Hitman: Absolution has hardcore mode for masochists
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Well, okay, you don't technically need to be a masochist, but a hardcore mode in Hitman Absolution, included specifically for veterans of the series, just may be a real blood-boiler. Producer Hakan Abrak told Eurogamer that the difficulty setting rewards methodical stealth play with Achievements and/or Trophies.
"We will get into more details at a later point, but obviously it's linked to the playing style," he said. "It's more pacify your enemies, be undetected, maybe solve the challenges in a smarter way. That will probably give you a stealth assassin achievement." It might also give you an ulcer, depending on how many times you're forced to restart each mission.
Abrak also hopes to silence critics who say Absolution ditches its stealth roots for the more action-packed gameplay we saw in the gameplay demo -- don't expect that, Abrak says. "Rest assured, the hardcore fans that like to have replayablity value in the game or want to have this stealth assassin -- you know, I'm the ultimate stealth assassin -- that playing style, those achievements, are very much in the game."
For more info on Hitman Absolution, be sure to check out our preview from back in June.
"We will get into more details at a later point, but obviously it's linked to the playing style," he said. "It's more pacify your enemies, be undetected, maybe solve the challenges in a smarter way. That will probably give you a stealth assassin achievement." It might also give you an ulcer, depending on how many times you're forced to restart each mission.
Abrak also hopes to silence critics who say Absolution ditches its stealth roots for the more action-packed gameplay we saw in the gameplay demo -- don't expect that, Abrak says. "Rest assured, the hardcore fans that like to have replayablity value in the game or want to have this stealth assassin -- you know, I'm the ultimate stealth assassin -- that playing style, those achievements, are very much in the game."
For more info on Hitman Absolution, be sure to check out our preview from back in June.
Reader Comments (29)
Posted: Oct 7th 2011 2:49AM FlashJS said
I've never played the other games in the series. Is this game like Deus Ex: HR? Cuz that was fun.
Posted: Oct 7th 2011 6:31AM Pure Black World Tendency said
I would say it's more like Assassin's Creed (which must have taken inspiration from Hitman) minus the open world and climbing but with guns and a bald man that you can have fun dressing up in silly costumes.
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Posted: Oct 7th 2011 9:35AM Ravenok said
@Cirrus
I second the Ass Creed comparison. Hitman has traditionally had a lot of social stealth segments, where fitting into a crowd is crucial--Hitman goes about it with disguises, though.
Also, comparing the game to a more obscure game may not be helpful here; Hitman 2 has probably sold more copies than every Tenchu game combined.
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I second the Ass Creed comparison. Hitman has traditionally had a lot of social stealth segments, where fitting into a crowd is crucial--Hitman goes about it with disguises, though.
Also, comparing the game to a more obscure game may not be helpful here; Hitman 2 has probably sold more copies than every Tenchu game combined.
Posted: Oct 7th 2011 11:32AM Faceless Troll said
@Ravenok I'd say it's more like Metal Gear Solid.
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Posted: Oct 7th 2011 2:52PM anakinsolo said
@FlashJS Hitman has elements of all the games mentioned, but honestly I don't think you can compare it to any out there. You just have to play it and experience it. hope your PS2 still works.
My favs. Killing the computer nerd in the basement of that huge company then offing his brother in the penthouse the next stage. Also, killing the two russian generals with one shote, while they stroll through the park.
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My favs. Killing the computer nerd in the basement of that huge company then offing his brother in the penthouse the next stage. Also, killing the two russian generals with one shote, while they stroll through the park.
Posted: Oct 7th 2011 2:53AM Baztian said
Really bothering how he keeps referring to "stealth" assassin when anyone who knows Hitman knows it should be "silent" assassin.
Posted: Oct 7th 2011 4:45AM Mechazawa Prime said
@Baztian
I wouldn't read too much into it. Probably just a slip of the tongue or a brain fart.
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I wouldn't read too much into it. Probably just a slip of the tongue or a brain fart.
Posted: Oct 7th 2011 4:46PM Fullmetal Salchemist said
@Mechazawa Prime
Or a clear indicator he doesn't know the first thing about the franchise; which is they're turning it into a cover-based action game.
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Or a clear indicator he doesn't know the first thing about the franchise; which is they're turning it into a cover-based action game.
Posted: Oct 9th 2011 1:19AM Mechazawa Prime said
@Fullmetal Salchemist
Have you ever played a Hitman game? If you got caught it turned into a firefight just like any third person shooter. If they make the gunplay more intuitive then awesome. It's no loss as long as we can still play the stealth approach.
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Have you ever played a Hitman game? If you got caught it turned into a firefight just like any third person shooter. If they make the gunplay more intuitive then awesome. It's no loss as long as we can still play the stealth approach.
