Hitman III

[Craigsters]

 

 

I'll wait in tell it on sale at steam  to get it, which might be a year or 2 wait, I  have plenty of games to keep me busy

Edited January 22 by Craigsters

[Misumi]

Just play it on Game Pass. That's what I did, and I already completed the game. Not worth the money at all.

[smokeless6]

I have Hitman 2016 and Hitman 2 on Steam, so I of course decided to wait the year to pick up 3 so it could be integrated with the earlier games.

 

Comments on Steam are mixed, but not in the usual way. The game itself gets stellar marks, but it's everything surrounding the release that is getting slammed. pricing, DLC structure, confusing versions, such as which one to buy if you've already got the previous games.

It's as if the devs nailed it and the publisher blew it.
 

I rate the last two installments very highly, just my cuppa, so I'll definitely be picking this one up now that it is out on Steam. Like Craigsters I'm tempted to wait for a sale. But I doubt I will.

[Dbzk1999]

6 hours ago, smokeless6 said:

It's as if the devs nailed it and the publisher blew it.

I feel like there’s something really funny bout this statement, considering IO are their own publisher haha

[smokeless6]

Well, Publishing's on the fifth floor you know.

 

Yeah, it's like a restaurant where the chef is superb but the waitstaff's lousy.

 

I picked up Hitman 3 on Steam. I liked the last two games enough that the glowing reviews convinced me H3 is simply more of the same, and that's fine with me.

 

One of the things I like most about this "World of Assassination Trilogy" is how all three games are combined as one. I had read that I could carry over progress from the earlier games. So all the item unlocks, map mastery, XP levels and so on would transfer to the new game. The process though is not so simple, and you need a IO account to do it. It look longer than I expected, I had much trouble restoring my password for example, but eventually I got it done. So now every level in the trilogy is there in the UI, all my weapons, items and other lethal, and less-than, are available in the prep. A new player to Hitman (3) would need to wait to unlock these, but returning players can have their previous progress pay off with expanded capability from the off.

With everything installed and carried over, I hopped in to the game. I ran through the prologue training scenario twice to re-acclimate to the controls and mechanics, then tackled the first mission in Hitman 3, Dubai. There's a story arc in the game/series, but it's rather convoluted, and I pay cursory attention to try and understand my presumed motives. But generally it's forgettable, and hard to follow, for me.

The first mission opens in rather spectacular fashion. A parachute insertion to the world's tallest building. Inside are two targets to take out, there's a massive soiree of the world's elite going on, and 47 must work out a way to kill the highly secure and well guarded marks. Standard Hitman stuff. Story Opportunities return. these are solutions the game suggests, which you pick up by eavesdropping on conversations. You might hear the target likes a certain drink, and if you opt in, the game leads you to the drink recipe and some poison. Or maybe you hear the target is expecting a guard shift, and then you can find the replacement guard, and assume his identity to get close to your target. Or you can just wing it.

The game looks fantastic, even better than before. The location levels are dense, excellently designed and gorgeous. It runs smoothly, and in limited time, seemingly stable. This studio knows what they have in this IP, and how to pull it off. It's slick, polished and stuffed with content. Aside from the campaign there are additional modes like revolving timed events and a sniper assassination mode among others.

One of the things about Hitman that took me by surprise a couple years ago when I was playing is how central replays are to the experience. Replaying levels in most games isn't uncommon. After all, you might want to try a different plan, or simply do a better job of it. But in this game, the map mastery mechanic makes replaying nearly essential. The idea is that by replaying it over and over, you gain proficiency and new unlocks. These unlocks are weapons and items, like a remote explosive or a lethal rubber duck. Along with this you unlock new starting points, and stash locations. These open up new possibilities and tactical plans, so that even though you're replaying the level, the parameters have all changed. I like it, as the experience and options you gain make you better and better at it. A new level might take an hour and a half the first time, but later you might complete the mission in ten minutes. It's a neat gimmick that encourages retries and makes the already extensive content feel even deeper.

