Without being arrogant, i think that adressing that state of negativity was a good move towards a more place of “constructive criticism” rather than just “whining”. People acts differently when their actions are acknowledged.
5 Likes
true.
That is why IOI invests in Travis Barbour and (his sidekick?) Clemens Koch as the communications team.
They had an IO Monthly twitch streams to keep connected with their fan base.
Yeah… Instinct is optional and so is looking at your results, so whats your point?
(Also theres a certain Text above the Minimap, that you could read without using instinct.)
1 Like
read both messages again. you can know your mistakes via detailed statistics (if they were in the game) or via instinct but the latter isn’t enough on its own because some players simply play without it
it doesn’t count found bodies, only unconcious witnesses
The negativity seems to have washed away now but I’m really disappointed that the cutscenes aren’t remade. If that’s my biggest sore spot atm this game is gonna kick ass, but I still get really annoyed because my brain likes consistency.
1 Like
I like the idea of reworking these items, but I don’t know if this would be the best way to do it. Nobody would ever use MK1 & MK2 items if MK3 made them obsolete. It might be better to give each version its own strengths and weaknesses, that way each version could continue to have a place in the game.
3 Likes
All it would take for me is new models because I never want to use items that are same as original but with obnoxious sticker on them, and I think people who are forced to use them would appreciate it even more.
1 Like
I’ve played few hours just messing around on old locations, checking new things. And I’m stunned how now UI is polished, very consistant in style and color palllete. All actions and moves are significant faster, more dynamic and got pallete of new sounds. Also this new lighting, better textures, reflections and enhanced ambient sounds - make a hudge diffrence. I got what I wanted - to feel that “Freshness”.
I like also that they reworked all challenges. No more challenges pack, all unlocks from them are putted in main category of missions. But I didn’t noticed any challanges with Elusive Targets or any of Event challenges and all items from them are moved to mission challenges.
I’m afraid that we won’t have any Challenge Packs or Elustive Target.
Still can’t carryover a progress from my H2. It’s showing me a error " No eligible HITMAN 2 accounts found.".
4 Likes
They promised, at least, ETs i think (challenge packs idk)
Reviving this because i feel like ive had a weird relationship with hitman iii. The second game was like my favorite game ever and on my blog i wrote a glowing impression of the third which then turned to disappointment. But i feel as i replay more of this series i had to get some perspective. I think my problem with Hitman 3 was not understanding the depth of the maps and viewing the previous game as perfect. Your understanding of the games changes over time. I used to think Athena was a bad target but now i think shes great for example. I used to think Chongqing was bad but now i think it’s great. I think i thought of every map in WoA2 as being filled with more ways to kill a target than WoA3. But that’s not true because what constitutes scripted gameplay is sort of fluid in this series. So i had to break it down in my head and just consider anything outside of challenges as a bonus and realise how much is already there in these games. Then you discover so much. Having better understanding of the AI helps too, i now use my youtube channel to document kills i find which helps to not just have them in the old noggin. I realise that Dawood Rangan doesnt have to explore the whole tower to be a good target and neither does Hush, having five different official methods is just the tip of the iceberg for him and then there’s tons of depth when you can manipulate the AI. For example Vinnie has three ways i can think of that IO intended for him (his room, sniping, lockdown) which is still good for any game which usually nowadays promoted linearity but the whole point of these games being good is that there’s more than that to them. Like if youre trying to use gun lures eh those dont really count but a basic briefcase lure or coin trail or even just throwing two objects at the same time is pretty easy to get a target into a “new” place. It doesnt make the game uncriticisable, there’s still spottiness but i think i had a super knee jerk reaction and i now think the game is one of the best entries in my favorite series so far. I essayposted like a motherfucker but i had to get my thoughts out and i havent down a blogpost in a while
6 Likes
I think I’ll write my experience as well. It’s been a month since I’ve uninstalled the game, a small protest from my side due to overpaying for underwhelming post-release content, despite buying the deluxe pack.
Please hear me out. For 6 years, I’ve felt love and welcoming acceptance in the community. Have met some really wonderful people too who share the passion and love for my favourite franchise, Hitman.
Every since the 2015 Playstation reveal, I’ve been hyped about the game. Now, with Hitman III i feel kinda like an idiot who bought the same game thrice but with more polish and map packs. All of us proudly say that IO doesn’t do microtransactions, but I think the season of greed is a very well disguised version of that. and what are we paying for, some slight 3 levels of escalations, with post-processing filters to the game, reskins of reskins & existing stuff. Is this Hitman supposed to be?
