Hitman - Intro Pack

A fantastic reboot that revitalizes an aging series wonderfully, the 'Hitman Intro Pack' is packed with personality, intelligence, and absolutely wonderful gameplay.

Square-Enix are off to an excellent start with the first episode of Hitman, the gameplay is challenging while remaining fun and creative. Occasional performance issues do little to spoil the experience, as the level of detail more than makes up for the framerate problems.

Hitman lives up to the legacy of the original games, and redeems the series from the lows of Hitman: Absolution by taking the series to new heights.

If you haven't yet entered the deadly world of Hitman, IO Interactive's newest installment makes for the most approachable take on the series yet. The amount of content may seem undersized for an episodic series, but the sheer amount of ways to approach each level will have you playing them over and over again to perfect the art of murder.

The periodic releases of smaller “target” events are a good way of keeping people’s interest in the game between episodes, but if server problems persist then those events will suffer the most. Still, the introductory episode of Hitman: Intro Pack - Paris makes a pretty strong first impression even when working with limited content.

The first Hitman episode makes us eager for more but Episode 1 provides enough replay value through its challenges to keep us satisfied till the second one comes out.

[There are] so many ways to take on this single mission, part of the fun will be seeing other players’ creative ways that they assassinate the targets. If you’ve ever wanted to play the part of a super agent in a large sandbox, this is as good as it gets. With a fairly robust content creation engine, and future missions promised throughout the coming year, it looks like Hitman will be the weapon of choice of stealth gamers for the foreseeable future.

A perfectly formed bite of Hitman action, set in a rich location and full of murderous opportunity. [May 2016, p.68]

Hitman’s improved world, which includes smarter NPCs and versatile ways to complete goals, has brought the series onto a higher level of entertainment. Definitely worth a go.

It's the proper evolution of the genre, plain and simple. Unfortunately, I'm not sure episodic was the way to go. Due to the repetitious nature of the gameplay and the lack of a cohesive story, one episode seems too small of an introduction, and the user-generated Contracts do little out of the gate to enhance the appeal. When all is said and done, though, this is gonna be an excellent adventure.

Future levels offer better value for money, but this Intro Pack is a confident first chapter containing the ultimate Hitman experience. Scrub Absolution's nightmares - the series is back to its prime. [May 2016, p.84]

It’s essentially just a prologue, albeit an especially good one. The playground offers clever design combined with great variety for assassination opportunities, which will surely satisfy hardcore Hitman fans. However, the nature of this unconventional episodic approach creates the feeling that the overall content is too small and the wait for the next episode too long.

Despite the lack of content, Hitman is a joy to play. Fluent game mechanics create a sturdy foundation on which IO may build the best game of the series. At the moment, though, it’s just a promising start. [Apr 2016]

The new iteration of Hitman is a veritable playground with plenty of ways to reach the target.

After a decade of uncertainty, and one sizeable misstep, Hitman 2016 is a triumphant course correction for a beloved franchise. Purely in terms of gameplay, this is perhaps the best the series has ever been. What matters now is how IOI handles the remaining episodes, and whether they can iron out the smaller technical problems.

Hitman: Episode One represents a magnificent return to form for the franchise.

A strong start for Agent 47 that will have old-school fans in their element as they experiment with murder, although a few technical challenges still need to be taken out back and introduced to some piano wires around the throat.

The Hitman franchise seems to be going in the right direction. The loading times are annoying, but the gameplay is an ideal mixture of stealth, puzzle and adventure.

Regardless of whether or not you're a fan of the series, the game will have the piano wire around your neck before you know it.

The ideal love child between Blood Money and Absolution, the first episode of Hitman is unnecessarily hampered by its episodic nature. It's good, but it's also over before you know it.

IO Interactive has created a solid base to build on in further episodes of Hitman and hopefully they can address the problems found in the intro pack.

Gamers who love stealth gameplay and freedom of choice should definitely give the new-and-improved Agent 47 a chance.

Ultimately, Hitman’s current mileage is going to vary depending on your openness to experimentation. But as a statement of IO’s intent with this reboot, this is a confident first episode that invites you into the flashy world of murder with one of the most sumptuous, devilishly delightful levels ever seen in a Hitman game. Time will tell whether the subsequent packs will allow Hitman to regain its once-revered status, but this is a fantastic start.

Hitman is a great game, one of the best in series. Even one episode lasts for hours, if we don't mind coming back to the same location. Episodic formula will be a disappointment for players interesting in back to back mission on different maps.

