Hitman: Contracts

I can't believe there isn't an official thread yet for this game. It's out next week (4/20/2004) which means probably in store Wednesday. I enjoyed Hitman 2 so much that I beat it on both PC and the XBOX (just so I can pick up and play). The game is greatest hits on XBOX now so if you haven't played it yet it is worth picking up. I treat it more of a modern Tenchu than anything else. The multiple ways you can tackle a level are great and you can always choose between uber agressive or totally stealthy. The new game promises improved AI (squad tactics!?) some cool new weapons and better use of melee weapons along with better graphics. Who else is interested in this?

*raises hand*

Wrote the review/guide on the sequel and I enjoyed it immensely. I expect Contracts to an even bigger hit.

I've been meaning to pick up the second one, but I just can't seem to find it in a non platinum hits case. If I can find it in the original case and play it, then I'll pick up contracts. They seem like good enough games.

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Originally Posted by Opaque

I've been meaning to pick up the second one, but I just can't seem to find it in a non platinum hits case. If I can find it in the original case and play it, then I'll pick up contracts. They seem like good enough games.

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If you want the original box than I suggest getting a used copy otherwise check your Targets and Wal-Mart, they often mix plat and non-plat hits. The greatest hits box isn't that offensive. Do yourself a favor and pick the game up!

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Originally Posted by soundwave

If you want the original box than I suggest getting a used copy otherwise check your Targets and Wal-Mart, they often mix plat and non-plat hits. The greatest hits box isn't that offensive. Do yourself a favor and pick the game up!

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No I'm looking for used, but all I find are platinum cases. I don't buy greatest hits anything. period.

Loved the second one on the Xbox, I'll be picking this one up the day it drops. I believe I'll enjoy the more violent approach to 47's nature from all his past jobs. It sounds a whole lot better in terms of story this time around. Can't wait.

D

Well, While I was somewhat dissapointed by part 2 on Xbox, I am still very interested in the Contracts. The movies of it I've seen so far, show off some cool action and gameplay, and I always open for cool new action game.

Despair, what didn't you like about Hitman 2 in particular?

I like what little I've played of the first two on the PC, not in a huge rush to get the new one.

So is the second one good? Do you think I have to play it before I play the third one?

I'm getting this game and Manhunt at the same time, but I'm really looking more forward to this one. I enjoyed Hitman 2 immensely up to a point (that "Hidden Valley" mission and the Japanese Castle made the game unplayable), and after seeing some of the neat stuff 47 was doing in the previews for this game, I'm salivating for it.

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Originally Posted by animegirl20

So is the second one good? Do you think I have to play it before I play the third one?

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I recommend picking up the 2nd one only to prepare you for what is in the new installment--it's not necessary though. Hitman 2 is an action game but it isn't all about running and shooting (a la Max Payne). You could play it that way but you miss a lot of the subtleties and nuances. There is a real sense of tension when your sneaking up on a target with your fiber wire in hand ready to choke him/her to death. Umm. Err. In the game I mean. The stealthier you are the better your score. You can also incapacitate/kill practically anyone and take their uniform. Some things I wish part 2 had were sneaking along walls and things of that nature. Part 3 will allow you to drown people in pools of water and interact more with the environment.

IGN's review is up - http://ps2.ign.com/articles/507/507268p1.html?fromint=1

i liked hitman 1, but then got tired of 2. is the new one better?

I got around to playing 2 and had some fun with it. I couldn't get past one mission though because you lost if you were detected and my previous formula in missions called for killing every single thing that moved.

No one playing this game? I got to the Bike gang mission and I am having a blast trying to figure out the best approach for each mission. I got the silent assasin for the first mission but the subsequent ones I got professional most likely because I killed 2 innocents so that they didn't wake up and blow my cover. I'll go back to them later.

D

I've been watching Tain play this a bit, and it's pretty cool. The meat-processing place/bondage club freaked the hell out of me. Dead horse... And that little 'shrine' for the lady.

Wow, there's some creepy imagery there.


Tain didn't seem to like the Blue Lotus/Red Dragon missions, though. He was mostly a slayer for those. I couldn't think of a decent approach, because that damn rat posion was bugging me. How would you use that?

We rented it Saturday, and so far I am not impressed :(

Granted, we only 2 missions in, but first level while strange, was meh. Felt too much like a rip-off from Max Payne nighmare sequence, without red-line running. At least the swat at the end, was entertaining.

Meat Plant Party mission, just feels boring. Running through endless rooms, that look almost the same, with countless clones of people running around wasnt fun :(
Plus it gives me headache, and dizziness. I wonder if its a frame rate issue, or more of dj erratic movements. It seems to use MP/ MP2 engine, and I never had any problems like this in those games. Same with Suffering.

Some action is good. Nice weapon selection, and some cool sneaking and ability to approach missions in different fashions.

I just hope it actually gets better further in.

I haven't gotten to that mission yet concerning the rat poison but I'll let you know if I find a way to use it once I get there.

D

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Originally Posted by Nomi

I've been watching Tain play this a bit, and it's pretty cool. The meat-processing place/bondage club freaked the hell out of me. Dead horse... And that little 'shrine' for the lady.

Wow, there's some creepy imagery there.