The dark? The moody? The world of assassination, where, according to my belief essential gameplay and animation systems are missing. You can’t shoot while running, you can’t hip fire, no dual-wielding, no human shield, no money economy, no marketplace or agency supports that sells the illusion that we are a globe-trotting assassin with a really good backup. Hitman III is my least played game in the trilogy, with just over 28 hours, why? because I’ve already played the game 10 times over with the 2016 and 2018 versions.
These are missing sniper assembly animations and sounds, enemies/ police/ bodyguards have infinite ammo/ flashbangs. All pistols/rifles have the same ammo type (the gun you carry in your inventory, it’s ammo can be refilled if the enemy is carrying the same type of weapon.)
For this trilogy, the base for NPCs, the world, the level designs, challenges for new players are phenomenal. No doubt, but making me feel like an assassin is what IO has failed as. Yes, you can be a ghost and a really good one. But the inability to act like an assassin, where, I can cause a genuine massacre in terms of how well the guns. gunplay feels, how well the NPCs react to getting hurt, the chaos and the fight control. Seeing games like Rdr2, Max Payne 3, Splinter Cell Chaos Theory, and Blacklist (the good gameplay parts), IO is severely lacking in the animations department. And by that i mean, lacking in the feel as a legendary hitman. yes, I can sneak around by pressing space for cover, watch the guard routine, kill the target, hide the body, listen to the same mission complete trumpet music for the 1000th time, and what then? Rinse & repeat?
2016 had a decent number of ETs, with 2018 it was 4 or 5? then ETs repeated from 2016 and now the same trend.
Yes, I am but a single player, a nobody boycotting a game played by millions. But I don’t feel good that I pre-ordered the supposed deluxe version of the game and seeing more paid lackluster content is what broke the camel’s back for me. I won’t be pre-ordering any game due to this as well as the experience from Cyberpunk.
If you have enjoyed the game, good for you. I’m just sharing my experience that I really feel underwhelmed due to the overhype, lackluster marketing (rather than providing actual details about improvements, lame trailers released after gaps of multiple months, and why the player needs to buy Hitman III).
I mostly shadow around the forum due to this very reason, my interest and faith has shaken. In regards to the series future and IO making actual boundary expanding work. I’ll see the progress with the 007 projects and maybe in 4-5 years or maybe more what the next chapter of Hitman has for us.
Till then, it’s farewell from my side. I’ll be sticking around for sure, but I’m sure as hell not going to install the game any time soon.
11 Likes
Not to invalidate your frustration immediately but these were never advertised as selling points of any WoA game. I think the idea that these games sort of became like Madden is right but i think it’s due to not innovating the framework they had. For example the ability to throw weapons as distractions or melee weapons with unique gimmicks like a mix of lethal when thrown but nonlethal when used as a bludgeon. Even just innovating Hitman concepts like Situs Inversus did for disguises
But Hitman isnt a combat game. These things are weird quirks but ultimately it’s janky because the focus is on 10/10 stealth gameplay. Like i said they could have evolved the concepts with new weapon perks like bringing shock wave ammo into the sandbox, guns which provide utility like hacking keycards remotely, making the AI notice or distracted by more things. Like i said it’s less about judging it for what it isnt but what more it couldve been. I also dont mind the animation being pretty lazy for rifles, the short rifles dont have one because theyre designed to be collapsable and fit in a briefcase (keep in mind this is sort of a head canon as i always thought it was a bug until i realised with the hackl they might have going for that as theyre both small). Contracts also had a pretty shit unpack animation too, which is a shame as it had more useful sniping than Blood Money. HBM’s animation detail was excellent but sniping was very deemphasised on later difficulties and lots of people use glitches to skip the animations on stairs. I think having a bad animation isnt bad it’s that the most useful snipers are small so dont have it. If long snipers had unique perks everyone would use them more. Like one could shoot thru walls, one could be an air rifle and only create noise, one could be a tranq rifle, one could fire idk corrosive acid that takes two minutes to disolve a body? Im reaching but i think what hitman III needed/needs is a new kind of unlock. Hitman 2 introduced grenades, tasers and dart guns. Hitman 3 needs to change the meta without doing an ephone. Rn everyone just uses the same items. Silverballer/kruger plus briefcase with kalmer/sieker instead and a lockpick. Other useful items are the smg or auto pistol, the melees that double up as utilities, the breaching charge, the emp and the odd distraction device. Adding a new dynamic with a good unlock could change the game for 100s of hours to come
