Hitman: Absolution

TrueAchievements ( ) (100%)

Ultimately this game will be judged against its predecessors. Is Absolution the best Hitman game to date? In many ways, yes, in some ways, no, but it certainly stands out as a unique title that isn't going to be duplicated in any other series.The new focus on story doesn't always hit its mark and some of the level designs were less than ideal, but for the most part, Absolution is a must-play this holiday season simply because it plays like no other game available and it plays very well. If you find time to exit the crowded lobbies of this season's huge multiplayer titles, Hitman: Absolution is a filthy, violent, and worthy trip into the heart of darkness.

Tech-Gaming (A-) (91%)

With many franchises providing annual iterations, Agent 47’s six and a half year hiatus seemed like an eternity for series supporters. Fortunately, Hitman Absolution was worth the wait. Barely acknowledging contemporary inclinations in gaming, the title is a thoughtful, protractedly-paced stealth puzzler which stays true to its roots. While Sam Fisher may have sought stardom through simplified mechanics, Agent 47 remains the stalwart slayer he’s always been. Bless his murderous, old soul.

XboxFrance (9 out of 10) (90%)

Des ambitions narratives qui permettent à un personnage presque cliché de se doter d'une profondeur inattendue, des ambitions artistiques également avec des cinématiques jouissives et une galerie de tueurs absolument mémorable. Une générosité de contenu avec cette campagne à tiroirs où chaque niveau bénéficie d'un souci du détail rarement vu et d'une dizaine de manières de le résoudre. Des chemins plus ou moins balisés que le joueur peut quitter s'il le désire en suivant son humeur (et son instinct toujours pratique) pour délivrer une justice expéditive à un maximum de truands à moins qu'il ne préfère perdurer la légende de l'Assassin silencieux et ne laisser aucune trace de son passage. Sans hésiter, l'un des jeux indispensables de 2012.

GamesRadar ( ) (90%)

Hitman’s temporary hiatus did worlds of good for the franchise, and Absolution is one of the strongest entries in the series to date. It shows true evolution, moving Agent 47 forward and playing up his enhanced abilities well, both when it comes to hitting a well-placed shot to the head of a scummy target or stealthily moving through a building full of police. The changes to the formula could have spelled disaster if they were executed poorly, but that’s not an issue--execution has never been an issue for Agent 47, has it?

games xtreme (9 out of 10) (90%)

Hitman: Absolution proves there's life in the old agent yet and this latest instalment of the beloved franchise is about the best we've seen since Blood Money and that's high praise indeed.

IGN (9 out of 10) (90%)

Like Dishonored before it, it’s actually a true pleasure to play a game that lets you tackle it from multiple angles. After several years of increasingly totalitarian games where you’re very much following a pre-determined path, it’s nice to have a game that doesn’t just encourage improvisation; it requires it.

Game Over Online (88 out of 100) (88%)

The truth is that I’m not a huge fan of games like Hitman: Absolution. I’ve been preaching patience this entire review, but it’s not something I personally excel at. Ironically, I think that’s why I liked Absolution so much. You have such fluid control of 47 that if you get spotted, you can enjoy the action and shooting without feeling terribly guilty. In that sense, it reminds me a lot of the Metal Gear Solid games. When you do it right – when it all comes together and the hit comes off without a hitch, there are few games that live up to the same sense of success and accomplishment. Absolution is a fantastic addition to a series that defined a genre last generation, and I can’t wait to see what they come up with for our favorite bald assassin moving forward.

Game Informer Magazine (8.75 out of 10) (88%)

Despite all of Absolution’s improvements, Hitman still isn’t for everyone. The pace remains slower and more methodical than most action games, and you’ll find yourself reloading checkpoints countless times, in part because they are frustratingly tied to physical locations. If you take a different approach than what the developer had in mind, you may miss them completely. Attaining the rank of Silent Assassin still requires patience, skill, and more than a little trial and error. But while Hitman is still slower than most games, it’s also smarter. Devising a strategy, using the environment and disguises to your advantage, and leaving before anyone knows you’re there are the hallmarks of a perfect hit, and Absolution proves Agent 47 is still gaming’s premier hitman.

Jeuxvideo.com (17 out of 20) (85%)

On a parfois tremblé en voyant se profiler ce nouveau Hitman, se demandant si IO resterait fidèle à la tradition d'infiltration ou se laisserait séduire par l'action et l'accessibilité. Le résultat final est un gameplay à la carte, qui peut se montrer redoutable dans les modes de difficulté élevés, parfois plus encore que les volets précédents. On y retrouve les canons et les codes de la série, agrémentés de nouveaux éléments venant la rendre plus dynamique, plus narrative, sans pour autant trahir son héritage. Même si certaines mécaniques s'orientent vers l'action, il est facile de les ignorer royalement. Un vrai jeu d'infiltration dans une époque qui en manque cruellement. Ne cherchez plus le vrai assassin, il est là, et c'est pas pour vous donner un cours d'histoire.

