Hitman 2: Silent Assassin

Release Date: September 30, 2002

Action, TPP, stealth, TPS, shooters, singleplayer

82%

Steam

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The sequel to Io-Interactive's well-received stealth action game from 2000. The game’s story starts in a Sicilian monastery, where the protagonist of the first game, Agent 47, tries to forget about his former deeds by seeking atonement in peaceful life and prayer. Unfortunately, he is soon tracked down by the Russian mafia and forced to get back to work.

Plot
Gameplay
Technical aspects

Hitman 2: Silent Assassin is a sequel to the well-received Hitman: Codename 47. The protagonist is once again the assassin for hire with a barcode on the back of his head.

Plot

The story starts in a Sicilian monastery, where Agent 47 is trying to fprget about his former deeds,by seeking penance in a peaceful life full of prayer. Unfortunately, soon he is tracked down by Russian mafia and forced to get back to job. He quickly learns he is being manipulated and becomes a target himself, hunted by a well-trained ex-Spetznaz.

Gameplay

There are 21 missions in the game, in which you need to use four basic skills of an assassin: reconnaissance, camouflage—so that you could “blend into the crowd”, silently sneaking to your target, as well as covering your tracks. Doing wet jobs will take you all around the world, as the missions are set in six main locations, including Sicily, St. Petersburg, Melesia, Japan, and Nuristan. There are over 30 weapons, starting with knives and pistols, all the way to sniper rifles and explosives. The sequel introduces some new weapons and tools useful to a hitman, such as crossbows, poisonous darts, stun ammo, and even chloroform.

There also is an improved UI – now you can store items in the inventory (instead of having to buy it before every mission) and have better access to objectives and hints. Moreover, you can save game during missions.

Technical aspects

Hitman 2: Silent Assassin uses new graphics engine that assures better and more detailed 3D graphics. It is also possible to switch between fist and third person perspective.

Last updated on March 14, 2016

Videos and Screens

82%

STEAM Score

All Reviews: Very Positive (3,051)

STEAM

User Reviews Summary generated by AI

The main pros of the game

Immersive Gameplay: Many users praised the immersive gameplay, highlighting the blend of stealth, strategy, and creativity.
Improved Mechanics: The game expands on the original with better mechanics, level design, and a larger variety of weapons.
Diverse Missions: Users appreciated the variety of missions, which are more diverse than in the original game, and the ability to save progress in some harder missions.
Soundtrack: Jesper Kyd's soundtrack received consistent praise for enhancing the overall experience.
Nostalgia Factor: For players who experienced it during its release, the game holds a nostalgic value, contributing to its charm.

The main cons of the game

Limited Mobility: A significant point of frustration is the inability to run, which slows down gameplay and can lead to being caught by guards.
Frustrating AI: The AI behavior, particularly in combat situations, is often criticized for being unrealistic and frustrating. Guards can detect players too easily, and the fighting mechanics are seen as lacking depth.
Graphics and Bugs: While some users noted that the graphics hold up reasonably well, others pointed out bugs and issues with AI behavior that can break immersion.
Last Mission Difficulty: The final mission is particularly criticized for requiring players to kill all guards without the ability to save, leading to a frustrating experience.

The features or elements that are missing from the game according to users

Running Mechanic: Users expressed a desire for a running mechanic similar to that in the original game, which would enhance gameplay enjoyment.
Improved AI Combat: There is a call for better AI in combat scenarios to make encounters more engaging and realistic.
Modern Controls and Compatibility: Some players mentioned the need for updates to the game engine to improve compatibility with modern PCs and to enhance control responsiveness.
Less Punishing Stealth Mechanics: Players noted the need for more forgiving stealth mechanics, as the current system can lead to frustration when trying to navigate levels without being detected.

Summary

Overall, while "Hitman 2: Silent Assassin" is recognized as a classic with many strengths, it also has notable limitations that affect the gameplay experience for some users.

Summary generated on: November 25, 2024

8.3

GAMERS Score

Average score from 5417 votes.

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GAMES

in Hitman Game Series

Game Series

Hitman Series

A highly popular series combining elements of action and stealth games, featuring the missions of a paid assassin - Agent 47. The series was created by Danish development studio IO Interactive.

18 video games

Hitman Game Series