I think this is one part i will fully disagree on. Id rather have quick, snappy animations over RDR2’s meticulous but boringly elongated anims. Chaos Theory is more comparable but even then forgive me i might slander the game based on conjecture but the lipsync was off and each interrogation animation was the same. These games have great lipsync considering it’s like 200,000 lines of dialogue
Definitely agreed. Id quite like an IO insider about how ETs are made because it’s really strange they managed to make 26 for 2016 and slowed down to a crawl for Hitman 3 for example. At least we’re gettin ETs this time but it’s a weird downgrade
Well like i said i cant take that away from you and i think spacing away from the game is the best thing to do. Playing a game you want to like is frustrating but the space lets you view it more objectively and either you realise you dislike it and get closure or you realise you like it and that’s even better because now you have a new game to love. I will say it’s weird you overhyped yourself over marketing you admit wasnt very good, i’d say the oppositte id say the trailers were both very good and they hid too much from us to let us fill in the gaps (“20 mastery levels”, “new ET formula”, making chongqing seem biggee and not telling us where we were going until a trophy leak, etc.) but that’s kind of on us. Like it’s on IO too, but ultimately a company isnt going to think like we do. It’s up to us as consumers to have the intelligence to be constructive, sceptical, patient and enjoy stuff without being mindless consumers and not fall for marketing. If we fall for it that’s on us, can’t blame a rat for wanting to steal our cheese right? Just got to set up traps and be clever about it, to make sure they dont run off with it. Sorry for being overly metaphorical there it made the most sense to describe the situation in my head
6 Likes
Thank you for your inputs!
A game that looks good, sells well, that’s marketing 101. I’m not saying have over the top stuff in the game and overhype it to the moon but fundamentals of being an assassin and impact of player choice on the gameplay. Hitman is known for player choice, the swiss cheeze level design, beautiful locations, memorable targets and great music. With the WoA trilogy, we got some of that but overall the improvement curve across 3 games, isn’t there.
Compare that to Hitman 2 Silent Assassin (2002) → Hitman Contracts (2004) and then Hitman Blood Money (2006). 3 games, massive improvements and experimentation in terms of gameplay overhaul. With the new trilogy 2016, 2018 and 2021, its the same game but with maps and polish.
I disagree. It’s Hitman not stealth man. We as players have the option, to be complete ghosts or cause a city-wide massacre. In the end, being fun. Yes, the game is fun, but not seeing new additions being made to enhance the gameplay (except the addition of a briefcase) I don’t see much.
Almost 5 years, and some animations are still janky, or missing (no ability to fiber wire/ sedate someone while they’re sitting, body ragdoll and response of NPCs (they still feel like feather pillows), guns sound good now atleast but the feel is lacking, sniper rifles just pop, hit the target, rather than have a good meaty impact.
There wont be any overhauls and improvements now (except bug fixes, paid escalations, or some ETs) I get it. My main reason for disappointment is not seeing the game come to its full capabilty. To not just be a sandbox level but also giving the player the tools, means, and menthods to be an assassin.
6 Likes
There’s no way to excuse bugs and glitches that break the game, but the developers really hamstrung themselves by doing this is a trilogy the way they did it. The comparison between Hitman 2 Silent Assassin, Contracts and Blood Money is invalid because those are three separate games. They didn’t have to be compatible with each other at all. Hitman 3 had to incorporate all of the levels with the game play and mechanics of Hitman 2016 as well as Hitman 2 so there were things that were off the table right off the bat.
They could have added entirely new game-play mechanics into Hitman 3 that would have totally changed the way that the game is played but that would have required them to also add those elements into all of the content of Hitman 2016 and Hitman 2. If you want to see an example of how that would have played out, look to the camera in Hitman 3. There are a few areas where that is a legitimately useful thing (Chongqing, Dubai) but nothing in any of the Hitman or Hitman 2 maps uses the camera at all. What was the result? People complaining about a useless camera that just takes up an inventory slot.
In order to really add innovative mechanics to the game over the 5 years from Hitman to Hitman 3, they would have had to essentially develop Hitman three times and Hitman 2 twice over the course of the games. The other option would have been to simply not allow the Hitman levels in Hitman 2 and not allow Hitman 1 and 2 to be playable in Hitman 3 but they didn’t go that way.
Hitman isn’t a combat game in the way that people usually use that term. Combat games usually have health bars, armor, shields, and other items and mechanics that turn the player into an actual soldier and not a “paper man”. The fact that there are combat elements in Hitman does not make it a combat game.