Destructoid (8.5 out of 10) (85%)

Hitman Absolution offers refinement of a beloved series in many ways, boasting more visual pizzazz than most anything releasing this year and a well-paced story which features a good share of weirdness without attempting a scope beyond its means. While some simplifications could irk fans who may complain that the game has been watered down, the range of difficulty options should provide ample satisfaction for players who seek a classic Hitman experience without totally alienating those trying its unique blend of stealth and exploration for the first time.

XboxAchievements (83 out of 100) (83%)

Hitman: Absolution is the sequel to Blood Money that fans have been itching for. In terms of game mechanics it’s the best Hitman that IO Interactive has ever created, although the lack of inherently unique settings is a disappointment. That said, IO has more than made up for that with the brilliant asynchronous Contracts mode, adding replayability to a single-player game in the most smart and stylish way.

4Players.de (82 out of 100) (82%)

Das fünfte Hitman ist das bislang stärkste Abenteuer des kahlen Antihelden: Obwohl sich die Geschichte zu wenig für den Kopf hinter der Glatze interessiert, verleiht es seiner abgebrühten Kaltschnäuzigkeit eine verletzliche menschliche Seite. Vor allem aber zelebriert Absolution die perfide Genugtuung des kreativen Tötens – spätestens dann, wenn sich der Killer inmitten einer Menschenmenge unbehelligt vom Tatort entfernt. Dass die Schauplätze mit ihren Kurzhandlungen um Zivilisten, Polizisten und Bösewichte so lebendig sind, macht sowohl die behutsame Pirsch als auch den grausamen Akt umso eindringlicher. Es sind vor allem die zahlreichen Wege und Handlungsmöglichkeiten, die mein Erlebnis bestimmen: Als Hitman schleiche ich ungesehen, erwürge neugierige Wachen und verstecke ihre Körper.

GamersHell.com (8 out of 10) (80%)

Designed like a series of mazes with more than one right path—and some tools to help bust through stubborn roadblocks—Hitman: Absolution requires an investment of a player's time to fully appreciate. The area of a stage might not be 'big' in regards to the amount of space Agent 47 has to traverse, but there are enough elements to tie together, which only become noticeable by lying in wait, that even a small, rowdy bar setting isn't a quick maneuver. It all takes a degree of persistence, observation, and patience, but Absolution rarely feels overtly straightforward or claustrophobically linear. There's always a goal in place, but getting there doesn't involve forcing your hand—if only there were a more interesting reason for everything that goes down and the cast more redeeming.

Digital Spy ( ) (80%)

Hitman: Absolution does have a few flaws, but these certainly don't take away from what is a polished and in-depth package that turns killing into a fine art. Hitman purists may decry the latest title, but in our opinion the balance between stealth and action is just right. Most importantly, you feel that you always have the freedom to bring death in any way you choose. The world is your oyster; now go kill in it.

Splitkick (8 out of 10) (80%)

Despite an uneven start, and some changes that might be challenging for old players to accept, it brings the franchise forward in a gargantuan leap. Making Hitman modern, giving it all the polish of a Call of Duty or Uncharted game, not only sets this apart as one of the year’s best releases, but also makes you realise how limiting the linearity in those games is. Agent 47 is back, and his world is more open, more innovative, and more deadly than ever before.

Eurogamer.pt (8 out of 10) (80%)

Hitman: Absolution é um bom jogo, e uma proposta que irá satisfazer os jogadores que preferem uma boa dose de estratégia e observação ao combate às descaradas, ainda que tenha algumas falhas ao nível da inteligência artificial. A lei da bala desconta pontos preciosos para se atingir uma pontuação perfeita, mas há mais nesta nova incursão do Agente 47. O lado emocional do assassino mais famoso é exposto em jeito de novidade, revelando mais equilíbrio entre história e missões. Ainda que a narrativa não seja particularmente memorável, leva-nos até algumas paragens e atos interessantes, num jogo em que durante uma sua grande parte temos o assassino profissional em permanente fuga e numa luta contra todos.

Giant Bomb ( ) (80%)

Though you don't need to get into Contracts to enjoy Hitman: Absolution, it helps. The campaign can be a lot of fun, but not every mission is a winner, and Io's hokey plotting does it no favors. Still, Absolution is a distinctive game, both visually and mechanically. It feels like its own thing, while still hewing toward many of the concepts people grew to like about this series over the years. And now those concepts have been put in a competitive arena that's as fun as anything the series has done in single-player since the series' inception. Longtime Hitman fans will undoubtedly be put off by some of the changes Io has made here, but if you're willing to dig a little deeper, you'll find a game that's as rewarding as any Hitman prior.

