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5.3

Mixed or average reviews- based on 274 Ratings

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  1. Aug 17, 2023
    8
    This is a very good start to the Hitman trilogy with the massive Paris map and a few tight tutorial missions as well as introducing contracts.
  2. Jun 4, 2018
    6
    I'm going to focus on the game itself, and ignore the controversy surrounding the episodic release of this game.

    I'm reviewing "Hitman: Season 1" here since I can't seem to find a metacritic page for the Steelbook edition of season 1 that I bought. I should clarify that I'm a huge fan of the previous games. So, I "gave this game a chance" more than I would most games. Hitman: Season
    I'm going to focus on the game itself, and ignore the controversy surrounding the episodic release of this game.

    I'm reviewing "Hitman: Season 1" here since I can't seem to find a metacritic page for the Steelbook edition of season 1 that I bought.

    I should clarify that I'm a huge fan of the previous games. So, I "gave this game a chance" more than I would most games. Hitman: Season 1 advertises itself as more of a return-to-form than "Hitman: Absolution", the previous title in the series. While it IS true that this game is a more traditional Hitman game that the previous title, it's not as fun as before. If anything it will make you appreciate the gameplay changes that were made to Hitman: Absolution.

    (I'm going to be comparing this game to Absolution a lot, since it's the most logical game to compare it to)

    First of all the levels....they're huge and teeming with activity. This sounds like a positive aspect of the game, and in most games it would be, but somehow this works against the fun of this game. Mostly because more than any other Hitman game, you're surrounded by witnesses. In Absolution, most levels were sparsely populated. That is how it should be imho. In Hitman: Season 1, the levels are absolutely congested with people. It just makes the game that much harder (and dips the framerate too, if we're honest)

    Second of all, the combat. In previous incarnations of the Hitman series, if you found yourself in a tight jam or you got too frustrated with tailing a target you could use blunt force to beat the mission. You'd lose points for doing so, but the option was there. However, in Hitman: Season 1, Agent 47's health bar is tiny. I don't even think there IS a health bar. I'm guessing that they wanted to make the game as realistic as possible, but that was one of the ways they went too far with the realism. Another way was making the levels so densely populated that Agent 47 couldn't even sneeze without 18 people noticing.

    Another thing I should mention is the AI, which is again, way too realistic. In previous Hitman games the NPCs had varying levels of predictability and followed these scripted "paths", so the player would usually have a good idea of where certain guards/targets/civilians would be at what time. Knowing roughly where the enemies would be at what time did make the games a bit easier, but there was still some challenge there.

    In Hitman: Season 1, the non-target NPCs are far less predictable than any other Hitman game. Your target will have a somewhat predictable scripted path he'll take, but the other NPCs move at complete random. It just makes the game that much harder. Also making the game harder is the fact that you need certain tools to perform certain actions to kill your target. EXAMPLE: You see something that can drop on your target, you go to drop it (because it says DROP ITEM ON TARGET, etc) and it turns out you need a crowbar to do so. EXAMPLE 2: You walk over to poison your targets drink (because it says POISON DRINK) but you can't because you need poison to do it. This game really seems to love to tell you about the kills you could be making if you had the missing items.

    I'm kind of in a rush, so I'll try to sum up my feelings on this game in a paragraph.

    This game takes what made Hitman good, and **** it all up. The levels are too big, the AI too unpredictable and too eagle-eyed, the levels too crowded, there's no plot to speak of, and the frantic combat that ensued after a noisy or botched assassination attempt (which was so fun in the previous games) is just gone. This game is like a turd wrapped in gold--you think it's going to be a great Hitman game but then you realize it's just kind of **** And boring. This game is boring if you play it they way they want you to.

