Hitman - Episode 4: Bangkok

Hitman is back on track with yet another solid episode so far, that swaps the size and scope of previous maps for a more intimate and gorgeous setting where you can check out any time you want, but you can never leave.

The series is back on form. Bangkok's the most challenging level so far (note the electronic locks that render 47's lockpick useless), but also the most rewarding. [Nov 2016, p.95]

Technical niggles aside, Bangkok is a confident return to form for Hitman's first season – after the characterless trudge through Marrakesh and the fun, but throwaway mid-season summer special episode. While Sapienza is still the undisputed highlight, Club 27's tight, multi-tiered design and wonderfully vile pair of targets show that IO Interactive isn't ready to rest on its laurels.

Bangkok feels naturally more immediate, more knowable, than Italian coastal towns or Swedish consulates, and it's dense and devious even if it doesn't quite hit the heights of Sapienza: that familiarity moves against it eventually, and for all its good work there's not quite the feeling of discovery as found before. But it is a delightful mission, in the way that smothering people in birthday cakes or hitting them, Torrance-style, in the chest with an axe ever can be.

Although the Hitman Bangkok mission isn’t as good as others, it’s still another solid entry into a well-crafted series -- providing stunning visuals and varied opportunities to kill.

Episode 4 might ultimately be more of the same, but this year’s episodic Hitman is the best the series has ever been, and I’m not complaining. However, with the United States and Japan chapters still to come before this season ends, I do hope IO Interactive has a few more tricks up its sleeve.

Bangkok offers the player even more possibilities and options when approaching the mission, putting Agent 47 in the most gorgeous setting so far. Small bugs are still present, unfortunately.

Bangkok is the weakest episode so far, but even Hitman at its weakest is still pretty good, grim fun.

Hitman Bangkok is less convincing than the previous two scenarios. The opportunities offers many solutions as always, but overall feelings are slightly lower than Sapienza or Marrakech.

It's a nice level, to be sure, but the formula's starting to grow stale. On top of that, the requirement to always be online is still annoying and the game's performance is far from perfect.

Quotation forthcoming.

Hitman: Episode 4 - Bangkok may be weaker than Sapienza, but by no means is it a bad addition. While the setting does feel a missed opportunity, the Himmapan Hotel is ripe with plenty of different kills, and the clandestine nature and harder difficulty makes it all the more interesting.

This new episode offers a huge place to explore and a nice challenge, even if the AI is still disappointing.

While it's a bit of a comedown in some respects, 'Hitman' remains an excellent game in its fourth episode, and I have no qualms with recommending the overall package at this point. Bangkok really shines on replay though, so the first run through ends up feeling like more of a warmup than anything else. The hotel does feel a bit too similar to the first mission in some respects, but IO still crams the episode with enough charm and fun that it ends up feeling worthwhile in spite of its faults.

In short, while the Himmapan level is nice to look at and chock full of things to do, it's held back by a lack of defining features linking it to Bangkok and lopsided mission design.

Where Bangkok mostly falters is the actual setting. It's less focused on Thailand and more on the "Himmapan luxury hotel," which doesn't really go far enough and frankly, isn't as luxurious as it claims.

There is fun to be had in Episode 4, but in the end it wasn’t a memorable gameplay experience.

Hitman – Episode 4: Bangkok has a lot of good going for it, but doesn’t quite live up to the excitement that has been established in the past.

Hitman’s fourth episode retains the foundations that have made IO’s assassination simulator an utter success, but it does come out the other side as the poorest offering so far.

After three wonderful Episodes of Hitman, IO Interactive drops the ball by delivering a chunk of content that's not nearly as thoughtful as what came before. But even if this installment comes off as a little disappointing, you should still get some enjoyment out of it if you enjoyed Agent 47's previous 2016 adventures.