 

 

Edited January 24 by smokeless6

[Matrelith]

I waited a year for the Steam release and I felt kind of bummed out about how IOI handled the launch. I was expecting some kind of sale or discount for those who already owned Hitman 2016 and Hitman 2, but I guess that was wishful thinking. For now I just bought the standard edition (paying 60 bucks wasn't a dealbreaker for me). The extra content in the deluxe edition was ridiculously priced though. Luckily the game intergrated my Hitman 2 content flawlessly. Currently going through the story missions of 1 and 2 before diving into the new levels of 3 to experience the new levels. 

[smokeless6]

I skipped Deluxe too. had a look, and passed. Standard was the best choice owning the previous trilogy titles.

 

And that's an issue I think for a new player. Hitman 3 on its own is fine, good game. But it really should be all three combined. And that's not cheap. I bought the previous 2 a few years ago on a sale, US$50 for both games. With the 60 I spent on 3, that's $110 I've dropped on it. Today on Steam that same bundle is $100. I think it's worth it for the content it gives you, but others may not agree.

 

You're going to play through both earlier games again first Matrelith? I could only do the training a couple times before I had to dive in to the new stuff

 

Not much that's new, aside from the levels and targets of course. Not even any new sniper assassination maps. One thing though is the camera, which you need to break out often if you're hunting challenges.

[Grichka Bogdanoff]

1 hour ago, Matrelith said:

I was expecting some kind of sale or discount for those who already owned Hitman 2016 and Hitman 2, but I guess that was wishful thinking.

Why? It's a full new game.

[smokeless6]

Well to be fair, publishers sometimes offer a loyalty discount for previous owners. Or some sort of trinket, like a free Senna in Forza Horizon. Gearbox does it with Borderlands. Not a crazy notion. But IOI? They don't agree with this practice

 

US$60 is about right for a new AAA title so I was fine with it. Matrelith said he was too for what it's worth.

 

Since we have some other players here, I have a question. In each game there seems to be a new mark version of various implements, such as the MkI, Mk II and Mk III lockpicks. Are the differences in all these merely cosmetic? I assume so, and the descriptions don't indicate otherwise.

 

How about the handguns? Are all the Silverballers equal aside from appearance? I got a new pistol, called a Shortballer. I decided it's time to start carrying a new weapon. I carried that Silverballer for years!

[Craigsters]

I have hitman II and one of it's season passes and wasn't offered any discount on Hitman III

[Mister Pink]

The Hitman trilogy is now on Game Pass. 

 

I bought used Hitman II but the woman gave me Hitman III. Hitman III  is the most beautiful game I've played this generation. It's incredible. Only 6 locations but those locations are superb. 

 

 

 

 

[Matrelith]

On 1/24/2022 at 9:38 PM, Grichka Bogdanoff said:

Why? It's a full new game.

 

True, but the three games have so much overlap content wise a discount wouldn't be the weirdest thing. 

[smokeless6]

Good shots Mister Pink. Yes, the game looks great. Plays it too.

 

I've done everything through the China map. I play on Professional. In the earlier games I tended to stick on a map for a few runs before moving on, but this time I've only done Dubai more than once. I wanted to get a feel for each map and see which was my favorite to then focus on it and max out mastery. I think it may end up being one I haven't done (Argentina, shown in MP's last screenshot). In Hitman (2016) it was Paris. In Hitman 2 (2018) it was Whittleton Creek. But I really like many of the levels. Most are awesome, but one or two I wasn't so keen on.

 

In Hitman 3, IOI continues to show they are really good at level and world building. Dartmoor is a bit of an outlier, the sort of level that I think players will love the first time through, especially if following the initial story mission. But it might be the weakest one in the trilogy for replays. Berlin was such a cool twist, really enjoyed that one. I cased the entire joint, identifying every target, before beginning my deadly dance starting with the sniper and methodically taking them out one by one, using a different kill method for each one. I don't want to spoil it for others, but there were a couple neat touches in this one that makes it stand out.

 

Since installing Hitman 3 I also revisited a couple earlier levels. I finished Maldives yesterday. I guess I had failed to do so previously, the only level from the first two titles I hadn't finished. I did Bangkok again, that's another good one. Played a few sniper assassinations, a couple escalations. Lots of content in this trilogy.