    EDIT: 6-4-2018 I should note that this is the game that made me finally decide to tell my PS4. Not that it would have been any better on xbone.
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  3. Feb 5, 2017
    8
    Although the tutorial missions are dull but you still have to complete them for the good cutscenes, Paris is a really good place to start. It is good that the game rewards creativity, although being creative takes you time and you have to be patient. "The Showstopper" is a good mission. The map has a 3 floor + basement museum, with almost every corner unique. It also has an outside area,Although the tutorial missions are dull but you still have to complete them for the good cutscenes, Paris is a really good place to start. It is good that the game rewards creativity, although being creative takes you time and you have to be patient. "The Showstopper" is a good mission. The map has a 3 floor + basement museum, with almost every corner unique. It also has an outside area, equal in length with combining 2 floors at least. A lots of disquises and opportunities, an average variety of weapons (due melee weapons having the same animations), all the silenced pistols sound the same. 2 targets to take down. Can get you a few times to actually complete it without anybody spotting you. (Game purchased pre February 2016, played at launch) Expand
  4. Dec 24, 2016
    3
    First and foremost, Hitman isn't a bad game by any means. It looks good, plays well, and is actually quite clever. However, the delivery is absurd. Episodic? Really? What this says to me is that someone pitched an idea of a full Hitman game to Square, and instead of jumping in they decided to dip their toe to test the water. If they don't believe in their own product, why should I?First and foremost, Hitman isn't a bad game by any means. It looks good, plays well, and is actually quite clever. However, the delivery is absurd. Episodic? Really? What this says to me is that someone pitched an idea of a full Hitman game to Square, and instead of jumping in they decided to dip their toe to test the water. If they don't believe in their own product, why should I? It is a f@#king CRIME that they will inevitably do this to Final Fantasy 7. A huge game that fit on a original PlayStation disc releases episodically on a PlayStation 4 Blu-Ray disc! I know you are here to find out whether Hitman is good or not, I'm sorry I just had to get that off my chest. Anyway Hitman does have it's moments and in it's defense you could get quite a bit out of one episode by trying an infinite number of ways to complete a mission. That said, with all the FULL AND COMPLETE games out or coming out this game will probably not be worth your time. Expand
  5. Dec 3, 2016
    0
    I used to love the Hitman series, but now with it being sold by episodes, I won't play it. I don't play episode games. Who in hell wants to pay for a game, to play for a few hours, then have to wait to pay again, and play for a few more hours. No thank you! If they ever pull their heads out of their arses and realize that this concept sucks and actually make a full game, I might thinkI used to love the Hitman series, but now with it being sold by episodes, I won't play it. I don't play episode games. Who in hell wants to pay for a game, to play for a few hours, then have to wait to pay again, and play for a few more hours. No thank you! If they ever pull their heads out of their arses and realize that this concept sucks and actually make a full game, I might think about purchasing it. As of now, they have lost a fan. Expand
  6. Jun 9, 2016
    4
    First of all I don't consider Hitman such a bad game, that I would never play it again. I just think it's kind of a disappointment, especially if you are a fan of the old games. There is so much wrong with this game that it's hard to enjoy the good stuff. I also don't understand the reason/justification for the "one episode every month" business model that they chose/invented, as it forcesFirst of all I don't consider Hitman such a bad game, that I would never play it again. I just think it's kind of a disappointment, especially if you are a fan of the old games. There is so much wrong with this game that it's hard to enjoy the good stuff. I also don't understand the reason/justification for the "one episode every month" business model that they chose/invented, as it forces the player to play the level over and over, something that would only appeal to hardcore players. Also another thing which I strangely haven't seen mentioned anywhere else is that you are in Paris or Italy (Episode 2) and nearly no one speaks the countries language. It ruins the whole environment they have build (with the nice graphics etc.) as every dialogue is in English. They didn't even consider foreign accents (the voice actors mostly have heavy British or American accents). Expand
  7. Jun 2, 2016
    6
    The only Hitman game I have played was Blood Money but I saw a bit of this on YouTube and it looks pretty decent but there is one thing wrong. Why is it an episodic release seriously this is a game about killing certain people and the adrenaline you get from finally killing your target is going to wear off before the next level is out. Also this is broken because attacking a guard suddenlyThe only Hitman game I have played was Blood Money but I saw a bit of this on YouTube and it looks pretty decent but there is one thing wrong. Why is it an episodic release seriously this is a game about killing certain people and the adrenaline you get from finally killing your target is going to wear off before the next level is out. Also this is broken because attacking a guard suddenly alerts EVERY guard in the level. Honestly just wait a year for the disc release Expand
  8. May 25, 2016
    0
    I will never play a game organised in small episodes like hitman .. It s ok to buy dlc but not every month .. the game is made to grab as many money as posible from the players ..
  9. Apr 26, 2016
    10
    Excellent, obviously the critics got this right! Not sure why most of the gamers are downing this, most are not about game play but just don't like the episode aspect. I like the fact I can work all day come home do a mission...episode or whatever and it has lasting long term game play..... smh
  10. Apr 13, 2016
    8
    i love hitman from begin but i disappointed for this game because for only one reason only one mission you can play. its not interesting at all only good point of this game is agent 47 and no more . from silent assassin io interactive cant make good game and now all element we love in hitman disappear like lovely maps lovely dark story huge mission with tone of level great music fromi love hitman from begin but i disappointed for this game because for only one reason only one mission you can play. its not interesting at all only good point of this game is agent 47 and no more . from silent assassin io interactive cant make good game and now all element we love in hitman disappear like lovely maps lovely dark story huge mission with tone of level great music from yeseper kyd and more.. man i miss hitman very lot i wanted play silent assassin and blood money again instead play this game ... Expand
  11. Apr 12, 2016
    8
    even for being episodic, this game has its technical achievements, mostly on the NPC's AI, the graphics, the choices, etc, it's so elegant, glad square-enix is the publisher on this on.
  12. Apr 9, 2016
    8
    I am probably the only person to say this but i actually enjoy the episodic thing thats going on purely because it keeps me going back replaying missions to complete them in as many ways as possible and the gameplay if you can get past the always connected thing is AMAZING
  13. Apr 6, 2016
    8
    It's good, I swear.
    Hitman is the reboot of the well-known franchise, and one of my favorite game series ever. The newest installment is surprisingly really good! The graphics are good, the stealth is tight, and a huge variety of ways to take out your target, from running in guns-a-blazing to taking out your target with nobody hearing the wind blow. It's a really good game, but the
    It's good, I swear.
    Hitman is the reboot of the well-known franchise, and one of my favorite game series ever. The newest installment is surprisingly really good! The graphics are good, the stealth is tight, and a huge variety of ways to take out your target, from running in guns-a-blazing to taking out your target with nobody hearing the wind blow. It's a really good game, but the current episode is very short, only having 3 missions. I think the only reason it's getting a low score here is that people don't seem to realize that this is an episodic game. The next episode will be out soon, so just be patient and there will be more to this game. It's a very short game for what it is at the moment, but what's already there is great. I love this game, and even after beating the episode, I keep coming back to it. Don't pass this one up, folks.

