The World of Assassination trilogy has been a real roller coaster ride for IO Interactive, with numerous ups and downs. However, in the end, Hitman 3 proved that the franchise truly delivered. 

Hitman 3 is the best start of 2021 and the ultimate finale for the beloved trilogy. In this review, we'll explain why you should definitely play Hitman 3. Let's dive in!

Hitman 3 Review

Improved Gameplay and Narrative System 

Compared to Hitman 1, the development team introduced a fresh approach to gameplay in the Hitman series: contracts with all the preparation stages, diverse targets, varied assassination methods, improved AI, refined graphics (far superior to the previous installments), and much more.

However, what delighted players the most was the variability of playthroughs and assassination methods, sandbox-like locations, and an enhanced narrative system. The mechanical gameplay feels much more logical and fitting due to the refined AI system, which enables NPCs to observe your behavior, footsteps, and movements.

As mentioned before, the new artificial intelligence system not only makes the guards sufficiently intelligent but also helps ordinary NPCs feel realistic and alive. In some cases, you can encounter particularly talkative individuals, engage in conversations with them, and extract important information.

Stunning Locations 

The visual effects for owners of the latest generation consoles may not differ significantly from Hitman 2, but you'll certainly notice the developer's excellent work in terms of lighting and texture design.

Regarding the storyline, in Hitman 3, it is highly developed and possesses a "gradual revelation" quality. Before delving into the world of Hitman 3, it is strongly recommended to play the first two installments. Your understanding of the events and the game's plot will directly depend on it.

Since the relationships between the main characters undergo certain changes in Hitman 3 (no spoilers here), many of the missions will appear much more challenging and intriguing than before. For example, take the mission in Berlin, where you have to find an unknown number of agents among a massive crowd. They could be hiding, they could recognize you... And all of this is accentuated by an incredibly expansive location that exists in the real world (the territory of the "Berghain" club).

It's also worth noting the developers' excellent work on map design. While you may think Dubai is the most beautiful map, the next location will leave you even more amazed. All of them are quite vivid and well-crafted. I know that the graphics of Hitman 3 may not impress some people, but compared to its predecessors, it has improved exponentially and become more beautiful.

New Information Gathering System and Assassination Variety 

Information gathering and document collection play a significant role in Hitman 3. Thanks to the new scanner, you can store copies of important documents and hack laptops to obtain additional information about your targets.

The most interesting thing is that the information you gather in this way opens up different scenarios and multiple ways to kill your enemies. Obviously, for some additional tasks and more creative killing methods, you need to keep your eyes and ears sharp, as everything happening around you can help you complete the mission differently and achieve cool achievements.

For example, in one of the missions in Dubai, you can eavesdrop on a conversation between two guards about an exploding golf ball. You get the idea to use this method against your target, but it's not that simple.

You'll have to determine the location of the ball, eliminate enemies, change disguises multiple times, place it on the golf course, and then somehow make Ingram hit the ball himself. Isn't it interesting?

The above leads us to another important point: you can not only eliminate your targets in every possible way (whether it's pushing them off a rooftop, dropping a huge lamp on them, poisoning them, and much more), but also make the target meet their death by their own will.

For example, with resourcefulness and properly collected evidence in Dartmoor, you can make your target commit suicide, or in the case of Ingram, make him hit the exploding ball and fly off the balcony.

Drawback: Lack of Localization 

Unfortunately, there is currently no Russian localization for Hitman 3. However, this does not hinder gameplay as you can either use a translator (by taking a photo of the text on the screen) or read our walkthrough guides, or wait for the PC localization.

For those who have a moderate level of English, there shouldn't be any problems, as the speech is quite straightforward! However, don't forget that active work on the Hitman 3 Russian translation is already in progress.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it can confidently be said that Hitman 3 is one of the greatest stealth games on the market, which differs greatly from its predecessors in terms of technical aspects.

Hitman 3 is a game of precise strategy, patience, and repetition. Remember that it is a tactical game where you need to have a precise plan for eliminating targets. Simply moving towards enemies and shooting them in the face will not work in most cases. Think like Agent 47 to achieve your goals and stay alive.

Highly recommended!