 

 

 

 

[Mister Pink]

7 hours ago, smokeless6 said:

've done everything through the China map. I play on Professional. In the earlier games I tended to stick on a map for a few runs before moving on, but this time I've only done Dubai more than once. I wanted to get a feel for each map and see which was my favorite to then focus on it and max out mastery. I think it may end up being one I haven't done (Argentina, shown in MP's last screenshot). In Hitman (2016) it was Paris. In Hitman 2 (2018) it was Whittleton Creek. But I really like many of the levels. Most are awesome, but one or two I wasn't so keen on.

 

In Hitman 3, IOI continues to show they are really good at level and world building. Dartmoor is a bit of an outlier, the sort of level that I think players will love the first time through, especially if following the initial story mission. But it might be the weakest one in the trilogy for replays. Berlin was such a cool twist, really enjoyed that one. I cased the entire joint, identifying every target, before beginning my deadly dance starting with the sniper and methodically taking them out one by one, using a different kill method for each one. I don't want to spoil it for others, but there were a couple neat touches in this one that makes it stand out.

I was shocked at how much there was in the China map. I love the size of these maps. Each location is quite atmospheric. I loved the Cyberpunk theme in that location. 

 

I liked Datmoor. It was a bit different but I can see where you are coming from, especially if returning to it. I've only done each level once but like you, I'd like to return and complete them on a harder difficulty. IIRC, I'm playing on Professional too. I'm just so impressed by the amount of ways to gain access to places. 

 

I think I might play Hitman II before I replay III. My Game Pass sub runs out next month and at least I own Hitman III. So glad to see other fans of the series here. I think Game Pass might bring in more players that haven't played it before. It's a real relaxing game. I like taking things slowly, thinking things through, experimenting and sometimes just taking big risks. 

[smokeless6]

14 minutes ago, Mister Pink said:

 I like taking things slowly, thinking things through, experimenting and sometimes just taking big risks. 

 

Same here. And as a result, any level with large common areas, crowds, street markets and that sort of thing tend to be right up my alley. Maps that allow you to take your time, unhurried or harried, to case the joint and work out ways to prosecute the mission tend to be my favorites. I don't want to feel rushed in this sort of game, but then again, some time constraints here and there are good ways to get the player out of his comfort zone, and that's OK too, in small doses.

 

Matter of fact it feels like the devs had "counter-tropes" on their whiteboard during the planning sessions for Hitman 3. Like for example Berlin, where all, or most, of 47's standards are discarded. No handler, no gear, no intel, no mission stories. It's a clear attempt to get us out of formula, to force the player to improvise. It works. That's a great level for a number of reasons, but the fact I was stripped of the things I most commonly rely on made it a memorable experience and a satisfying one to ghost. I almost always start a mission with a Silver/Shortballer, fiberwire, three coins (lethal poison/lockpick in stash). It's comforting. In Berlin this is all turned upside down. Hokkaido was like this too. Just a robe to start. These are two of the best of the modern Hitman levels, in my view. I just played both of these levels in the past two days. Hitman at it's best.

[Mister Pink]

33 minutes ago, smokeless6 said:

Matter of fact it feels like the devs had "counter-tropes" on their whiteboard during the planning sessions for Hitman 3. Like for example Berlin, where all, or most, of 47's standards are discarded. No handler, no gear, no intel, no mission stories. It's a clear attempt to get us out of formula, to force the player to improvise. It works. That's a great level for a number of reasons, but the fact I was stripped of the things I most commonly rely on made it a memorable experience and a satisfying one to ghost.

That's a great observation, actually. You could be right. And maybe that's another reason that level stood out for me. The devs really seem on their A-game. 

[RARusk]

I have been writing guides on the current Hitman games for the past five years and my Hitman 3 guide is my largest to date. I pretty much know each map inside and out and have everything earned and bought all current DLC. However, I have yet to start on the new Year Two stuff (I am working on the DE version of my Vice City guide right now). But one thing I love about this game is how much fun you can have just screwing around. Like running thorough a level just choking out everybody or knocking them out with a can of spaghetti sauce or a wine bottle (which makes a satisfying thunk when you smack somebody in the face). Shooting guards in the knees with my trusty Krugermeier just to make them fall down some stairs is fun too.

