Hitman 2

No other game this year celebrates or rewards player agency like Hitman 2. This isn’t a summer blockbuster that relegates its coolest moments to the cinematics. Yes, most deaths will be shown with an abrupt cutscene, but it’s you that causes them. You’ll never see a target die and wonder how it happened. In all cases you’re the sole orchestrator of doom, and it’s a genuinely empowering feeling.

When a game rewards players for having fun and being creative, there’s little to be unhappy about. Hitman 2 offers that in spades and promises further additions and events down the line. And even after all those targets have been pushed off this mortal coil, I dare you to dive back in and complete every challenge the game has, you won’t be bored.

That’s the heart of Hitman: giving players the power to create their own stories. And that’s as big and powerful as ever in Hitman 2. So I don’t care if it’s not the newest thing in the world. It’s still one of the most solid and rewarding games you can get. And it’s an ideal antidote to games that are more obsessed with looking immersive than playing great.

Hitman 2 stays true to the series foundations, while also building on the core systems that make its unique stealth gameplay peerless. Some minor story stumbles do little to hold the game back from being the most refined entry in the series to date.

Hitman 2 feels like a macabre collection of dominos falling and eventually toppling one final piece in a gloriously “accidental” death that can best be summed up as an act of god when the dust has settled. A game that’s more about the journey than the destination, Hitman 2 is lengthy, gruesomely charming and still hiding plenty of secrets up its immaculately dressed sleeves.

Hitman 2 is suave, amusing, and delightfully silly. It has all the blockbuster sensibilities and refinements, but a willingness to be different and, critically, laugh at itself. And, like I said at the start of this review, it doesn't treat its players like idiots. There's no forced path or endless pile of hints to the point that the game almost plays itself. Hitman 2 lets you play your own way, and it's all the more rewarding as a result.

Hitman 2 continues the fun assassination sandbox gameplay that was in the reboot, with scant few details changed in the single-player campaign. The levels on offer are some of the largest, and certainly the most detailed for the Hitman franchise. Cutscenes may disappoint, but Agent 47 hasn’t been slacking at the job. He now has more options at his disposal than ever before.

Hitman 2 is an absolute masterpiece of emergent, sandbox game design. Retaining all the key elements of the 2016 original, developer IO Interactive has instead restricted itself to a handful of minute but important changes. Streamlining the overall experience and producing what is, hands down, one of 2018’s most entertaining and satisfying titles.

With limited-time elusive targets being added over time, and user-created hits, Hitman 2 is a platform that should have more to come. What’s here is superb but we’re already asking “what’s next?” [Issue#156, p.80]

Masterfully crafted and impeccably designed, Hitman 2 is quite possibly the most excellent stealth title of our times and overall a perfect example of what a good single-player videogame must be. That it is also quite generous with its content is a wonderful bonus.

I just really, really want to play more.

As it is in life, perception and consideration go a very long way here, and players who are willing to put in the proper amount of time and effort will see just how perplexing, engaging, and rewarding stealth action games can be. Hitman 2 will undoubtedly serve to define the stealth genre for years to come, and I can't wait to see where IO Interactive takes the series next.

Hitman 2 is the series at its very best — players can play with a razor sharp edge and cut surgically through a level or take a blunt approach and make hilariously bad decisions and deal with the brutal outcome.

Hitman 2 may just be more Hitman, but it's somehow even better than before. The levels are all fantastic, the assassinations possible are all clever (and silly), the satirical writing is at its best. The assassination sandbox has never been more satisfying, and its slight technical hiccups and lackluster multiplayer do little to hold back the baldest assassin of them all. Even in your sixth or so time prancing through a map, you're bound to discover a new opportunity, or a new potentially-weaponized surprise, around the corner.

Even if the lavish detail, excellent writing, and world of possibility within vivid levels mostly just refine what came before, that’s because IO Interactive have all but perfected what they set out to achieve in Hitman: Codename 47 nearly 20 years ago.

