User Score
7.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 330 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Negative: 22 out of 330
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  1. TheJackal
    Jan 5, 2002
    10
    Great game!!!!
  2. GodsNemesis
    May 17, 2002
    10
    The best shootèm up game ever it beats even Deus Ex.
  3. mOOnrabbitx
    Aug 30, 2002
    10
    The best game I ever played!! damn, I trying to find a replacement sinds I played it out. But can't find one.
  4. Caramba
    Jun 8, 2004
    10
    Wonderful.
  5. CboB.
    Jan 15, 2004
    10
    This is the best game since gta 4.
  6. JasonE.
    Nov 5, 2007
    10
    This game is and was amazing, even almost seven years on, maybethe graphics are dated but the gameplay still takes your breath away and leaves you thinking, whats happened to the gameplay today? Why has more effort been put into graphics whilst the gameplay gets left behind? Give me second rate graphcs and codename47 state gameplay any day.
  7. Nov 1, 2010
    10
    One of the only games ever with good game play and a good story. Shooting enemies with a shotgun makes them fly for five meters what is just AWESOME. Also the ending was really good and interesting.
  8. Aug 31, 2015
    10
    While the graphics are dated, but the story and the action also the characters are interesting and suspenseful it's a very original game. Let the Hitman video game franchise continue!
  9. Mar 9, 2019
    10
    This is the only hitman game I like. No other game has a sort of horror from waking up in a lab and being the only survivor.

    This is the definitive hitman game.
  10. Jul 12, 2020
    10
    Solid 10, absolutely no way around it. I played it in 2000 and i would be pleasantly surprised even if i played it now in 2020. Many modern games lack many of the features that game had in 2000.
  11. Dec 4, 2018
    10
    Превосходный симулятор наёмного убийцы, в который не стыдно играть даже спустя 18 лет после релиза.
  12. Dec 19, 2020
    10
    Amazing game that allows you complete the mission in a myriad of different ways. It gives you a lot of choice. Choice is one of the things that makes a game fun. The plot if very ambiguous and mysterious which is interesting. It was one of my favorite games as a kid. The story is kind of lacking but it makes up for it with it's replay value.
  13. Apr 13, 2020
    10
    One of my favourite games of all-time clynically under-rated. Superp level design and graphics for it's day, great fun, numerous ways to take out your target and the option to shot it out if all goes wrong lol. A true classic.
  14. Feb 21, 2022
    10
    With this game, I got acquainted with the stealth genre. And only then I realized how masterpiece Hitman was.

    The bald, stealthy assassin with a barcode on the back of his head has become one of my favorite characters in video games. Missions in different parts of the world, from Hong Kong to the jungle. Sophisticated methods of murder, as in the best Hollywood films about spies.
    With this game, I got acquainted with the stealth genre. And only then I realized how masterpiece Hitman was.

    The bald, stealthy assassin with a barcode on the back of his head has become one of my favorite characters in video games.

    Missions in different parts of the world, from Hong Kong to the jungle. Sophisticated methods of murder, as in the best Hollywood films about spies.

    It was amazing.
    Expand
  15. Aug 1, 2023
    10
    Underrated hitman game. A true classic. A bit hard to beat compared to today's games.
  16. Andreas
    Oct 1, 2009
    9
    This games is amazing. I remember playing it, and yes, it's hard, but that makes it even greater to finish. I love the story, the setting, and 47 himself. I don't understand the complaints about the missing save function, it made it even more genious! Yes, it was extremely frustrating to die right at the end, and having to start over, but it made everything far more intense andThis games is amazing. I remember playing it, and yes, it's hard, but that makes it even greater to finish. I love the story, the setting, and 47 himself. I don't understand the complaints about the missing save function, it made it even more genious! Yes, it was extremely frustrating to die right at the end, and having to start over, but it made everything far more intense and realistic. I am proud that Denmark has made something as great as this. I rate it 9. Expand
  17. AlT.
    Nov 16, 2001
    9
    Not a 10, because there is not a save the game option during the game.
  18. TomT.
    Mar 19, 2002
    9
    Very original.
  19. Jul 29, 2013
    9
    Excellent game! Be sure to start with this one before you play the rest in the series. I actually like it very much that you can't save during a level (they added this in Hitman 2 and later). This made for a very difficult game and it was fun! It kind of felt a real achievement to progress. To keep this feeling, I played it on the highest difficult in the rest of the series.
  20. Jan 23, 2018
    9
    Очень крутая идея, с различными вариациями прохождения одного и того же контракта на уровне, отлично воплощенная, сделала Хитмана 100% уникальным боевиком того времени.
  21. Sep 3, 2014
    9
    Fantastic stealth game for it's time. Full of innovative ideas and giving you the option to role play the Hitman perfectly, always having lots of ways how to achieve your objective, varied and exotic locations, different types of missions and especially really good stealth mechanics, disguises and 100% tension thanks to the design decision not to give you saving options. Well, after IFantastic stealth game for it's time. Full of innovative ideas and giving you the option to role play the Hitman perfectly, always having lots of ways how to achieve your objective, varied and exotic locations, different types of missions and especially really good stealth mechanics, disguises and 100% tension thanks to the design decision not to give you saving options. Well, after I finished the ame I found out that you supposedly are able to save once during each mission, ut I finished the entire game without a single save and that's what made it so captivating and memorable. The sense of achievement after the finished mission was huge, but so was the frustration when I had to repeat missions countless times, or when I died just before the end and had to go all over, but that's what made it great and that's why the first Hitman is by far the best in the series. All the ideas come from here and tension have never been so strong ever again. 9/10 Expand
  22. Mar 31, 2015
    9
    Very obscure game with fantastic atmosphere and great story! This game is quite amoral in a fun way! Playing a professional hitman is a thrill! Of course it's not supposed to be something just anyone could do, so expect to be in for a challenge.