    Hitman gets a 7/10.
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  14. Apr 6, 2016
    8
    The Hitman franchise is pretty cool, i freaking love Hitman Absolution, so i was a bit disappointed with this one, while it is pretty good, it isn't as goods the previously mentioned Absolution, this game's AI is not very good and it has a very different tone, but its not bad at all, it has huge scenarios with lots of possibilities, and is overall an great experience!
  15. Mar 31, 2016
    4
    Hitman 2016. Where do I even begin.

    Pros: The devs have managed to bring back the open world feel of older hitman games before absolution. Graphics are nice and framerate is unlocked allowing 60 fps. Gunplay is solid. Cons: Episodic structure. Button promt gameplay (ex: no readying the fiber wire) Uninspired "modes". Lack of kill animations. Lack of weapon variety. NO
    Hitman 2016. Where do I even begin.

    Pros: The devs have managed to bring back the open world feel of older hitman games before absolution.
    Graphics are nice and framerate is unlocked allowing 60 fps.
    Gunplay is solid.

    Cons: Episodic structure.
    Button promt gameplay (ex: no readying the fiber wire)
    Uninspired "modes".
    Lack of kill animations.
    Lack of weapon variety.
    NO difficulty levels.
    Disconnecting/server issues.
    No human shield and other little things from other hitman games which gives us more freedom on how to play.