[Shadowfennekin]

They really f*cked up Elusive Target Arcade.

How f*cking hard is it to just let us have unrestricted access to Elusive Targets?!

NOBODY likes Escalations because of all the restriction bullsh*t and then they go and bring it into Elusive Target Arcade?! UGH!

 

I'm hoping the upcoming map is good

[smokeless6]

A friend clued me in to freelancer mode. I wasn't aware, and this looks very cool.

 

 

[Matrelith]

 

Nice of them to admit that the launch was messy to say the least. 

[smokeless6]

So I get free Deadly Sins? Nice.

 

Right? It says trilogy owners and I have all three. I bought Standard H3, but have all three games so if I am reading it right then Deadly Sins is free. And if I am reading it rite I also get upgraded to Deluxe, even if I don't care about that.

 

Thanks for the info mate.

 

Hitman 1 and 2 bundle for sale on Steam for US$25, which is half what I paid for the same a few years ago. For anyone on the fence, the Steam pge lets you play the opening mission in Hitman 2, Hawke's Bay, for free to see if you like it. It's set in a remote beach/house. It's on the smaller side, quite manageable, with plenty of scope for assassination.

Edited January 27 by smokeless6

[RARusk]

The Deadly Sins DLC was okay and was a different take on things. However, you do earn two items that can be useful: a sedative grenade (The Sloth Depletion) and a dartgun with blinding darts (The Lust Assignation). The randomized elements in Freelancer may make it hard to write things up but we'll see when that comes out. I hope to have done the DE version of San Andreas by then along with the re-release of Stubbs the Zombie.

[smokeless6]

Thanks for the info RARusk. Turns out I don't have the trilogy, I guess. I got the Deluxe upgrade, as promised, which I don't care about. But not SDS. I bought Hitman 2 a few years ago, and what was called the Legacy pack, which added the Hitman 1 content. So I guess they don't see me as owning Hitman 1?

 

I'm having a good time with the new one, and some of the old content too. Last night I played Dubai several times. One of the only things I can knock H3 on is the lack of mission stories. The other titles had minimum five per level, and I think Sapienza has nineteen? But no level in H3 has more than three. These aren't crucial, but I do enjoy them, and maybe just as importantly they are contributors to map mastery. And as a result I'm finding it harder in Hitman 3 to advance it. Only XP contributes to mastery, not mission score, so you need to hit mission stories and challenges to raise mastery. With so few mission stories on offer, and since you can only claim each one once, mastery levels above 10 are harder to come by for me. Maybe they'll add some down the line?

 

So I ran Dubai about four times, trying to hit new challenges, and to experiment around the level. One of the ones I did was Impactful Art. After exfil I wondered how fast that could have gone were I to cut out all of the wasted motion. Just do exactly what I just did, but max efficiency, hit my marks, no wasted effort or time. So I did and got out in 12:22, silent assassin on professional.

 

But since I basically repeated everything I got squat for XP, and barely nudged the mastery bar at all. So this means you have to pick through each challenge, do a fiber wire, a drowning and so on down the line. I get it yeah, but there was more latitude here in the other two games since you could gain much more mastery through mission stories. Three just isn't enough, even if the ones that are in are good ones in the main.

 

 

[GhettoJesus]

I am interested in playing more wih the Hitman series, but the last Hitman game I played was Hitman Absolution (which got a bad rep from what I have heard). Do you guys recommend Hitler III? Ignoring all the pricing and releasing stuff and purely looking at the game itself. Is it a fun game? It's a bit difficult to understand how this game is getting released, but from what I have heard Hitman III also includes Hitman and Hitman 2, is that correct?

