:

http://www.ign.com/boards/threads/s...ssassination-thread.452707573/#post-467748723

TheUniverse TheUniverse is online now Junior Member

Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 3

EDIT: Oh wait, damn google. This here is the actual source. All the other stuff is reposted.

http://www.gameranx.com/updates/id/...is-a-mess-gets-torn-apart-in-pc-gamer-review/

General thoughts - save anywhere feature is terrible for a Hitman game. Try Purist & Silent Assassin where you cannot save and reload at every corner, ok? "I'm so like 47, I did every mission perfectly - reloading and saving each 10 seconds until I got it all right". Truly, perfect way to play Hitman game.

Uh, Blood Money had unlimited saves only on Rookie difficulty. Even on normal saves were limited to 7. Expert had a limit of 3. Professional did not allow you to save.

They were save anywhere, but because the saves were limited that's totally fine.