    Side note: Good job SE you've managed to turn me off comepletely due to Sapienza releasing DAMN NEAR may. Just release it on the LAST day of april why don't you, you might as well.
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  16. Mar 29, 2016
    10
    Although I dislike the episodic approach, this game offers so much variety and an experience unlike any other game on the market that this is a clear 10. would give 11 if it had dropped the episodic approach
  17. Mar 28, 2016
    7
    Only get 3 practice missions and one real mission. The missions are cool but I rather just have the full game now lol.
    I agree with other reviews that don't like only a little released at a time.
  18. Mar 27, 2016
    3
    A disastrous money-grab from Square Enix that sadly foreshadows the upcoming disaster that the Final Fantasy 7 Remake will be, given that it suffers from the same greedy and absolutely unnecessary episodic format.

    But let's review it as a standalone game. For those who have bought the 'Full Experience', I'm sorry for your wasted money basically - as if the rest of the episodes are of
    A disastrous money-grab from Square Enix that sadly foreshadows the upcoming disaster that the Final Fantasy 7 Remake will be, given that it suffers from the same greedy and absolutely unnecessary episodic format.

    But let's review it as a standalone game. For those who have bought the 'Full Experience', I'm sorry for your wasted money basically - as if the rest of the episodes are of this quality, you may as well as flushed your cash right down the drain.

    It's a mess. The core gameplay mechanic is basically a tutorial that you have to try very hard to fail, because the game holds your hand at every point. The game looks massive, but is in reality constrained, with Paris a tantalising but out of reach prospect. The graphics... passable. Story is very much "meh" for what we have, and who cares anyway as you'll only get a glimpse of it for the 45 minutes you'll play before the end. Sure, if you go for the full completion, you might get, say, 2 hours out of it, but there's no incentive to do so.

    Add to that completely unnecessary and consumer unfriendly DRM and you have yet another Square Enix turd on our hands.

    Yes, I admit I have a bias, as the whole core of me rejects the notion of episodic AAA gaming - I find it ludicrous. But if you judge it as a standalone title and ignore that facet completely, it's still a complete failure of a title.

    Oh, and once again, a message to the major review sites - shame, shame on you. For absolutely nobody to call this game out for what it is is a massive indictment on how rotten your journalism is.
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  19. Mar 24, 2016
    0
    Guys, I wrote a review and gave this game a 1. Spent a while writing it and didn't use any profanities. Metacritic deleted it so now I will reduce score to 0. You can't shut us up forever, an awful game will be known. If not on Metacritic then somewhere else. Guys, don't fall for this game. Watch on Youtube and decide for yourselves!!
  20. Mar 22, 2016
    0
    I am giving Hitman a zero due to it being another single player game released by Square Enix that requires its players to be always online. I really like the game, it's really enjoyable and fun. The problem is that I have a pretty terrible internet connection, so I end up not being able to play the game, since it won't allow me to save, unlock achieviement, play challenges and whatnot if II am giving Hitman a zero due to it being another single player game released by Square Enix that requires its players to be always online. I really like the game, it's really enjoyable and fun. The problem is that I have a pretty terrible internet connection, so I end up not being able to play the game, since it won't allow me to save, unlock achieviement, play challenges and whatnot if I am not online. In other words, I can't play the game!

    And this is not the first time this company won't let me enjoy a game I just both. Last year I got Just Cause 3, and it was a huge disappointment to me. Mostly because it sucked, but the always online requirement certainly didn't help. Hitman, on the other hand, I really liked, but I can't play it because I keep getting disconnected from the servers.

    So I'm not even frustrated anymore, I'm just sad Square Enix won't let me play this game properly and I'm pretty sure every other game released by the company will have this very same issue.

    This is a single player experience. My internet connection shouldn't be an issue here.
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  21. Mar 22, 2016
    0
    This is a protest 0/10 for the ALWAYS ONLINE DRM. Did I know about this before? No, but now you do.

