Hitman: Blood Money PlayStation 2

Hitman: Blood Money PlayStation 2

By Yahoo! Shopping User  Oct 16, 2006 | 2 out of 2 found this Hitman: Blood Money review helpful

Pros: Open-ended stealth action gameplay lets you sneak or run and gun; beautifully crafted mission set pieces seem appropriately big and complex; large variety of realistic weapons, but they're not the only way to do the job; good replay value for a single-player-only game

Cons: Non-player characters sometimes behave unrealistically, especially in combat; many of the series' minor cosmetic problems haven't been fixed; new notoriety system feels half-baked.

This is the fourth game in the Hitman series, but previous experience with the past games isn't assumed or required. In fact, you'll probably be more impressed with the game if you've never played one of these before. Returning players wi...ll be in for a comfortably familiar experience. The previous games' stories are alluded to during the course of this one, in which 47 discovers that he and his employer are being threatened by some other mysterious agency. He'll learn more of the rival agency's motives as he completes his own jobs, all leading up to a surprising and climactic conclusion. The starting mission leads you by the nose through one of 47's typical assignments--to eliminate a shady theme park operator, whose negligence once cost the lives of many innocent people. This man, called the Swing King, even entered the drug business in the wake of his theme park's collapse. 47's employer has asked that a photo of a deceased loved one be the last image that the crook ever sees...but when you finally reach him, he's just this sad worm of a man who grovels at 47's feet. Despite the number of armed thugs you'll need to get through before putting the Swing King out of his misery, this mission is easy, provided you follow the step-by-step instructions you're given. Subsequent missions are substantially tougher and less linear, but this first one still is representative of the types of moody, affecting scenarios you'll encounter in the game. Read more Less