Hitman - Episode 2: Sapienza

 PlayStation 4
Metascore
84

Generally favorable reviews - based on 37 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 33 out of 37
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 37
  3. Negative: 0 out of 37
  1. Post Arcade (National Post)
    May 16, 2016
    70
    In the end, though, Hitman‘s second episode and the limited Elusive Target mode simply confirm my original impression of the franchise’s new episodic format: It hinders rather than helps the experience.
  2. Arcade Sushi
    Apr 29, 2016
    70
    Hitman -Sapienza doesn’t live up to the free-form assassination sandbox that the previous episode set up. The frustrating lack of freedom and save issues really hurt the experience however. Despite it being a better looking and ultimately more immersive setting than any of the first three missions, Sapienza falls flat in its mission structure.
  3. GameSpot
    Apr 28, 2016
    70
    The mediocre AI and animations return, as does the need to repeat the same old spy tricks, but they take a backseat this time around as Sapienza and its colorful denizens take center stage. Episode two doesn't fill your plate, but it's a satisfying experience nonetheless.
  5. Gameplanet
    May 4, 2016
    60
    Hitman: Sapienza is a great episode marred by server issues. Not everyone is having them, but if you are, you can't progress or access community or live content.

Awards & Rankings

36
#36 Best PS4 Game of 2016

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.0

Mixed or average reviews- based on 128 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 83 out of 128
  2. Mixed: 15 out of 128
  3. Negative: 30 out of 128
  1. Quink666
    Apr 28, 2016
    7
    So Episode 2 is a big step up from the Intro Pack!

    The map i slightly bigger and feels more alive. Some bugs have been fixed while others    So Episode 2 is a big step up from the Intro Pack!

    The map i slightly bigger and feels more alive. Some bugs have been fixed while others remained and a few new ones popped up as well, but none of them are game breaking.

    But i'm still annoyed about it being released in episodes. Sapienza takes about 2-3 hours to get lvl 20 mastery which is really not alot of gameplay for the price.

    7/10 Too much water!    … Full Review »
  2. SuperkenGaming
    Apr 27, 2016
    8
    Hitman Sapienza
    Potential greatness interrupted
    Hitman Episode 2 takes place in Italy, you’re tasked once again with taking out 2 targets    Hitman Sapienza
    Potential greatness interrupted
    Hitman Episode 2 takes place in Italy,
    you’re tasked once again with taking out 2 targets
    and you have plenty of opportunities to do so…
    You can poison a meal and wait for it to be served...
    Plant an explosive golf ball and wait for it to be teed off…
    get involved with an affair… among many other things
    this map in particular is fairly impressive compared to episode 1 and in the intro...
    this almost feels like an entire town, with meat shops. And ice cream parlors...
    a golf course...
    a cemetery...
    and an underground lab, which holds your primary objective of destroying a dna specific virus
    That being said, I found this map to be much more lifeless compared to Paris…
    while the world if full,
    it doesn’t really feel like anything is truly going on around you…
    your targets are just out in the world.. Either hunt them down or lure them to you…
    This is also the first time I played through an episode on online mode and ran into an issue that many will find frustrating...
    While playing, the game got disconnected...
    this disconnection forced me back to the main menu to continue...
    no big deal, I’ll just hop right back in and finish it offline right?
    Wrong
    you can’t play a file that was saved online while you play offline...
    so I had to pause my downloads and connect back in to finish this level…
    And this sucks because you’re practically punished for not playing online, because online play is the only way to level up your character and unlock new starting locations and weapons during the prep stage…
    Another new flaw highlighted for me is the story…
    I completely forgot what was going on and lost all interest and connection to the story thanks to decision to release this game episodically...
    one could argue that telltale games does a great job at getting away with this, and I would argue back, that no.. They don’t
    Episodic releases kill urgency and care unless the episodes are somewhat self-contained much like the walking dead season 1 episodes... rather than a small chunk of an overarching story like we see here
    much like every other episodic game
    While Hitman Sapienza is gorgeous and full of new things for you to do, and opportunities to play with…
    This episodic nonsense is getting in the way of what could potentially be an awesome story…
    I give Hitman Sapienza
    a 7.5/10    … Full Review »
  3. SeriousGameFan
    May 19, 2016
    0
    First of all, you have to ask why they are doing this sort of episodic release, when they plan to release a physical version down the lineFirst of all, you have to ask why they are doing this sort of episodic release, when they plan to release a physical version down the line anyway. The real reason is that all of us are beta testers for the game until the final product is done. And beta test we did -- servers go down constantly, framerate hitches on PS4, audio mix is not good, animations are stiff, etc. This game is not fully cooked. Yet they have the audacity to put the game on sale for us to fix the game for them. That in itself deserves low stars.

    The other egregious thing that this game requires a constant online connection, for you to keep XP Progress, complete challenges, and gain unlocks like the sniper, remote bomb, etc. The game as it is offline, is super gimped, and a shallow husk of a game. For what purpose does this serve? To datamine player's activities? The only reasonable thing that requires online are the Contracts and Elusive Targets, but the single-player main campaign does not need this. This knocks this game down to 1 star automatically.

    Players and fans of HITMAN alike have protested this and they have not heard or made any changes to accommodate. So if that is the case, then I do not recommend this game to you my friend. Pass on it and don't allow developers and publishers to set a precedent for always-online Internet connection.    … Full Review »
See all user reviews »