[smokeless6]

Yes mate, it is confusing. To answer one of the questions, I absolutely recommend it, which I'm sure you would have concluded from my earlier posts. But as always, there are horses for courses so to speak, and not everyone will get on with it, which is natural. For someone like you who is not sure about it, I wouldn't recommend getting Hitman 3 straight off, as that one is still selling full boat. Steam is running a sale on the rest of the trilogy through February 3. I'd suggest picking up one of the earlier installments in the trilogy. This way you can try it out without spending too much cash. If you like it then buy Hitman 3, which will probably be on sale inside two months. All three games can be combined. For what it is worth, Absolution didn't quite click with me either, but the "World of Assassination Trilogy", the three latest games from 2016, 2018 and right now, these games are fantastic in my view.

 

The Steam page also allows you to play the first level in Hitman 2, Hawke's Bay, for free. That's a risk-free way to see what you think of the Hitman vibe, although it is a small level intended to be a sort of tutorial. Still, it will show you what the rest of the trilogy is like and is a good Hitman level in its own right.

 

Is it fun? I think so, but then I'm a long time fan of the stealth genre, like Thief, Splinter Cell, Deus Ex, Dishonored and those sorts of games. So Hitman is right up my alley so to speak. Play Hawke's Bay and see what you think.

 

Hitman 3 does not include 1 & 2, but they can be combined under a single banner and all played out of a common UI, if that makes sense.

Edited January 29 by smokeless6

[RARusk]

Technically Hitman 3 does include the legacy stuff (the H1 and H2 maps) but are locked unless you pay for the key to unlock them. If you purchased Hitman 2 and purchased the Legacy DLC, which are the Hitman 1 maps, plus the Expansion Pass, for it then purchase Hitman 3 then you unlock all of the legacy stuff for free. This is the path I took because of the guides I write for them (I need to have everything so I can show people how to get the best out of them). The neat thing about Hitman 3 is that it is smaller than Hitman 2 due to it being completely reprogrammed - crashes less too (at least on the PS4 version).

[smokeless6]

H3 has been perfectly stable for me. Runs great too, on modest hardware. Technically, the game if fine and polished.

 

I've now completed all levels in the trliogy, save the epilogue. Did Mendoza to complete the series. One of the best ways to snuff out your target is to trick a NPC in to doing it for you. There are few of these opportunities in the series, but there is one in the Mendoza level. Overall, I found H3 to be a fitting end to the trilogy. Some fantastic levels, a few twists, some new items (key pads, camera, taser mine).

 

Berlin gets the most praise in this installment I think, but honestly I think it's Dubai that's my favorite level. So many cool ways to assassinate. This is meant as a tutorial level in some ways, but still, I think it's my favorite. I thought Berlin was great, but Dubai is closer to what I think of when I think of Hitman. Opulence, arrogance and hubris stacked vertically.

 

I actually have maxed mastery in Dubai, which, as I talked about earlier, is harder to do in H3 with so few mission stories on offer. This forces you to do a much broader set of kill types, to chase the challenges (like cause a target to slip on a banana of all things!) and to attempt the classics (Silent Assassin, Suit Only, Sniper Assassin). Throw in an escalation or two for good measure. I did all of that to finally reach mastery level 20. Things like kill both targets with a single sniper bullet. It takes some runs to learn the map and have these sorts of opportunities become evident. That XP is needed to hit max mastery, and it forces you to seek out these challenges. So while I would like to see more missions stories in each level, there's no doubt that having so few is causing me to be a more-well rounded assassin.

Edited January 31 by smokeless6

[smokeless6]

We are discussing this game on a different forum and I decided to rank the levels now that I've played them all and thought I'd re-post it here.

 

Having played through the trilogy, I thought I'd take a shot at ranking the levels based on what I think makes a good Hitman playground. This is entirely subjective. Well, not entirely, I like to think I can be objective and measured in my assessments as well. But it really comes down to what I think makes it good or bad, and this will be different for each player. Excluding the epilogue, Carpathian Mountains, there are twenty levels in the series. This list is based on the campaign missions, I am not considering escalations, contracts, bonus missions and other side content.

20. Colorado (H1) -- I don't think any levels in the World of Assassination trilogy are bad. But some are better than others. Colorado is in the bottom spot because it doesn't feel like Hitman to me. It's a farm where everywhere is hostile, and has multiple targets. It's still a good level in the absolute sense, but there are no safe spaces, no blend opportunities and disguise progressions to go through. Just a farm full of bad guys. Uninspiring.