Console Obsession (8 out of 10) (80%)

With Hitman: Absolution, IO Interactive has tried to pique the interest of the mainstream gamer. True, the new engine has resulted in some unfortunate sacrifices, but this is still one impressive looking game. All in all, this Hitman game is not going to please all of the existing series fans, but it does still retain much of the facets that made the series such a unique and special one in the first place.

Games TM (8 out of 10) (80%)

IO Interactive has returned to the series with renewed relevance, indulging both sides of the action-adventure genre with significant aplomb and endowing the player with all the tools to make Agent 47 whoever they want him to be. It's a compelling return to form, featuring se of the series' most well-crafted, inviting and testing stages, and while much has changed in the six-year interim, you'll be pleased to hear that Agent 47 hasn't.

Gamereactor (Sweden) (8 out of 10) (80%)

Jag inser såklart att det finns folk som kommer att avfärda ett underhållande spel med argumentet att det inte är likadant som förr. För min egen del känns det dock vansinnigt och jag tycker Hitman-serien är i bättre form än någonsin och visar att Agent 47 absolut förtjänar att nämnas i samma andetag som stealth-kollegorna Sam Fisher och Solid Snake.

Digital Fix, The (8 out of 10) (80%)

The Hitman series has been in desperate need of fresh ideas since taking a hiatus in 2006 and Agent 47’s career break has certainly done him the world of good. The Hitman: Absolution storyline isn’t exactly ground-breaking with its storytelling and the game suffers from some pretty major technical flaws but the creativity in gameplay and the sheer length of the plot (taking into account the restarts and challenges) is rather staggering compared to some desperately short tales demanding full price at the moment. So for now put the Assassin robes back in the cupboard and suit up - Hitman’s back in town.

Daily Mail, The ( ) (80%)

The campaign mode will take most players around 10 hours, but thankfully Contracts mode offers plenty more thrills. Here, you play through the levels and assign three targets. You then compete online to get the highest score by assassinating them in whichever way you wish. But given the strength of Absolution’s campaign, it’s hard for this not to feel slightly tacked on. Still, this is the deadliest Hitman yet that's destined to be a hit.

Xboxygen ( ) (80%)

Ce Hitman est sans conteste un excellent jeu sous tous rapports. Conçu pour toucher un large panel de joueurs, Absolution réunit plusieurs aspects de la série dans une toute nouvelle histoire, qui ne laissera pas les fans les plus ardus de la série en reste. La gestion de la foule est tout simplement impressionnante et le niveau de détail très élevé montre que notre chère boîte n’a pas encore atteint toutes ses limites. Avec un gameplay agréable auquel il faudra tout de même s’habituer, Absolution procure une expérience de jeu étudiée pour ne jamais vous décrocher de l’action, dans un univers vivant où la rejouabilité prend une tout autre dimension lorsqu’il s’agit d’accomplir l’objectif de mission, ou encore lors des différents contrats proposés en ligne par les joueurs de la communauté, qui permettront d’aborder toujours différemment une mission du titre.

GameSpot (7.5 out of 10) (75%)

Even if you have no interest in contracts, however, Hitman: Absolution's campaign is fulfilling on its own. There are some stumbles here and there--in the AI, in the mission design, and elsewhere. The story, too, hobbles a bit at the end, leaving some narrative gaps that needed filling in. But one thing's for sure: it's good to have Agent 47 back, and he was clearly needed. The greasy world he inhabits was in sore need of cleansing, and it's a pleasure to have so many ways of scraping the human grime off its surface and discarding it like the trash it is.

Financial Post (7.5 out of 10) (75%)

In the end, it’s hard not to appreciate the the intricate missions and sandbox levels the Hitman team have created. I just wish I enjoyed playing them more.

VentureBeat / GamesBeat (7.5 out of 10) (75%)

While it’s great to see 47 back in business, Hitman: Absolution drifts too far from the franchise’s sweet spot. A lengthy campaign offers plenty of opportunities for diabolical fun, but the stealth mechanics feel like a string of bad decisions, and a lack of pure assassination missions — exactly what the franchise built its fame on — doesn’t help. Most telling, this isn’t the Hitman I’ll revisit for years to dig out all its secrets. That honor stays with Blood Money. I like a lot of what it does and what it tries, but its faults make Absolution something I can’t quite forgive.