Hitman 2 is for people who liked the episodic Hitman and wanted to see maps that were more even and consistent, have access to additional equipment for Agent 47, and generally get more of what they wanted. It does have some issues where it can feel disjointed, but this is really most noticeable in the campaign and will not be an issue for folks who want to take on contracts, hunt down Elusive Targets, complete challenges, and learn everything they need to know about each of the locations in the game. The Ghost Mode has potential for those who feel like they are going to put upwards of 30 hours into it, but I feel like it could be a while before Sniper Assassin hits its peek. If you are an Agent 47 fan, it is time to grab your briefcase and put on your suit again.

Hitman 2 is exactly like Hitman, but better. The more-of-the-same feeling is strong, but IO Interactive delivers an interesting and well-crafted experience that makes this new evolution in Agent 47's life feel like the natural progression in this franchise.

Hitman 2 is not leaps and bounds better or even different than its predecessor, as it feels less like a sequel and more like the second season. However, it manages to hit the mark where it truly matters with expansive level designs and a wealth of gameplay options that makes playing through the same missions multiple times consistently fun but feel different every time.

The game does justice to the franchise by not changing any of the mechanics that made it so loved by fans, while allowing you to delve deeper into the protagonists murky past. The new missions, game modes, and replayability will have you glued to your console for hours on end, and when you'll finally earn that last achievement, you'll still feel like playing some more!

A bit pricey to say it lists half of its own contents as DLC, but if you already own HITMAN and want more of that, then HITMAN 2 is perfect for you.

The new missions in Hitman 2 are so amazing that we forget about the lack of big gameplay changes. The maps are complex, huge and offer lots of variety: a lot better than its predecessor.

Hitman 2 left behind its past as an episodic videogame and gives the players everything they wanted: a bigger world and a lot more of fun. Hundreds of costumes, weapons and several paths to follow in order to offer total freedom to commit the perfect assassination. Agent 47 has returned armed with hours and hours of content. It’s weird to say that being hired assassin is fun, but IO Interactive and Warner Bros. Interactive just made me confess.

Hitman 2 feels more like a second season rather than a sequel, but that’s not a bad thing at all. It is bigger, better and more complex, and offers even more possibilities for fans of stealth games.

Overall, Hitman 2 is a benchmark title in the stealth genre, taking the classic Hitman formula and making it better than ever. With new mechanics, locations, game modes, live content updates, and more, Hitman 2 is truly keeping to their World of Assassination. Whether you are a fledgling assassin or an experienced one, Hitman 2 is exactly what you need it to be with its seemingly endless customization options to tailor the game to your liking.

Hitman 2 manages to get back the essence of the franchise after a prior entry that left a lot of doubts. Hitman 2 is an excellent game where stealth is rewarded over wild gunfire.

With Hitman 2, IO Interactive didn’t take much risk. The team simply and smartly refined its formula, rubbing away some of the first game’s flaws. And it works: Hitman 2 is a generous and fun game.

Hitman 2 is everything I wanted after the preceeding episode. More creative, more imposing, even if the basic structure remains very similar.

All in all, Hitman 2 is the series at its best without shooting for the stars. It's an incremental update to a working formula that is fun to play, but it can sometimes feel underwhelming. Based on its level design and gameplay opportunities alone, Hitman 2 is one of the best entries in the series — and that's all you need to know if you're a fan of the franchise.

Hitman 2 offers stellar stealth gameplay that lets you complete your goals in countless entertaining ways. The additional modes expand on this fun formula and I look forward to seeing more maps become available. In short, this is a must-buy game for genre fans.

Hitman 2 is bigger and better than its predecessor in every way, which means there aren't many surprises, but also means more action, more stealth, even more ways to assassinate targets and more fun.

Some problems with AI are still evident, but the creative freedom you enjoy while trying to figure out ways to eliminate your targets is something else.

A killer sandbox that is hurt by repetitiveness and linear approach in levels. But once you manage to use your imagination, you’ll start enjoying the game, worthy of agent 47. [Issue#292]

Building on the foundations of the 2016 game, Hitman 2 is full of the best Hitman stealth action yet. Yes, it’s evolutionary in some ways, and you have to accept the series’ idiosyncratic take on the genre, but there’s space for it to keep growing with the return of Escalation missions and continuing Elusive Contracts. Whether you’re a blackmailing pink flamingo he satisfaction of an expertly planned and executed hit is like nothing else.