6 Likes
I think there are two sides when it comes to playing Hitman (3), any video game actually: one as a player and one as a consumer. And i don’t think people realise there are deeper issues here.
As a player, i enjoy seeing the direction a team of developers has taken, i may like it or not that’s the ‘game’. I don’t mind if it doesn’t bear the most gorgeous graphics, i can pass through bugs and collision glitches as long as the game doesn’t suffer much. I mind though when there is a strong visual identity, when the logic of resolution works and when the attention to details transpires. Hitman is a mesmerizing catalogue of visuals, sound design, funny stuff. It’s just a pleasure to roam around Sapienza or Hawke’s bay by night. I enjoyed having the new missions in H1 with their own stories, mechanics as much as i enjoyed the ones in Hitman 2, not to mention the new locations! Knowing that there is more to come is a gamer’s sheer pleasure. I do not forget the sniper challenges, i regret that Himmelstein is not a main location in itself, it’s just a superb level. IO has been generous in giving us a game filled with a gameplay of opportunities, which is what Hitman is all about.
As a consumer though, this has been not as enjoyable over the years. How many versions for the first game only? I have bought the Steelbook edition then the definite edition just to insure that i’d get all the contents and missions. And i’m still not even sure i got everything because i see some missions in red, i mean come on, does it has to be so convoluted to play a full game?! Hitman 2 is clearer when it comes to complete versions. I admit that i came to enjoy this Hitman 2 a long time after it’s been launched, i bought it right before IO announced they’d close the online features of Sniper Challenges and Ghost mode. No matter how sorry these decisions that come from a dubious sense of marketing, are, i ignore them. Hitman is a fantastic journey, exactly the sandbox type of game i cherish. Its lore is insane, i am thrilled that the new Sniper game from Square includes Knight and Stone. I can still overlook all these issues over those from Hitman 3.
I’ll say it straight, i think Hitman 3 is the greediest installment of the trilogy. When you bought the deluxe versions for the first two games, it was stated clearly have you’d have access to new missions/locations. It was due, expected a few months after launch. You, as a player/consumer, you would feel pleased to enjoy alternative missions by night of a beloved Sapienza, or to relax in Haven Island. Care for some Sniper challenges? Enjoy your two new maps, they are included in the deluxe. You pay the price, you are rewarded. Hitman 3 offers so far, none of it. Storywise, it’s awesome, it’s as dark and sophisticated as Contracts/Blood Money. I saw here and there people complaining that there is ‘still’ nothing for the deluxe versions of the game and they got called out and i wondered why. But then i realised that they were used to see roadmaps that included the new missions/locations after a few months and not just a escalation missions, and contracts etc. Do you realise that Hitman 3 has only two physical versions and two digital versions? No physical artbook, soundtrack contrary to the statue for H1 and the suitcase in H2. Says a lot.
The game started promptly, sold itself beyond expectations and yet they stated officially, apparently because i never read it myself, they won’t be making any new locations. Really? I know it’s story related, i know they wanted to create something with a different pace, both for dramatic and gameplay reasons, but the last level is disappointing. Literally straight forward. 6 levels and it’s wrapped up, nothing else? That’s a sad conclusion in comparison to H1 and H2’s contents. Egg hunts was fun, i still haven’t got the 7 deadly sins Dlc but it’s nothing compared to earlier expansions. I still hope to see the 7 deadly sins offering some surprises and not the routinely yet cool suit/weapon/tools reward.
IO kept bringing up how they have been able to resurrect the most famous silent assassin with many videos and panels. There is a point when you see that, after what people considered a betrayal - Absolution, you have been able to regain the players’s trust by making a new game that has brilliant ideas. It’s sold well and you feel confident to make it into a trilogy of games: same mechanics, graphics etc. But you have to reward the players, especially if that’s the last installment after 5 years of dedication. Especially when you keep announcing that your next game won’t be a Hitman and we know how long it takes to make a game of that complexity today. Years, just as much years we’ve been playing and spending money. And Hitman 3 isn’t worth those 5 years yet, it’s a little too featured-oriented in my taste. I hope in the next months, we’ll see some great updates, i believe it.