The tone has been set for the first season of Hitman. De gameplay feels familiar plays better than any other Hitman game. The concept of releasing the game in episodes is new, and we'll have to see how things work out but episode one is definitely a good start. Some could say the amount of content is a bit scarce, with only one fundamental level, but that doesn't take away the fact that there's plenty to do in Hitman.

The level in Paris is the promise for a bright future… right now the structure of the game is solid, but the game lacks some content.

The first episode of Hitman is a solid starting point for the full game content, which is Contract-driven, with each environment focusing on a single mission with multiple objectives. This is a solid structure for the franchise, even if it's a little jarring to finish the first mission and realize you have to wait for the rest of what would have been released as a complete title. I find myself more excited for what the game will be, when there's more content, than what it currently is.

A strong foundation is there. This game is the most authentic Hitman experience and it will ask you to become intimately familiar with each level. It is something that will test your patience, intelligence and skills, and when you put it all together will reward you greatly for it.

The first episode of the return of the most lethal assassin of videogames returns to the roots of the series with great gameplay mechanics. It's a shame that this experience comes in separate episodes without a real reason.

The first episode of this new Hitman experience reflects many of the key elements of the series. Good stealth features and great emphasis on creativity place it on the right path. Even tough the narrative side will be verified with upcoming chapters.

So far, Hitman feels like the perfect blend of Absolution and Blood Money; the accessibility and polish of the former, but with the same approach to level design and characterisation as the latter. It looks fantastic and the frame rate even holds up during the busiest scenes on PS4.

Hitman returns to its puzzle-solving roots with an engrossing mix of stealth, violence, and very clever level design.

Hitman's first episode is a hugely detailed and beautifully made stealth experience with hours of potential. However, be wary if you're not up for replaying the same level to get all it has to offer.

This first episode strikes a fine balance between accessibility and pleasing long term fans to make this the finest slice of Hitman since Blood Money. Some technical issues do sadly mar an otherwise superb start to Agent 47’s latest.

Buy it at the right time and you won't be disappointed, especially if you're a completionist. This is Hitman done right.

Hitman's buzzword is freedom. There are so many things to do – and so many ways to do them – that you'll never have to persevere to find something fun to do. It's all in front of you: a bloody, disturbing playground rife with opportunity. The trial and error gameplay brings back memories of older Hitman titles, while new ideas such as the excellent Escalation mode keep things fresh. Simply put, the Intro Pack is a great buy for old fans and new blood alike – there aren't many stealth games of this calibre.

There’s certainly enough here to whet anyone’s appetite, allowing IO to turn present future updates as mini-events, maintaining a constant buzz among fans throughout the year. That said, there are some minor imperfections that bring Hitman down a peg or two.

Despite its failings, Hitman's first episode offers hours of classic play before you even consider the secondary targets, time-limited contracts, and the prologue, which features a smaller yet feature-complete training mission. What's here represents a strong start, and a fine return to the more traditional Hitman play that fans have been clamouring for. Elsewhere, it needs to improve.

The more I've played Hitman’s debut “episode” the more I've enjoyed it. Despite the often boneheaded AI and dire loading times, Hitman has definitely combined the best of both worlds. There’s scope for it to improve in some areas as the levels are released throughout the year but this is a fun, confident start.

It's a bold move from IO Interactive. It inherits some of the mechanics of its predecessor, but it grows as a pure sandbox, and the fans of old will love that. The episodic formula is still to be tested, but this first chapter is quite encouraging.

I'm still not entirely sold on the way Hitman is being sold, in an episodic package that will open up over the next few months. Regardless, the game is off to a great start thus far, despite minor glitches and drab conversations. Agent 47 continues to be a master of his killing skills, and the first stage of the game, along with the escalation mode and Contracts, really give you a better idea of what's ahead. This is one assassination you'll want to see through to the end.

When you're playing and engaged, Hitman is a thoughtful, well-paced, and beautiful introduction to what should be an incredible multi-part adventure. It's hard to imagine how Square Enix and IO could possibly screw up something this good.

Agent 47 is always a charismatic character, and this first episode offers a lot of opportunities to the player willing to seize them. Sadly, the most dangerous enemies of the bold assassin are a poor technical execution and a buggy interface.

It’s a bummer when you are first getting familiar with a level and have to repeatedly reload after dying. I have rage quit a couple times from this alone. Most people won’t’ let this affect them and in their case, you’re likely to have a good time with Hitman.

Despite my complaints, this first installment of Hitman shows that IO seems committed to bringing the series back to the sort of rich, complex gameplay it's known for.