If not for the weak story, we'd hardly have anything negative to say about this one. Hitman 2 surprises with an absurd number of kill options, that keep the game interesting to play for what almost literally amounts to forever.

Each mission in Hitman 2 is a treasure trove of wonderful emergent gameplay, excellent satirical writing, and lashings of delicious, jet-black humour. The targets you'll hunt are almost universally rotters which thankfully takes care of any lingering moral quandaries you may have about their imminent demise. It's better that way. We really don't want to feel bad about tinkering with an old man's oxygen tank so it blows up and kills him when he sparks up a cigarette, do we?

Hitman 2's locations cover almost as much exotic ground as those in the first game, from a high-tech Miami speedway to a drug cartel's jungle compound, suburban Anytown USA and a secret island meeting of billionaires who not-so-secretly run the world.

In creating a scoundrel of our choosing, we might actually end up learning a little bit about ourselves.

Considering IO Interactive’s plans for Hitman reboot from day one, Hitman 2 is more like a second season for the 2016 title rather than a new Hitman experience. If you accept this fact, and if you liked the 2016 title, then you’ll enjoy Hitman 2, as it’ll present you with tons of freedom within very well-designed levels.

Right from the very first moments, Hitman 2 is a massive experience. Landscapes are gorgeous playgrounds for chasing objectives and the variety of tools and weapons at your disposal feels endless. Completing all the story missions is just scraping the surface of Hitman 2’s potential as it demands more finesse in your following visits, and shows promise for the future with its current roadmap. Hitman 2 takes everything we enjoyed from Hitman and improves on it, bringing forth the ultimate assassination game.

The freedom to plan and execute a variety of insane kill fantasies makes for missions that are fun and original even after multiple playthroughs. Hitman 2 is a wonderfully designed, enjoyable, and rewarding stealth sandbox that’ll only continue to develop.

Where many games work to put players in a constant state of distraction, rushing around in an often vain attempt to see everything they offer, Hitman 2 has the confidence to let you stand still, to sample the wine and drink in the atmosphere as you plan your next tiny-yet-devastating move. Indeed, no other action game encourages players to think about how to minimise their violence, and for that alone Hitman 2 stands out among the less mindful killing of its peers.

Hitman 2 tries to play it safe as a sequel, but since these games have no real competition and offer lots of fun, it shouldn't be considered a flaw. The new game caters mostly to the fans of the series and deliverers exactly the type of gameplay they want.

Suffice it to say, if all the stabbing, choking, and hippo-mauling is your kind of fun, Hitman 2 is the most Hitman there ever were, for better or worse. Its story, while plain, serves its purpose without getting in the way, and you’ll be able to stretch the murdering on for weeks to come, despite what few innovations there are being minor. There’s just nothing quite like Hitman, a series that defies everything we’ve learned about modern game business.

Hitman 2 adds enough minor improvements to set it apart from its predecessor. Complex, intricate locations are rewarding to explore, while pulling off the perfect assassination remains one of the highlights of the stealth genre. In the coming weeks, Sean Bean will play the role of an elusive target, and hopefully, Ghost Mode will expand on its promising premise. A few uninspired locations and cliché targets hold back the proceedings, but Hitman 2 hits the mark.

It feels a lot like the second half of the same season, rather than a true sequel, but Hitman 2 is still a beautifully crafted stealth game that’s full of character.

Hitman 2 is a pretty safe bet from IO Interactive, giving us a solid new game of the series that doesn't create anything new.

Hitman 2 doesn’t break too much new ground for the series, for in many respects it can be viewed as Hitman: Season Two. Nevertheless, IO Interactive has brought a bevy of remarkable updates to the table that make the sequel a worthy successor to the game that came before it.

Like Agent 47 himself, Hitman 2 doesn’t take a lot of chances – instead it continues honing its underlying formula to a deadly precision. A part of me still longs for the smaller and more digestible maps of the older games, but I can’t argue with IO’s execution here – the levels, and memorable assassination opportunities they hold, are worth the investment.

Hitman 2 works more like a season 2 for the last iteration than like an entirely new entry in the series. Although its a follow-up that doesn’t disappoint.

I don't even need the Sean Bean and company timed challenges or the promising now-in-beta Ghost Mode: just keep giving me more maps and I'll keep playing.