19. ICA Facility (H1) -- It's simply a tutorial mission, a mock up of plywood and actors, all to train 47 in the subtle arts of the kill. Nothing wrong with it, it does what it says on the tin. But it is basic, small and temporary. Good to hone some skills, but otherwise not a proper Hitman level, and not intended to be.

18. Santa Fortuna (H2) -- Again, I don't think any of these levels are bad, but this one was a bit too sprawling for me. Hippo kills are legendary however.

17. Marrakesh (H1) -- About the same as Santa Fortuna. These two levels are set up so there are distinct, and what I feel may be disjointed, areas to tackle in turn. I didn't enjoy the infiltration on this one as much as other levels, and the whole school section left me a little cold.

16. Hawke's Bay (H2) -- A tutorial level, but it sits this high due to the setting and ambience. It was also my first real mission in the trilogy so maybe gets some points for that. I like how it is split between the free phase where no one is around, and the arrival of the guards and targets while you're in the house.

15. Isle of Sgàil (H2) -- It's a neat concept, and a striking setting, but this level felt a bit restricted and not as fun to play as others. Probably the level I've played the fewest times, and maybe some more runs would change my view.

14. Bangkok (H1) -- A prototypical hotel mission. It's a bit of a dichotomy, with the grounds even split in to two towers -- the public spaces on one side, and private on the other. One target is almost too exposed and easy to kill, the other is hemmed in by hostile areas, many guards, cameras and other impedimenta. And who knew 47 could beat the drums like Ginger Baker?

13. Dartmoor (H3) -- One of the smallest and tightest levels in the trilogy, and features an Agatha Christie type whodunnit that is one of the neatest turns I've seen in this series. Think the movie Knives Out in a Hitman game. Nothing wrong with this level per se, but it's this far down my list because beyond the whodunnit there's just not much meat on these bones.

12. Chongqing (H3) -- This level gets a lot of love and while I enjoyed it, it felt a little too convoluted. I could see the contrast they were going for -- the rain soaked neon-lit streets above and the cold, austere high-tech facility below. But with this level 47 is moving in to the black ops genre, and I want him back in Hitman.

11, Mumbai (H2) -- It's a fine level and has much of what I like about Hitman. Some very cool hit opportunities and mission stories. It's dense and a neat setting. I could do without the whole Maelstrom thing though.

10. New York (H2) -- Hitman's take on a bank heist. It works. But it's one I don't find myself keen on replaying. Not sure why. I should re-visit it.

9. Mendoza (H3) -- This level was beautiful, loved the setting. I also really liked the ability to trick a NPC in to taking out a target. I've only run through it a couple times. It gets a lot of praise but I only thought it was OK. Nothing extraordinary. Maybe because for the first time I didn't trust Diana. This probably should have been the trilogy's final level. Put your signature suit back on and dance with Diana as the screen fades to black.

8. Berlin (H3) -- Berlin is maybe the most innovative level in the series. Some rate it as the best level. I really liked the twist and had fun identifying and then eliminating the many targets, all in a pulsating German rave scene. But something about it keeps it from reaching the top of this list. Still, a great Hitman level that throws you out of your comfort zone and puts your full range of skills to the test.

7. Whittleton Creek (H2) -- A bucolic Vermont suburb is such a divergent setting for a lethal assassin like 47. And I loved it. I feel so badass knowing the power I have to decide fates among the backyard barbecues and door to door salesmen. This was the second map I maxed out mastery. A great level and a throwback to the classic Blood Money mission "A New Life".

6. Haven Island (H2) -- I love this map, the setting and how much concealing foliage there is! The weather change is a neat touch. Three targets, numerous kill opportunities, and even one USB-stick that leads to two kills if you play it right. A perfectly balanced Hitman map. Blowing up the jetski is one of the most fun eliminations in the series, watching the target fly off in to the jungle lol.

