Hitman: Codename 47

 PC
Metascore
73

Mixed or average reviews - based on 32 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 19 out of 32
  2. Mixed: 12 out of 32
  3. Negative: 1 out of 32
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  1. Daily Radar
    100
    One of the coolest and most absorbing games we've played all year.
    All this publication's reviews
  2. Electric Playground
    95
    The physics model in Hitman is a definite milestone in computer gaming. No other computer game to date has been able to achieve the realistic effects you’ll find here.
  3. PC Gameworld
    94
    If not for the lack of a save game feature and the incredibly high difficulty factor, this game might be the best shooter ever made. Even despite these defects, it comes damn close.
  5. Da Gameboyz
    92
    Since the first day I received it I've loved every minute of it. The wonderful, colourful graphics, the realistic and well-suited sounds, and the game's challenging difficulty make it great.
    All this publication's reviews
  6. GamePro
    90
    The combination of "Thief"-style sneaking with smart enemy A.I. and the use of realistic weapons-piano wire, silenced pistols, sniper rifles, and even M-60s-creates an intense experience, though many gamers will be frustrated by the lack of in-game saving.
  7. FiringSquad
    84
    This game has so many good things going for it that it hurts to rant about the shortcomings. To start, the controls are severely jacked.
  8. Voodoo Extreme
    84
    Hitman suffers from horrendous pop-in with the scenery. You can’t see a tree or building in full until it is a good 50 feet in front of you. This can create a problem when there are snipers on the roofs waiting to light you up with their rifles.
  9. Evil Avatar
    80
    I would not hesitate to recommend it to other gamers, but with the caution that you should be prepared for a game that probably won't fit neatly into any mental box you might have prepared for it.
  10. GamerWeb PC
    80
    Great story, missions lack direction, but once you get used to the feel of Hitman it is really a great game.
  11. Antagonist
    80
    The translation from idea to reality was apparently too much for the poor thing, and it falls far short of expectations.
    All this publication's reviews
  12. Eurogamer
    80
    I love it - the challenge, the atmosphere, the blood.
  13. Gamezilla!
    80
    Though far from an instant classic, Hitman is a decent (and bloody gruesome) game, that makes the most of graphical quality while not being tremendously complex, story-wise.
  14. CPUGamer
    80
    The worst thing about this game, I thought, was that it was so difficult.
  15. GameSpy
    80
    If you are used to "running around and blowing everything up," Hitman will give you some problems. You can't play the game as though it were a fast and furious game of "Quake."
  16. Game Over Online
    78
    It was the iron-like grip of the plot Gestapo forcing me down the script line that griped my cookies. Still, you have to give them some credit just for attempting to make a game that breaks out of the mold.
  17. IGN
    77
    I really had been looking forward to this one and it let me down in so many ways. If only it had been longer... If only the camera had been different... If only it had been a bit more mentally challenging.
  18. PC Gamer
    75
    A fun game that gets fatally sidetracked. I coulda been a contender. [Mar 2001, p.96]
    All this publication's reviews
  19. Games Radar
    75
    Looks good, plays great, drives you mad but keeps you playing. Not quite an essential purchase, but up there with fags and beer.
  20. Game Revolution
    75
    A relatively fresh, stylish new variation on the sneaking man's shooter, and goodness, is it fun.
  21. Adrenaline Vault
    70
    If you are looking for an action title, but are getting tired of playing rehashes on the "Quake" formula, look no further than the generic assassin wearing a barcode on his head.
  22. Armchair Empire
    70
    Probably the best game-play design that I've seen in years; the game play is twitchy - if you're a purist you're going to have a conniption playing this.
  23. GameZone
    70
    The violence is a little excessive.
  24. ActionTrip
    70
    The visuals sound effects and gameplay concepts are great, yet the length of the game will surely make this product less popular than other FPS sneaker games like "NOLF" and the "Thief" series.
  25. Spank!
    70
    It does a lot of things very well and were it not for a few mistakes it would be a classic.
    All this publication's reviews
  26. Just RPG
    70
    Hitman: Codename 47 does deliver a fair deal of excitement and suspense. The mysterious assassin, the stress on stealth, and a decent narrative make it well worth playing.
  27. Happy Puppy
    60
    Good ideas clash with rigid mission architecture and fruity design work. This is the same game in which you can authentically throttle a foe to death, but half a dozen body shots won't ice an opponent.
  28. CNET Gamecenter
    60
    Relies heavily on stealth tactics and interesting scenarios, but often finds itself without a clear course for entertaining and compelling gameplay.
    All this publication's reviews
  29. CheckOut
    60
    The problems with the framerate and inability to save my game made me want to break the CD into tiny pieces.
    All this publication's reviews
  30. GameSpot
    52
    Even if you like the basic premise and action of the game, a number of very serious flaws quickly sap its entertainment value.
  31. Yahoo!
    50
    While it did have its good qualities, the lack of any real replay value makes Hitman one of those games that just isn't quite worth the price tag.
  32. GamePower
    50
    An exercise in taking a shrewd idea, giving you an idea of how great it could be, and then making it frustrating beyond belief. There is a sad reverse alchemy the longer you play, in which gold is turned into dross.
    All this publication's reviews
  33. Computer Games Magazine
    40
    Styled to appeal to the shooter crowd. Unfortunately, it feels as if the developer lavished too much attention on making the violence stylized and realistic, and then just threw a game around it. Great concept, extremely sloppy execution.