    The game starts out with the best tutorial ever made. The reason is that it's not so much about the controls (like modern tutorials). here it
    Very obscure game with fantastic atmosphere and great story! This game is quite amoral in a fun way! Playing a professional hitman is a thrill! Of course it's not supposed to be something just anyone could do, so expect to be in for a challenge.

    The game starts out with the best tutorial ever made. The reason is that it's not so much about the controls (like modern tutorials). here it teaches you how the game works, shows you tactics and introduces you to the different weapons you have at your disposal. Exploring these options is extremely fun!

    The game itself has smart levels that require thinking, planning ahead and split second decision making. It's notoriously hard and any mistake can be punished mercilessly ... or if you're lucky you might be able to get away with it ... this time.

    Depending on how cleanly you succeeded you get more money as a reward. With that money you can buy better weapons for your missions or pay to clean up if you left too many bodies behind.

    The graphics and sound were very stylish and realistic for that time. Also the weapons and in game items are very realistic. Art design was very consistent and nothing feels out of place.
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  23. Apr 9, 2022
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. One of the most important games in genre Action. Very difficult and have amazing atmosphere.The game combines the killer simulation and very good and dinamic action. Recomended to everyone. Expand
  24. Apr 22, 2022
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. As the first installment to the Hitman franchise, this is a great game in itself. It is not for everyone, since its hard controls and stealthy nature could be unpleasent to play to some gamers. It is a great concept that would be further
    improved in its sequels. So why does it get a nine instead of a 10? The answer is simple: the difficulty curve. It starts a s a great game, but some of the mid levels get complicated without apparent reason and even though the levels have a great story, it still takes some of the fun from it. Hitman:Codename 47 9/10.
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  25. Aug 21, 2023
    9
    very good game for 2000.it's hard but its worth it after you beat it. I remember beating this game once and it was totally worth it. Beside all the bugs and glitches i give this game a 9/10.
  26. Freddy
    Jun 7, 2008
    8
    It had so many flaws once it was released that ratings here should be overstimated. But getting older, this game has earned value for the plot, the design (except the gruesome background) to take new chance.
  27. VladimirP.
    Jan 27, 2002
    8
    An amazing game, with OK graphics and very good sound. I love shooting everything in sight with an MP-5! They could have put in rocket launchers though...
  28. Oct 5, 2011
    8
    Yes the graphics were terrible, you can't save the game and some missions can be long and tedious, but I prefer the "work it out yourself" approach, which beats Blood Money's endless clues and hints on how to play the game. Sure, Codename 47 isn't interactive as such, but the arcade-style gameplay means you're not restricted. The game is punishing if you try shooting through everything-Yes the graphics were terrible, you can't save the game and some missions can be long and tedious, but I prefer the "work it out yourself" approach, which beats Blood Money's endless clues and hints on how to play the game. Sure, Codename 47 isn't interactive as such, but the arcade-style gameplay means you're not restricted. The game is punishing if you try shooting through everything- ublike Hitman 2- even on Normal difficulty. This Hitman feels a lot more exciting and more fun to play than other Hitmans. It certainly has its flaws, but because you can't save and the missions can be long, it's definitely the most rewarding than other games in the series. Expand
  29. Jan 5, 2022
    8
    This is such an incredible game, and I hate that it was never ported to console.
    The gameplay is incredible, and it really represents the best of stealth, but also offers numerous ways of completing each level with a ton of inventive options such as disguises, weapons or environmental interactions.
    Codename 47 also has an incredible plot that completely blindsided me the first time I
    This is such an incredible game, and I hate that it was never ported to console.
    The gameplay is incredible, and it really represents the best of stealth, but also offers numerous ways of completing each level with a ton of inventive options such as disguises, weapons or environmental interactions.
    Codename 47 also has an incredible plot that completely blindsided me the first time I played the game.

    I wish Codename 47 was ported to console as every other hitman game is on console, but there's no way to play codename47.
    The closest option for the console is Hitman Contracts which has some of the levels in but many of them are changed and not the same, and the plot is missing which is a major part of the game.
    Expand
  30. Oct 30, 2013
    8
    Ground-breaking idea for a game. Lots of different locals. Varied ways to finish missions (though the penalty for killing everyone is hardly strict enough to deter that from being the easiest/most used option). The check point saves are not the ideal saving feature (quick saving is needed). Also some secondary objectives are more ambiguos (or not even alluded to at all). Still a solid gameGround-breaking idea for a game. Lots of different locals. Varied ways to finish missions (though the penalty for killing everyone is hardly strict enough to deter that from being the easiest/most used option). The check point saves are not the ideal saving feature (quick saving is needed). Also some secondary objectives are more ambiguos (or not even alluded to at all). Still a solid game and great starting point for an awesome series. Expand
Metascore
73

Mixed or average reviews - based on 32 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 19 out of 32
  2. Negative: 1 out of 32
  1. 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.
  2. Daily Radar
    100
    One of the coolest and most absorbing games we've played all year.
  3. 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.