Eurogamer.net (UK) (7 out of 10) (70%)

Hitman: Absolution doesn't make you feel that way often enough for my liking, but amidst the inevitable and deserved grumbling about its awkward checkpoint system, small levels and weird obsession with its daft story, hopefully those who persevere with it will be rewarded by enough of those moments to make the whole thing feel worthwhile. Reloading some of its best levels, turning off the hints and watching and waiting, it's much easier to remember what it is that makes Agent 47 so special. Hitman is a series to treasure for those moments, even if Absolution isn't its finest hour. Hopefully it won't be another six years before IO Interactive gets another shot at showing us why.

Eurogamer.de (7 out of 10) (70%)

Auch wenn es jetzt wirkt, als würde ich kein gutes Haar auf Agent 47s Kopf lassen (Tusch), fand ich Hitman: Absolution sehr unterhaltsam. Der Einzelspieler-Modus hat einige Schwächen, die mit der Story und den zu klein geratenen Karten zusammenhängen, auch sollte man unbedingt einen höheren Schwierigkeitsgrad ins Auge fassen, wenn man den Superkiller nicht zum ersten Mal begleitet. Insgesamt ist den Machern aber ein spielerisch und technisch solides Hitman-Spiel gelungen. Wobei ich nach sechs Jahren mehr erwartet hätte. Mehr Höhepunkte, schlauere Kills, weitschweifigere Szenarien, mehr Raum zum Planen meiner Strategie und eine interessantere Handlung. Der Mehrspieler-Modus ist eine nette Geschichte und wird sicher seine Fans finden - Otto-Normal-Assassinen wird er allerdings nur ein paar Tage länger bei der Stange halten. Als Gesamtpaket ist Absolution absolut in Ordnung (letzter Kalauer für heute). Ein Meilenstein der Reihe ist es nicht.

Guardian, The ( ) (60%)

The best thing one can say about Absolution is that it's impossible to feel ambivalent about it; players will love and loathe aspects of this game in equal measure. In Absolution, terrible ideas rub up against great ones almost on a moment-to-moment basis, and the end result is a title which is impossible to consider with the same clinical detachment that it's protagonist is known for.

Calm Down Tom (6 out of 10) (60%)

In short there is far too much emphasis on the shooty-bang-bang and just not enough stealth, or at least anything above brain-dead stealth. I did have a bit of fun and I do think maybe my playthrough is tarnished by such a game ruining bug, but I know I am not the only one. For me, the new Hitman is a grievous let down. I never wanted to see it drawn out and bludgeoned in front of an oblivious crowd. I wanted to blend in with the masses and rejoice in the fact that they got away with it. A new Hitman for the new generation. But that isn’t what I really wanted, only what I thought I wanted. In hindsight I would have preferred the HD collection and god knows when that will appear. There is still hope for the series in the blatantly obvious nod at a sequel I pieced together from online videos. But maybe leave it a while or take on board the huge criticisms that have surfaced over the new instalment. Hell I didn’t even get to beat up any sexy nuns.

Gaming Age (C) (50%)

I can’t really consider Absolution to be a must buy sort of title, but it’s worth checking out as a curiosity rental at least. There are elements here that I like, and things that do harken back to the traditional Hitman experience, but this is about as far off the rails as the series has managed to get. Hopefully the next entry tries to reign in the foreign concepts a little more, because this hardly feels like the right direction to take the series in.

videogamer.com (5 out of 10) (50%)

The problem with Absolution is that its new custodians from the Kane and Lynch team seem to have fundamentally misunderstood what made Hitman great.

Telegraph, The ( ) (40%)

The issue for the game itself is that the linear narrative drive causes enormous friction with Hitman's trademark open creativity. The series legacy was built on you being dropped in a large, open, often public area and tasked with eliminating your target (or targets) as you saw fit. It would be a case of canvassing the area, tailing your targets, figuring out their routines and keeping an eye out for accidents waiting to happen. Absolution does make an attempt to recreate similar thrills, with some levels opening up as areas to explore with targets to knock off. These areas are undoubtedly when Absolution is at its best, such as an early level set in a bustling Chinatown with multiple kills options and escape routes, but it struggles to offer the playful, dark invention the series is famous for.

GameCritics.com (3.5 out of 10) (35%)

While there are a few sequences that thrill the way a proper Hitman should, like stalking a dark cornfield or combing Chinatown without being dressed as a chef, these brief glimpses of 47's predatory roots are outnumbered three-to-one by kludgey segments more about duckwalking towards exits than they are about killing professionally. I would imagine that the goal of Hitman: Absolution was to take Agent 47's detailed, methodical gameplay and make it appeal to players more familiar with modern action/stealth hybrids, but all the devs have done is eviscerate their unique franchise with poorly-implemented mechanics and left him to die an awkward, humiliating death.