Hitman - Episode 2: Sapienza

 Xbox One
Metascore
79

Generally favorable reviews - based on 7 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 7
  3. Negative: 0 out of 7
  1. IGN
    Apr 29, 2016
    85
    Hitman Episode 2: Sapienza is a fantastic follow-up to the promising first episode; huge, bursting with deadly promise, and begging for many, many playthroughs.
  2. ICXM
    Apr 27, 2016
    85
    The second episode of Hitman pushes the game to new heights. It features vast open-world-like exploration, intel gathering, and best of all, beautiful scenery. If you liked the previous episode, you’ll like this one even more. I hope IO Interactive can top this because they've raised the bar considerably.
  3. Windows Central
    May 25, 2016
    80
    While the core gameplay of the latest episode is almost unchanged, the content introduced in Hitman's second episode is the best to date. Sapienza's level design is a commendable effort, improving upon the game's Paris level in almost every way. If you're still unimpressed by the new direction of the Hitman series, Sapienza is a perfect chance to revisit the world of assassination.
  5. DarkStation
    May 9, 2016
    80
    Hitman Episode 2: Sapienza builds on the first episode in just about every way. The dense multi-layered map, creative assassination opportunities, and an overall better performance makes this easily the best episode of the two so far.
  6. GamingTrend
    Apr 27, 2016
    80
    Hitman’s second episode leaves me far more optimistic for the game than its first episode did. A large, sprawling level ripe with exploration opportunities, Sapienza is a far better destination than Paris. That being said, technical issues still hinder the game from being something better.
  7. Pure Xbox
    May 12, 2016
    70
    Overall, we can recommend a second dive into Agent 47's murky world.
  8. Attack of the Fanboy
    Apr 26, 2016
    60
    As it stands, Sapienza is a step down from the original release. There's far less story in this second helping to really keep you engaged for the coming episodes. Hopefully, IO will keep delivering the same top-notch gameplay and level design, but add a little more story to the experience to make them truly feel like episodes, because at this point they just feel like levels.

Awards & Rankings

53
#53 Best Xbox One Game of 2016

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
6.7

Mixed or average reviews- based on 27 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 27
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 27
  3. Negative: 8 out of 27
  1. tomenigma
    May 4, 2016
    4
    Episode 2 is most uninteresting, inconsistent (game-wise) Hitman's release. Comparing to the 1st part, this one just pales in comparison.Episode 2 is most uninteresting, inconsistent (game-wise) Hitman's release. Comparing to the 1st part, this one just pales in comparison. Sound issues are still here, some animation bugs, etc.
    I really liked the boat tutorial and ep. 1 but Sapienza was a disappointment.    … Full Review »
  2. Kingdavis45
    May 16, 2016
    4
    WORST HITMAN EXPERIENCE EVER! If it wasn't for xbox one gameshare I would be furious if I bought it right out. I was a die hard fan of theWORST HITMAN EXPERIENCE EVER! If it wasn't for xbox one gameshare I would be furious if I bought it right out. I was a die hard fan of the series until now. The waiting for additional boards was the worst company decision EVER. We already waited years in between releases and now we have to wait for the boards? The average hitman player plays through the game first and then goes back to master it. Not forced to play one board for two months. They did improve on the graphics and details but not a huge jump. The game play is basically the same as the last one except you can't tag enemies for a bad ass moment. Instead if you're faced with more than one enemy in a open area your force to look like a clumsy assassin with bad aim. The same guy that can throw a screw driver 50 feet away to kill someone. Then it's the exclusive targets which I totally missed because I was being an adult in life just to come home to try it for a glimpse of hope for this game. Well as you can tell I'm here venting about this trash. This game is so far behind of being a work of progress it's a shame. This is a game that doesn't make use of shadows to hid. God forbid if you could actually open up a door and peek in to see what's there, but no you have spidy senses to do that for you so you can just magically open up the door without turning a nob since you already can see through walls and sense danger. Another thing that really makes my skin crawl. They won't bring back the suitcase for you sniper. WTF!? Not to mention you don't get money to buy upgrades or spend on missions so basically you're a serial killer it seems with no motive but to kill because well....that's what's cool in your mind. I really want to just kick the dev's in the nuts for this slap in the face. The last time I was disappointed in a Hitman title was when they first brought it out on console and I bought it just to find out it was the same boards as the one on PC. 5/10: RENTAL AT BEST.… Full Review »
  3. 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 »
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