Awards & Rankings

72
#72 Best PC Game of 2000
8
#8 Most Discussed PC Game of 2000
9
#9 Most Shared PC Game of 2000

User Reviews

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User Score
7.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 330 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 196 out of 330
  2. Mixed: 112 out of 330
  3. Negative: 22 out of 330
  1. gustavems
    Sep 28, 2013
    4
    This is one of the worst games I've ever played. I know it was released in the year of 2000, but that doesn't give it a right to f#ck your assThis is one of the worst games I've ever played. I know it was released in the year of 2000, but that doesn't give it a right to f#ck your ass with an electrical stick mainly designed for torture! This game has as of now put me through 10 horrifying hours of unbearable pain. It has some of the worst AI bugs I have ever seen, they can sometimes walk trough walls and spot you even if you're disguised. The controls are some of the most up controls ever made on this planet, using the NUMPAD as default. The voice acting is terrible. 47 sounds more like a robot than a robot does! The missions are boring and the story is so bad you can't even understand why 47 is a hitman! Why? Where? What? When? How? I have still not played through the entire game though, it gets a 4 for at least making me trying to finish it and for the graphics being pretty good for 2000.… Full Review »
  2. TheDemonFrog666
    Mar 8, 2011
    0
    This, plainly put, is the worst game I've ever played. Hmm... where to start? Story: I am currently on mission 3 and I have no idea what theThis, plainly put, is the worst game I've ever played. Hmm... where to start? Story: I am currently on mission 3 and I have no idea what the plot is supposed to be and I have read all of the intro text. As far as I can tell, the only plot is to kill Asian mafia members...

    Controls: This game has some of the most broken controls I've ever seen in a video game. When I went to the control customization screen, I thought it was a joke that the default was the numpad. When I switched it to standard WASD controls, W was run, S was walk, X was back, and C and Z were strafe... WTF I've never heard of any game in existence using that control scheme. The use button requires (sometimes) pressing the right mouse button to bring up an options menu to choose what action to perform via mouse scroll. This makes sense except that it gives you no information on how to do this in the tutorial. I walked up to the first elevator, pressed E, and nothing happened. I then spent 5 minutes attempting to figure out how to use an object. Gameplay: I don't know what everyone is talking about with this gameplay being the best thing since "GTA4" (even though GTA4 came out 2008 and this came out in 2000) and not knowing "what happened to gameplay these days". While the gameplay concept is a great idea, it is probably the sloppiest execution for any "sneaking game". The AI is terrible, as the police don't notice you when they should, and notice you when they shouldn't. Graphics: Being on the third level, and especially given how small the levels are, I've encountered probably around 20 graphics errors, and they're obvious. If a game makes all entities disappear when you look at a certain part of the wall, you just don't release it.

    Ambiance: While the music in the background is very soothing and cool, it's the ONLY THING THAT HAS PLAYED SO FAR IN THE GAME! It gets annoying as hell to hear the same damn melody over and over again.

    Well, that sums up pretty much all of the categories. With broken AI, no good tutorial, and throwing you out in the middle of the city with no instructions besides "Hey, you, kill these guys.", this game is amazingly bad. I got the Hitman Collection during the Steam Christmas sale for $7.50. That makes H:C47 worth $2.50. If it goes on sale for 50 cents, don't get it. If it goes on sale for free, don't get it. It's not worth nothing. That's how bad it is.    … Full Review »
  3. jsizzle
    Dec 10, 2016
    7
    I thought Hitman: Codename 47 was a great entry point for the series defining what it is that Agent 47 does and how he came to be. Just likeI thought Hitman: Codename 47 was a great entry point for the series defining what it is that Agent 47 does and how he came to be. Just like any game from 2000 there will be many flaws in A.I. and level designing. Most of the levels were small and only had one or two ways of completion but that is fine because with a saving system like this one it really would have been a nightmare to beat this game. If you are caught, killed and hit space to continue from a checkpoint the guards will still be on alert EVEN if you are loaded back in an area you are sure you were safe in; they WILL find you. That is one of my very few gripes with this game as it still delivers satisfying gameplay with a variety of fun hits.
    The story, in my opinion is the game's strength but it only picks up in the end quarter of the game and for me, it did not disappoint. Learning how 47 was created and by who was pretty awesome and I enjoyed watching it unfold. Most gamers overlook this rewarding game but I highly recommend they try it out if they are a big Hitman fan!    … Full Review »
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