Hitman Intro Pack is a good start but we didn't like Hitman's new episodic approach. However it comes with the risk of reducing the perceived value of the Hitman franchise. But if we're talking about gameplay mechanics, Hitman nails it. You can play a mission over and over without getting bored at all.

This might be a game best suited for mobile devices, but Hitman GO: Definitive Edition shows how good a title like this could be enjoyed con consoles, PC or PS Vita. Its challenging puzzles and art style give the players a reason to keep playing till the very end.

It's hard to get a definitive idea about HITMAN. On one side we see an episodic game plagued by server problems and a sketchy optimisation on PC, on the other it may well be the best opus from the IP since Blood Money.

Hitman is a very refreshing game, with enough gameplay elements to replay the same mission all day. The freedom to make and try anything you want is really addictive but, in the end, it fails to offer enough content to make us play it more than a week.

Hitman is off to a good start, but the ridiculous load times and the always-online issues bring down an otherwise impressive entry in the Hitman series.

The price and the fact that it's focused on replayability might be reasonable for some, but it still feels like an unfinished product. If you can't wait, at least you'll get a taste of Hitman.

The premise remains the same as in previous games: select a target, decide how to do it and do it. Being only the first chapter of this new release, it is early to draw conclusions, but it’s true that we expected more. Hitman does well in its strong aspects, but it is spoiled by flaws that should be polished in the near future.

Hitman’s pioneer episode does right by the Hitman name. Dozens of challenges and user-generated assassinations offer untold hours of replay value, even when the exotic sounds and sights of Paris lose their allure.

We're yet to see whether the whole experience will be on par with the rest of the series. So far, new Hitman offers the familiar style and atmosphere, large levels with numerous routes, but also a plethora of strange glitches and bugs.

Overall, Hitman is what you make of it; if you want a fast play through, then chapter one isn’t going to keep you busy for long. However, if you’re curious or meticulous by nature and want to carry out and experience different techniques to assassinate various targets, then you will get a decent amount of playtime from the tutorials and the first mission alone.

Plenty of promise, but this game is going to require some decent updates over the coming months.

A lovely but not flawless start. With some familiar elements and new additions that can make it feel quite fresh, this first episode shows some great potential, in terms of possibilities and challenges, for what's to come. But beware of its awkward AI and loading times that can really, really be boring. Some things never change, one would say.

The Hitman Intro Pack convinces but not surprises. Its lack of newness and recycling of gameplay mechanics is offset by the large number of hours of play and replayability.

The load times on PS4 are terrible.

Hitman's a veritable playground that will delight you with its open-ended design, comical NPCs, and contract creation tools. These qualities, and the flexibility to be as hardcore or laid back as you want, are much appreciated, even if they don't disguise Hitman's lesser qualities.

Hitman feels like a typical big-budget game that’s been fragmented solely to more easily fund its middle and end bits. Whether this is in fact the case matters little. That’s the way it comes off. Even if the rest of the episodes deliver levels on par with the excellent Paris mansion mission, separating them by weeks or months dilutes the experience and diminishes the already spotty narrative.

I am personally disappointed that Hitman doesn't have anything unique about it any more. The lifeless main character keeps on moving through crowds, changing disguises for an eternity and then thinking of interesting ways to polishing someone off.

The Hitman Intro Pack is satisfying to play, there just isn't enough of it. This ought to be rectified by the second episode next month, and by then its servers should be stable as well.

Although Hitman brings some new features, it is still targeting the hardcore fans of the series. When you forgive its technical problems, other issues and devious AI, you will get an experience very similar to Blood Money. So far the game is for the core fans of the series only.

These little things, more annoyances than dealbreakers, hold back the Hitman experience just slightly, but the core gameplay remains top-notch. And that's why the episode released is equal parts frustrating and brilliant: You're left wanting more.

The short cutscenes that bookend the level do little to set up the overarching narrative, and would be forgettable even if you didn't have to wait a month for the next few minutes of story. This simply isn't enough, even for devoted fans like me. I'm still optimistic that Hitman will end up being a good game, but you very well may have to wait for the full bundle in January to play it.

The biggest problem, though, is situated in the systems outside of the gameplay. Load times are just horrendous while the forced online functionality had us kicked back to the main menu numerous times, something that shouldn’t occur in a single-player centric release such as this. It’s these various setbacks and the short experience of the first episode that make it difficult to recommend Hitman as it is. Things could get better in the future, but the opening to Hitman is a rough one.