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ORIGINAL: borstal

Some pre-rendered images here. Agent 47 sticking an axe into someone being a highlight

http://www.trueachievements.com/n7044/new-stealthy-hitman-absolution-screens.htm

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Forget everything you know about Agent 47, the bald-headed, bar-coded contract killer of IO Interactive's Hitman franchise. He does not don disguises, creep in the shadows, or deliver death with surgical precision. He is not a professional. Well, at least he doesn't have to be.

You see, while hardcore fans have endured-enjoyed, even-the sometimes punishing nature of previous entries in the stealth-action series, the developer understands they've probably alienated some of their potential audience by forcing them to walk the frustrating trial-and-error treadmill. So for their next entry, Hitman: Absolution, they're crafting a killer who'll still please the patient player who enjoys snapping necks like peanut brittle, but will also satisfy those with much twitchier trigger fingers. Similar to Sam Fisher's action-oriented transformation in Splinter Cell: Conviction, this new anti-hero is as comfortable engaging in ammo clip-emptying firefights as he is skulking in the shadows.

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ORIGINAL: borstal

Stop being so cynical!

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ORIGINAL: borstal

Ive been told so many times before that such and such sequel will be shit and then lo....turns out Ive enjoyed it. If everyone listened to DC they'd all still be playing Morrowind and saying that Skyrim is shit.

Im not saying it wont be shit but rather than making bold claims now I'll wait and see.

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ORIGINAL: borstal

That may have been the point for people that wanted that but read through the old Hitman thread. People still ended up having a big shoot-fest.

Ive just read through this

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/gamesblog/2012/jan/11/hitman-absolution-game-preview

Which reconfirms everything else Ive read. You want more action and its all there for you while still keeping stealth for those who choose that way. People are going INSANE that there is an 'instinct' mechanic, showing the route of guards. HOW DARE THEY! Thats not realistic for a hitman is it? God no! Lets just all forget about the 'map' on previous games where you could amazingly 'see' through walls to see what the enemy was doing. If you dont want help like that then you just need to play it on the harder settings.

Of course theyve opened this up to be more mainstream. Your surprised? Im not, but hopefully theyve kept enough stealth in to keep me happy. One achievement could do this 'complete all missions with a silent assassin rating'.

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If you're a long-time fan of the series, preferring to keep to the shadows and glide unnoticed through missions while dropping the odd foe, this is absolutely possible. If you've never cared much for sneaking about in the dark and favour a more direct approach...

... then why the fuck are you playing a Hitman game?

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ORIGINAL: Proudfoot

Maybe it's just me, but the fact that there's a hardcore stealth opportunity doesn't change how I feel. It's that it's a different type of game, much more linear, with meters and undercover QTE and all that stuff you can look up, with seemingly very few of the original folks involved. That's what bothers me. That sort of stuff can be fun and cool, I love Uncharted, but I was just hoping for more of the old games.

If they have to make sequels all the time, and it seems everyone has to, this is what they must expect. People get attached to thing.

I hope it'll be fun, I'm just worried I will be dissapointed even if it is fun, because it likely won't be the kind of fun I'm looking for in this particular series.

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ORIGINAL: borstal

So there is no information about the game other than they are working on it and it should (!) be out by Christmas 2011.

Heres hoping IO do it right. Please dont turn Agent47 into some action hero. He's a sneaky, bald, murdering bastard. Please keep it this way.

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ORIGINAL: borstal

I dont get it? People are complaining that you can play a variety of ways? You want stealth with no hints or guides? Well you can. You want things simpler and easier? You can.

Simples

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ORIGINAL: Sexual Harassment Panda

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ORIGINAL: borstal

I dont get it? People are complaining that you can play a variety of ways? You want stealth with no hints or guides? Well you can. You want things simpler and easier? You can.

Simples

If you're expecting stealth and a plethora of options like Blood Money, you're in for a big shock. Eurogamer's latest interview/preview with IO said it all.

It's all about clearing a room of enemies one by one now, by snapping necks or shooting guns. Hitman was never about having enemies, it was a silent assassin affair, your enemies had no idea who you were or that you existed. Theyve even tried to remove the humour! You aren't going to be walking round the map, watching enemies, looking for the best route to take and ingenious ways of "offing" your targets. You're now killing enemies left right and centre and that's about it.

If it's honestly got a less lines structure and all the choices of Blood Money then IO needs to hire a new PR man and they need to show better footage, as they're doing naff all to install confidence in fans of the series.

I hope you enjoy it Borstal, but I wouldn't get your hopes up. Like The Resi 6 reveal, Hitman Abortion looks to have taken the series in a completely different direction to appease the FPS crowd.

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You aren't going to be walking round the map, watching enemies, looking for the best route to take and ingenious ways of "offing" your targets. You're now killing enemies left right and centre and that's about it.