For example, i see in the new sniper game an observatory level, it would make a fantastic level for Hitman 3, an extension happening on a mountain in the Alps, etc. Or variations of preexisting levels with new targets. I think we can all agree we want a new Landslide, a new House on the sand missions…
We deserve it, we spent a lot for you. I know, it’s a lot of efforts to create additionnal contents, but look, developpers of RE VILLAGE said that due to massive demands from fans, they will add dlcs (i’m not naive, they are probably already done for a long time). I am aware i sound a bit dramatic, but i tried to speak objectively here, i’m really hoping for more contents from IO, to me this is a big issue not to feel gutted because it’s a bit of an abrupt end don’t you think? It lacks something, it lacks a follow-up, it lacks quests and i don’t know, additional value.
A few final remarks: we are being rewarded. With a free-to-play game for phones. Not what i expected to be honest. I like it, but we’ll see. I do believe that one day, soon enough, there will be a ‘complete trilogy’ game, all contents included etc. It’s almost a sure thing. And i’d pay for a physical release of the World of Assassination artbook and soundtrack!
8 Likes
hitman 2016, despite its faults (accents, bond atmosphere, etc), was the best game in the series. it took the classic puzzle solving gameplay of blood money, and combined it with the smooth controls of absolution to create the best game in the series
hitman 2 did not fundamentally change things, but it did add new features like hiding in crowds and foliage, new items like the tranquilizers and flashbangs, and it even added ghost mode. it also had 2 new locations for gold owners.
hitman 3, as far as i can tell, did not add any new features except for a camera. 
also, ghost mode was removed. i know why they removed ghost mode, it didn’t have any players. but IOI made no effort to try to encourage more people playing ghost mode when it only 2 maps. also, VR is only for playstation
i never bought hitman 3 because it just wasn’t worth it to me. the removal of ghost mode, not fixing the bugs, and the epic games store mess ruined it for me.
they keep making silly decisions like locking the shoulder to the right, diana talking too much, and screwed up lighting. and we have to rely on the community to create mods like the shoulder swap mod, silent diana mod, and ultimate lighting mod. these shouldn’t be considered mods, they should be considered fixes! but it seems IOI would rather put the burden of fixing hitman 3 on the community… and now we have overpriced escalations, and very few elusive targets.
i’ll just wait until it’s on steam for $20, i don’t care. until then, i’ll just keep playing hitman 2.
11 Likes
100% agree with you.
People will probably keep defending IO for being independent and how they were about to go bankrupt, even though they are not in that situation anymore. It’s good that you’re not buying the game right now. It’s a mess. Bugs, overpriced ESCALATIONS, Seven Deadly Payments for 30$ and underwhelming roadmaps with nothing interesting etc. I regret every dollar I’ve spent on Hitman 3. Even it’s missions are not as welcoming/open/large/replayable as Hitman 1 or 2 and this is evident by the fact that I play hitman 1 and 2 wayy more often than hitman 3. Hitman 1 and 2 were worth the money on the basis of their content. Hitman 3, not so much.
They keep removing features no one wanted to be removed, they don’t add features players have been asking for since the beginning. Do I even need to say anything more?
16 Likes
I agree with both of you, especially about the bugs, this is sometimes unplayable for me. Losing SA for nothing, dropping strategies because of bugs with the briefcase, with emetic poison, etc.
But the main reason why i have not bought H3 so far (and am very negative about this game and IO) is the wanted randomness, as i’m bored to death to stupidly restart the missions to get my best time possible by luck. NPCs should have only one schedule in this game, and they should always react the same at the same distractions performed in the same conditions.
A shame because the concept of manipulating the NPCs like this is mind blowing, one of the best idea for a strategy game ever, but the execution is horrible beyond imagination.
4 Likes
They fixed the last two
I wouldnt say that. Some routes are a little lacking but overall i’d say the game embraces the sandbox more almost to a fault sometimes with way easier missions. I agree with everything else tho
Agreed! I think keeping randomness on casual would be cool for those who want more of a different experience every time, and theres no accounting for some things like guards reacting to bombs is a dynamic thing where they search, but id love for on more serious difficulties for everything to be like Chess where the pieces move in the same way each time
Not that I like to argue, But how have they fixed the last two? They may have made improvements on the lighting, but it still dosen’t look as good. It’s still full of excessive bloom, among other things
And Diana talking too much is worse for example in Dartmoor with her pretty much spoiling and ruining the murder mystery, along with Olivia and Grey. Gray keeps holding your hand through Dubai, Olivia keeps saying “THERES NO WAY YOURE GETTING THROUGH THAT DOOR 47” whenever I’m near a door in Chongqing.
If you replay the missions multiple times with different routes, you’ll know what I’m talking about. When was the last time in Sapienza or Mumbai in which you had seen or done everything in the map in a single day?
2 Likes