Selecting difficulty level | Tips Hitman: Absolution Guide

Last update: 11 May 2016

There are five difficulty levels available in Hitman: Absolution game. Easy and Medium levels are regarded as a kind of introduction to the gameplay, while Hard, Expert and Purist levels were prepared for series veterans and players who are already familiar with basic mechanisms and are looking for more challenges. Difficulty level selection is as usual done at the very beginning, but the game allows you to change it directly during the gameplay. But be aware, that this is followed by two restrictions. First, change of the difficulty level means returning to the last checkpoint. Second, such changes can prevent you from obtaining some achievements.

Key features of different difficulty levels can be found in the following table (in bold we've marked changes in the difficulty level in relation to the previous one):

EASY	MEDIUM	HARD	EXPERT	PURIST
checkpoints are available	checkpoints are available	checkpoints are available	checkpoints are not available	checkpoints are not available
Instinct regenerates	Instinct does not regenerate	Instinct does not regenerate	Instinct does not regenerate	Instinct does not regenerate
Instinct's hints	Instinct's hints	no Instinct's hints	no Instinct's hints	no Instinct's hints
small number of enemies	normal number of enemies	more enemies	maximum number of enemies	maximum number of enemies
slower than normal reaction time	normal reaction time	better than normal reaction time	fast reaction time	fast reaction time
		Instinct depletes when used	Instinct depletes when used	Instinct depletes when used
				No tutorial
				No HUD (including area map)

Recommendation: If Hitman: Absolution is your first contact with the series and/or you do not want the gameplay to become a real challenge, it is advisable to choose Medium difficulty level. You might ignore the Easy one, since you won't be able to complete additional challenges. If you know the Hitman saga perfectly and/or you want the gameplay to be more challenging, it is best to choose Hard or Expert difficulty level. I suggest choosing Purist difficulty level only after completing the game several times, where you'll perfectly know all missions.

While playing on Easy, Medium and Hard difficulty levels, you're able to use additional checkpoints - these are glowing sign on the ground. In order to activate such checkpoints, you have to approach it and press Interact key/button. Before activating checkpoints it is advisable to replenish your supplies, take a proper disguise and deal with all issues in previous area, so you won't have to return there in case you have to reload the mission.

On Expert and Purist difficulty levels there are no checkpoints. It means that you have to complete given mission fragment (separated by loading screens and scored separately) with one shot.