Posted: Oct 7th 2011 3:20AM Sabrage said
Remember when simply beating a game was an achievement in itself, rather than an expectation? Those were the days....
Posted: Oct 7th 2011 7:26AM Mugen said
@Sabrage More importantly I remember when beating the game using stealth unlocked the dual silenced silverballers! Which effectively forced the player to replay the game in stealth mass murderer mode.
Hitman 1: Original. Fun. The hotel mission is still one of my favourite levels across all games. (And I got to stay in the real hotel once!)
Hitman 2: Ahead of it's time. Very fun.
Blood Money: Best final level in a game ever.
Contracts was bad tho...
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Hitman 1: Original. Fun. The hotel mission is still one of my favourite levels across all games. (And I got to stay in the real hotel once!)
Hitman 2: Ahead of it's time. Very fun.
Blood Money: Best final level in a game ever.
Contracts was bad tho...
Posted: Oct 7th 2011 10:39AM monkeypants said
@Mugen
my favorite missions was the wedding scene. feeding people to the crocodiles and dropping the chandeliers were
some of my all-time gaming moments.
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my favorite missions was the wedding scene. feeding people to the crocodiles and dropping the chandeliers were
some of my all-time gaming moments.
Posted: Oct 7th 2011 3:22AM BULLETBOI said
I would not label a game masochistic unless it dark souls. Hitman is not in the league as dark souls.
Posted: Oct 7th 2011 4:12AM adr916 said
Hell Yeaaa.... * puts hitman gloves on
Posted: Oct 7th 2011 5:24AM UnnXandros said
difficulty setting rewards methodical stealth play with Achievements and/or Trophies.
Achievements AND Trophies! Buy one version, grow you epenis TWICE as fast.
:P
Achievements AND Trophies! Buy one version, grow you epenis TWICE as fast.
:P
Posted: Oct 7th 2011 6:11AM Zolbrod said
It'd be nice if this game had a Hard mode that actually plays differently from Normal mode, instead of the vast majority of games where Hard = you do less damage and take more.
Posted: Oct 7th 2011 6:41AM WillPG1212 said
yeah yeah... itl have "classic... i mean hardcore" mode that will make all the old fans happy.
Heard that one before....
Heard that one before....
Posted: Oct 7th 2011 6:41AM saturn118 said
No matter what they do with this game I doubt they'll achieve a better ending than Blood Money's.
Posted: Oct 7th 2011 9:43AM refinedsugar said
Everytime it appears as if a game might have been dumbed down, some member of the production staff jumps out from behind a tree pleading "we haven't dumbed it down folks! we haven't dumbed it down!! plzzzzz believe meeeeee!!!"
Maybe it's cause 'dumbed down' sounds so negative, not so poetic. What's the word they use now? Streamlined. The line blurs.
The Hitman series is one of my favorites. Only equaled by the GTA series in terms of must-buy status ... and early word on Absolution has hardly been positive. Didn't they do away with the original voice of 47 AND Diana?
I remain skeptical.
Maybe it's cause 'dumbed down' sounds so negative, not so poetic. What's the word they use now? Streamlined. The line blurs.
The Hitman series is one of my favorites. Only equaled by the GTA series in terms of must-buy status ... and early word on Absolution has hardly been positive. Didn't they do away with the original voice of 47 AND Diana?
I remain skeptical.
Posted: Oct 7th 2011 2:57PM anakinsolo said
It would make my millenium if they had a special edition that came with an HD version of the original games. Just thinking about the stages from hitman 2 makes me want to play. Remember the end when the russian mob tries to kill you in the church and you sneak to the shed and just load up on all the guns you collected throughout the game. Classic.
Posted: Oct 7th 2011 6:04PM Ender7 said
They say it has not been dumbed down, nor removed the stealth part, but the "demo" shown seem to indicate a preference for action with dumbed down controls. Also, there was the option to knock out and NOT kill people(like civilians) in the original games, where is that option? There is also the mention in another article about learning about agent 47 past. Um what? Why? Why do I have this sinking feeling that they are going to introduce a love element to the game. Also, we already had a flashback game, we don't need another.
Posted: Oct 7th 2011 6:07PM Frez said
It's not as if Blood Money was difficult, don't know why they had to dumb it down to begin with.
Posted: Oct 7th 2011 6:57PM Timjoy said
They better get the controls down...
IO Interactive games ALWAYS have crappy controls...
this includes the hitman series and kane and lynch....
IO Interactive is really good at creating the characters, dialogue and story though....
IO Interactive games ALWAYS have crappy controls...
this includes the hitman series and kane and lynch....
IO Interactive is really good at creating the characters, dialogue and story though....