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Hmm, I feel totally differently. It feels repetetive, convoluted and boring :(

Well I don't know what you went in thinking, if you enjoyed hitman 2 it's just more of the same.

The great thing about this game is you can go into a mission and accomplish it so many different ways, the fun is in figuring out the best approach. Take the meat packing plant for example.


Take the clothes off the guy you knocked out at the beginning of the level, lock him into his own truck. Get rid of any guns, keep the meat hook. Holster the hook and walk to the front gate, they'll search you and let you in. Go upstairs to the left to find that the daughter has been killed, grab her arm for proof. Avoid being detected by the crazed brother. Go back down and head for the kitchen, talk to the chef and he'll tell you to bring the chicken to your primary target. As you make your way there duck out into a secluded area and stuff the chicken with your hook then continue on up to your first victim.

The bodyguards will search you again then let you in once in the room take the hook out and holster it, close all the blinds and serve him the chicken he'll tell his guests to kindly leave then kill him with the hook. Then head back downstairs and go into the locker room area. Change into the opium waiters clothes and head into the smoking pipe area. When the secondary target requests for the pipe bring it to him let him smoke it and pass out then take his own silenced gun and take him out. Then make your way out to the trucks and leave. No one even knew you were there. Mission acomplished. That's the beauty of this game, you figure out on site which way you want to kill your target.


Hell if you want you can go in guns blazing all the way, they don't have respawning enemies so if you kill everyone on the map that's all there is to it. Each mission has different ways of dealing out death and reaching your objectives so I don't understand where you get repetitive out of all of it. I could see how some people find it boring in figuring out the best approach but then again that's really just a matter of opinion and tastes.

It's not like the games you usually like Despair so you might be best off just to overlook this one cause if you don't like it from the first two missions the rest will bother you even more since each mission gives you a different opportunity to deal out death. Hell if you like playing the sniper theres quite a few times you'll go through a mission and see awesome vantage points to do just that, but after the shot is fired your presence is known so kiss your silent assasin rating goodbye.

Onimusha 3 is out this week youd probably be better off investing your time in that game since you don't seem interested in this one, just trying to save you wasted time ;)

D

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Originally Posted by dyomides

Hell if you want you can go in guns blazing all the way, they don't have respawning enemies so if you kill everyone on the map that's all there is to it. Each mission has different ways of dealing out death and reaching your objectives so I don't understand where you get repetitive out of all of it. I could see how some people find it boring in figuring out the best approach but then again that's really just a matter of opinion and tastes.

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Its not the repetetivness of gameplay I was talking about. I actually like the abilty to take different routes to finish same goal, it give the gameplay some cool variety. Its the way levels has been designed and presented so far. Meat plant is rows of almost identical rooms, over and over, filled with clones of same character models. After a while, you just get lost in all of the same environments. But it might be just me.

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It's not like the games you usually like Despair so you might be best off just to overlook this one cause if you don't like it from the first two missions the rest will bother you even more since each mission gives you a different opportunity to deal out death. Hell if you like playing the sniper theres quite a few times you'll go through a mission and see awesome vantage points to do just that, but after the shot is fired your presence is known so kiss your silent assasin rating goodbye.

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I honestly wanted to give this a try. I liked some of Hitman 2, but I got stuck in some point there, and after I was forced to replay same damn sequence one time to many, I did moved on to better things. As I said in above paragraph, I do like some of the open endness that Hitman Contracts offers, I just hope, its not being forced on you in few sequences.

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Onimusha 3 is out this week youd probably be better off investing your time in that game since you don't seem interested in this one, just trying to save you wasted time ;)
D

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I thought Oni3 is due next week? And I am definately looking forward that more. Contracts was rented for dj, since it was him who was more interested in the game. I ended up watching it more than playing.

i know you're talking about you and your son Des but i always chuckle when you say "we were ........". sometimes makes you seem like a cooky multiple personality case :D

I ever tell you you're one cool Dad Despair? Well you are.

D

So I played some more last night and the rat poison you speak about is for this.


You get the rat poison from the washroom of the strip club then head downstairs into the basement, be careful though cause theres a brute down there. Go to the exclamation point on the map when he goes into the room and poison the booze. Once you do that haul ass back upstairs and watch the bartender go get the poisoned booze and serve it to a worker, he'll drink it and stumble back up to his room which he will die in. You can then grab his clothes to use as you see fit. He is a civilian though which means you won't get the silent assassin rating I believe.


D

The rat poison she's talking about is found in the sewers of one of the Red Dragon levels.

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Originally Posted by Tain

The rat poison she's talking about is found in the sewers of one of the Red Dragon levels.

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I see, very well then I'll have to play some more then. How far is this level from the Strip bar level?

D

Well, after the Rotterdam levels, I think you have a hotel followed by some Hong Kong missions. It's one of those.

The poison in the level you have been talking about is for this.


Once you have the poison from the sewer make your way into the building with the dynamite and go all the way up the room with an exclamation mark. Change into the gardeners clothing and drop all guns on the floor then head into the area where the target and the VIP will meet. What you want to do is poison the targets tea while he's talking to the VIP and no one else is looking. If you look at the map it's on the right as soon as you cross the bridge from the bottom going up towards the pagoda or whatever you want to call it. Once it's poisoned just walk towards the exit and by the time you get there the target will die and mission will be accomplished with a silent assassin rating.


D