5. Sapienza (H1) -- Top-five territory now, the best of what Hitman offers. This could be the best level in the trilogy, and many think it is. I might too, except for that virus you must destroy. This alone drops this level from the very top to fifth place in my list. Anytime the game moves from silent assassin territory in to the covert/black ops sort of stuff I bristle. I'm a cold, calculating killer. Send in another agent for that stuff, thanks very much.

4. Hokkaido (H1) -- This level took a little while to percolate for me. Levels where you start with nothing jarred me at first, but now I see the beauty, how it forces you to improvise and use all of your skills, rather than rely on your standards. Berlin is like this too. Top setting, a high tech Japanese hospital, and some extremely devious kill opportunities. This is high-art Hitman at it's best.

3. Dubai (H3) -- Not one other player will rank this so highly I don't think. But for me it's everything a good Hitman level should be, in many ways it hits the same notes Paris does. It's H3's tutorial level, but has fantastic kill opportunities, plenty of verticality, safe and hostile zones and you can make a target slip on a banana as he tries to leap off the world's tallest building wearing a parachute you sabotaged with a letter opener. Perfect.

2. Miami (H2) -- Fantastic level with so many dissimilar ways to approach it. All set around an auto-race, in which one of your targets is a competitor. You can kill wearing a mascot costume, become Florida Man, or take out both targets by making one fall on the track, crashing the other target's car and killing them both. This stuff never gets old. Pitch perfect level and game design.

1 Paris (H1) -- I don't think many players will rate Paris as top level in the trilogy, but for me this is the perfect Hitman level. it was the first one where I maxed mastery. There may be some nostalgia tinting my view. But it has it all. Great setting, opportunities and level design. Paris, for me, is the ideal Hitman level.

 

Edited February 1 by smokeless6

[Matrelith]

Actually pretty happy that IOI decided to give the deluxe content for free to those who bought the standard edition. It seems like with it every H3 level now features an escalation which lets you unlock an outfit from a previous Hitman game to be used as a starting suit.

 

 

 

 

 

As a fan of the franchise since Codename 47 this makes me very happy. 

 

Currently playing the Dartmoor level, after running Dubai a few times. Will make a list of worst to best levels when I finish Hitman 3.

 

 

  

17 hours ago, smokeless6 said:

6. Haven Island (H2) -- I love this map, the setting and how much concealing foliage there is! The weather change is a neat touch. Three targets, numerous kill opportunities, and even one USB-stick that leads to two kills if you play it right. A perfectly balanced Hitman map. Blowing up the jetski is one of the most fun eliminations in the series, watching the target fly off in to the jungle lol.
 

 

There is even a way to get all three targets together and kill them in one go. It's my go-to assassination when doing Haven Island suit only.

Edited February 1 by Matrelith

[smokeless6]

I got the Deluxe upgrade as well, but didn't care, as I thought it was all cosmetic and fanstuff. What do you actually get with that Deluxe upgrade?

 

 

3 hours ago, Matrelith said:

There is even a way to get all three targets together and kill them in one go. It's my go-to assassination when doing Haven Island suit only.

 

Oh, is that right? I have yet to work that one out. Gotta try it! Can you give the basic setup on how it is set in motion?

 

I did Dartmoor last night to do the photograph mission story. That was a hoot, especially at the instant the photo is snapped.  I laughed. There is an achievement for doing all three mission stories in that one.

 

There are far fewer achievements in H3 than H2, like 60 fewer. but I'm hunting the ones I can get. Matter of fact, I did my carry-over with so many achievements undone in H2 that I've been playing Hitman 2 alongside Hitman 3 just to get more filled out. One of the things I noticed is scoring is different. For example I did a SASO/SA (sniper assassin) run in Miami in both games and got three times the XP for doing it in Hitman 2. Over 50k XP for doing it in H2, and it took me from mastery 13 to mastery 20. I took shots of each debrief screen, and what jumps out is H2 displays many of the challenges as done twice, where H3 does not. As if you get Suit Only, etc for each target.

 

I also gave New York another go, as I talked about in the ranking list. Pretty good level, but didn't make me want to reconsider its place in the list.

 

 

 

Edited February 1 by smokeless6