Hitman 2 is the proper evolution to the Hitman formula. It may not be a monumental step forward for the franchise, but the number of features and adjustments that are made only help create a more gratifying and highly-captivating experience.

Hitman 2 is another contract in the same mold as the last, but like that bomb I placed into one of the target’s prized cars, it still knows how to be surprising when it counts.

Hitman 2 delivers a quality continuation of what the previous game started. The maps are bigger, more complex and offers tons of replayability. What the game lacks in story it makes up for with sheer joy in both exploration and dumb ways to take out your target. Technically the game doesn't deliver nearly as well, with the frame rate taking a hit when there is a lot going on on the screen.

Hitman 2 is a natural evolution of the first chapter: a solid and fun stealth game, which provides a lot of possibilities to the players.

Hitman 2 is a familiar experience, but in the Hitman world, familiarity is an incredible strength.

IO Interactive knows very well that bigger doesn't always mean better and worked to merge wider levels with clever approaches. This is what defines Htiman 2.

While Hitman 2 uses most of its predecessor's mechanics, it also carries over its strong points (replayability, freedom, and a solid gameplay) but also all the drawbacks like the dated graphics engine, or the cut-scenes made out of slideshows.

Hitman 2 delivers an intense, compelling experience that pushes the boundaries of the stealth genre, packed with huge, wonderfully crafted maps.

Hitman 2 is yet another well-executed entry in IO Interactive’s killer franchise. The game lacks some of the refinement expected of a world-class assassin, but the top-notch level design and some small, but key improvements to the series’ core mechanics more than make up for a few presentation and polish issues. Hitman 2 isn’t quite the shot to the heart it could have been, but it’s close enough to count.

Hitman 2 is a good game, only with a small amount of content. The core experience of assassination is still there, and even become more attractive. But it is too much like the Hitman released in 2016, and there are only 6 maps which do not satisfy me.

Hitman 2 doesn’t add much of note to the structure of its predecessor and thus feels more like Hitman 1.5 than a full-blown sequel. But that’s not a bad thing. By offering more of the deepest, fullest stealth sandboxes in gaming in one single package rather than six episodic ones, it earns its keep. The inclusion of Hitman (2016) is a bonus for those that didn’t catch the reboot initially. Here’s hoping they put more effort into the plot next time.

Hitman 2 follows the 2016 game in almost every aspect. It looks and feels pretty similar, which is nothing less than a good thing, concerning the quality of the first game. For now, we should ask for nothing more, but let us hope a new installation brings yet another evolution to the table.

Hitman 2 does not offer the quality of the 2016 reboot. It is an exciting and challenging stealth game though.

In broad strokes, Hitman 2 does the same as its predecessor, albeit with some small improvements and extras, but it isn't as well balanced and has a cheaper feel to it. The patient Hitman-fan will get a lot of excitement and fun out of most of Hitman 2's locations, but this surely won't attract a lot of new players and it doesn't take the franchise to the next level. Luckily the 'I love it when a plan comes together' feeling of it all is still intact.

It is a decent addition to the franchise, but Hitman 2 feels more like an expansion of the original game rather than a true sequel that pushes forward what IO Interactive did in 2016 and 2017.

The quirks of what seem to be a last-minute rush out the door development strategy don’t detract from the fact that each Hitman 2 level is wonderfully crafted and full of potential for inventiveness… and silliness.

Hitman 2 doesn't try to revolutionize the formula of the previous game. And it's totally acceptable as it is still efficient. There's a lot things to do/observe/infiltrate/kill/hide/use in each huge and beautiful level, and it is indeed a great assassin simulation, even if the game has not many things more to offer in terms of gameplay compared to its predecessor, and feels a bit like a "1.5 version". Accept its rules and you will be pleased, for a long time.

Everything that makes Hitman 2 a good game, also makes it a boring one. You still have the ability to be anything you'd want to be - a silent, smart assassin who can forge anything in this world into his weapon, or an assassin that likes to leave some mess behind him and run away. The absurd part is, despite the endless opportunities to advance and complete your tasks, every mission feels the same, and you can't play 2 missions in a row without having to catch a break or go back to whatever else you have to play. Hitman 2 proves that even creativity could be boring, which is truly a remarkable accomplishment.