    I don't mind the episodic release - why not, works for other games. But NO LOCAL SAVE FILE on a SINGLE PLAYER GAME?!?! If you're not online, you're not playing. Ha. I have a fast always-on internet LAN connection, and still get regularly kicked off SE's servers. The means: you get
    This is a protest 0/10 for the ALWAYS ONLINE DRM. Did I know about this before? No, but now you do.

    I don't mind the episodic release - why not, works for other games. But NO LOCAL SAVE FILE on a SINGLE PLAYER GAME?!?! If you're not online, you're not playing. Ha.

    I have a fast always-on internet LAN connection, and still get regularly kicked off SE's servers. The means: you get kicked back to the home screen. On a single player game. It also takes some time to reload - 90 seconds.

    If you try and play offline - no saves, no progress, no unlocks. Wow!

    I like the game, but as a paying customer, I do not like to be poked in the eye. I won't be buying any more episodes solely for this reason.
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  22. Mar 20, 2016
    2
    very nice cinematics in this game, the only part i liked in fact. gameplay and controls feel a little outdated/wooden. the shooter mechanics as well, and you cant play it like one because u will die very quickly if u do. AI is pretty bad, can be tricked easily. and the episode release format sucks big time, they should have released it all at once on disk.
  23. Mar 20, 2016
    0
    So you can buy full game now and play 1 mission per mounth, when it will be fini$hed and publi$hed...

    In addition you can play that nice singleplayer game ONLY online, in offline mode you can't unlock anything like weapons, inventory. spawn places, you can't play escalation mode... Of course contracts created by others require to be online and it's understandable, but what's the point
    So you can buy full game now and play 1 mission per mounth, when it will be fini$hed and publi$hed...

    In addition you can play that nice singleplayer game ONLY online, in offline mode you can't unlock anything like weapons, inventory. spawn places, you can't play escalation mode... Of course contracts created by others require to be online and it's understandable, but what's the point to block 90% of content...
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  24. Mar 19, 2016
    8
    Honestly, everyone is getting mad because it is episodic. But once you look past that this is a great episode and hopefully other levels can be this great.
  25. Mar 19, 2016
    5
    Absolution had ideas; like a good title that suggested an interesting continuation of this big franchise and it fulfilled that with some really cool stages but the first next gen release is simply a stripped down back to basics 'Hitman'. This first stage being a yuppie bash at a Parisian mansion where in an attempt by the developers to spice things up our Hitman takes a turn as some kindAbsolution had ideas; like a good title that suggested an interesting continuation of this big franchise and it fulfilled that with some really cool stages but the first next gen release is simply a stripped down back to basics 'Hitman'. This first stage being a yuppie bash at a Parisian mansion where in an attempt by the developers to spice things up our Hitman takes a turn as some kind of zoolander..... I dunno man it's some boring stuff that feels like a real step back to basics. Feels like the recycling of a franchise rather than a reinvention. Doesn't seem properly optimised at all, also its online menus are clunky and when it finally loads blacks are washed out shade of grey

    I suppose this is what they get for releasing episodically, beginning with a fairly bland and generic stage arrogantly titled 'The Showstopper' but then they charge €15 for this one stage probably knowing people will not be returning so that's a good 1/4 of the full game price secured at least.......
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  26. Mar 18, 2016
    0
    I'm playing in China where the connection is unstable and the government can randomly block connection. So I am playing the game and in the middle of the mission the connection is lost and I am kicked out to the main menu. Really? This is not an online game, why would yo do that? Don't buy this game. And I am not even talking about episodic system which is disgusting and overall sloppinessI'm playing in China where the connection is unstable and the government can randomly block connection. So I am playing the game and in the middle of the mission the connection is lost and I am kicked out to the main menu. Really? This is not an online game, why would yo do that? Don't buy this game. And I am not even talking about episodic system which is disgusting and overall sloppiness and slowness of menu and stuff. The last normal Hitman game was The Blood Money. I guess IO Interactive don't know how to make good games anymore. Expand
  27. Mar 17, 2016
    9
    The only bad reviews are about the buisness model... Can't believe it is considered as a review.

    This game is way better than absolution and feels a lot like the original Hitman. I'm loving every aspect of it.
  28. Mar 17, 2016
    10
    Hitman games have no equal. If you like the concept, buy it without hesitation.
    Incredible density of possibilities, these are fantastic sandbox levels. The intent is to case the joint and become a master of each sandbox; replayability abounds. Even the two prologue missions before the main Paris area are as deep as some old school Hitman missions.
    For only $15 I got to play some
    Hitman games have no equal. If you like the concept, buy it without hesitation.
    Incredible density of possibilities, these are fantastic sandbox levels. The intent is to case the joint and become a master of each sandbox; replayability abounds. Even the two prologue missions before the main Paris area are as deep as some old school Hitman missions.
    For only $15 I got to play some Hitman, sweet! I'm ok with episodic here, after last Hitman I would have been nervous to pay full price, but glad to say Hitman is back and better than ever.
    Want to feel like a master assassin? There's no better way.
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  29. Mar 17, 2016
    10
    It seems the majority of people are rating this game so poorly based on the fact that it is episodic. I am giving this rating based purely on the game, not the release schedule. The Paris mission is great, it is beautiful, huge with superb level design, the best disguise system in the series and it I feels the best to play. I am certainly looking forward to the next releases. I hope theyIt seems the majority of people are rating this game so poorly based on the fact that it is episodic. I am giving this rating based purely on the game, not the release schedule. The Paris mission is great, it is beautiful, huge with superb level design, the best disguise system in the series and it I feels the best to play. I am certainly looking forward to the next releases. I hope they keep up this quality. Expand
  30. Mar 16, 2016
    2
    I really don't know where to start with the game. I knew from the offset that i didn't like the whole episodic release model. I can't see the fun in playing 1 level over and over for over a month before they allow you to have another level. It becomes boring real quick and makes me get bored of the levels. I like all the levels on a disc to play through them as i please, you know, variety.I really don't know where to start with the game. I knew from the offset that i didn't like the whole episodic release model. I can't see the fun in playing 1 level over and over for over a month before they allow you to have another level. It becomes boring real quick and makes me get bored of the levels. I like all the levels on a disc to play through them as i please, you know, variety. You're not stuck with just 1 level. And i generally don't like downloadable games. I much prefer physical discs. Anyway, being a Hitman fan i purchased the intro pack to test the waters. And what a mistake that was! The game doesn't even work half the time. It freezes and crashes on the title screen and kicks you from the servers while playing. You can sink ages into the level only for it to kick you from the game and not save your progress, forcing you to start all over again. Then the developers, IO Interactive said that this game wouldn't require an internet connection to play it, that it wouldn't be an always online game. They made this clear. However, it IS an always online game and DOES require an internet connection to play the single player campaign. If you want to unlock weapons etc and keep them, you have to be connected to the internet! Yup, you cannot even used scoped weapons unless you have the game connected to the internet. Then the game doesn't even stay connected to the internet half the time. So, i feel really let down by the developers lies to sell this game and the entire download only and bizarre release model. I will be pursuing a full refund as the game simply isn't fit for purpose. After the disastrous Hitman Absolution, i really didn't think it could get any worse. But it has, it has gotten much worse. Io Interactive have gone from being one of the very best developers in the world, to one of the very worst. After years of buying their games. They have lost my custom for good. You don't lie to fans to take their money. Expand
Metascore
77

Generally favorable reviews - based on 69 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 50 out of 69
  2. Negative: 0 out of 69
  1. Games Master UK
    May 18, 2016
    83
    A perfectly formed bite of Hitman action, set in a rich location and full of murderous opportunity. [May 2016, p.68]
  2. Playstation Official Magazine UK
    May 8, 2016
    80
    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]
  3. Play UK
    Apr 22, 2016
    90
    Hitman strips the series back to its satisfying, and winning, formula. A few technical issues aren't enough to ruin a strong start to Agent 47's new episodic campaign. [Issue#268, p.68]