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Here's 17 Minutes of Hitman: Absolution Gameplay With Commentary from IO Interactive

There's no question that Agent 47 will smoke some dudes. The only question is how.

Jul. 12 2012

Posted by: Alex

In This Episode:

Hitman: Absolution

135 Comments

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j0lter

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Edited By j0lter

Give me this game. Now.

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BitterAlmond

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Edited By BitterAlmond

This looks awesome. Obviously a pre-build (some of the animations are pretty wonky still), but it has promise.

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squirrelnacho

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Edited By squirrelnacho

@Nethlem said:

@squirrelnacho said:

The "instinct mode" should be labeled easy mode, and the default should have that all removed. Those features are for people who can't stand to play anything thats not a linear action game. That is not what Hitman is about.

The levels still seem sort of small with with less challenging objectives. Still need to see if the levels are really as big as the old Hitman games. A lot of the obviously new fans here have no perspective on this.

The music sounds generic and pretty bad without the old composer Jesper Kyd, just generic suspense music. Additionally, they are just reusing the Blood Money Hitman theme now (something they never did before) which is pretty lame, they always had nearly all new music in each game before.

The old voice actor was a much better fit as well.

Otherwise it looks like it has many of the elements of an old Hitman game. Without the old voice actor and composer it's missing some important elements. Hopefully the gameplay and level design holds up.

1. Then don't play with it, there is a purist mode for a reason. But i guess complaining about having options and not just "MY WAY" is the cool thing to do?

2. The levels seem small? So far they showed 2 playtroughs both of these didn't involve any exploration at all as the guy playing knew exactly what to do, when to do it and where to go. That's hardly a good point of view from which to judge the size and interaction possibilities of the levels. Even in this one: There is plenty of places you can obviously reach but the demo guy didn't bother to go there because he allready knew where he had to go.

3. You can label any music generic, the sound design still seems solid and manages to sets a mood. Some people call it "reusing" others call it "remixing". But nice contradiction right there, first you complain about the music being generic because there is no Jesper Kyd involved, but when they use a theme composed by him you cry foul and label it "lame" because it's "reused". Can't be happy with anything, right?

Anyway i love how you can write up three huge paragraphs how "everything sucks and why this is such an bad hitman game" just to end you whole comment along the lines of "Oh it looks like it has all the things an hitman game needs!". Haters gonna hate i guess...

1. It's already been well established that it's optional. That doesn't mean its a good direction for the series if the default setting includes many features to make it easier.

2. Obviously it's just one play through. With the improved graphics, it would be good to see the levels kept as large as before.

3. The original soundtracks won many awards. Also, remixing is changing songs, not reusing them. The post never said it wanted the original music. It praised the original creator of the old soundtracks with the implication it would have been nice to have more similar sounding music. You misread the post, then called it a contradiction.

You complain about the length of the post, then go and write an even longer one. The post never said the game has everything it needs to be a Hitman game, it says it has has many elements of a Hitman game, and that hopefully the gameplay is good. Your post amounts to making things up then and arguing with them. It's fine if people have different opinions about a preview.

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RoyaleWifCheese

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Edited By RoyaleWifCheese

TL;DR Awesome game looks awesome, dogs fucking.

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theimmortalbum

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Edited By theimmortalbum

This game looks great. Been playing some Blood Money and while it still stands up.. you can tell it is from 2006. Some things are almost too obtuse.

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Yorkin

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Edited By Yorkin

This game seems like what Hitman was always meant to be.

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ineedmoneyplyr

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Edited By ineedmoneyplyr

I do not know if I like the seeing through wall thing. I feel I would rather explore the world as it comes. I am still interested to see how this turns out.

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HerbieBug

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Edited By HerbieBug

@Nethlem said:

@squirrelnacho said:

The levels still seem sort of small with with less challenging objectives. Still need to see if the levels are really as big as the old Hitman games. A lot of the obviously new fans here have no perspective on this.


2. The levels seem small? So far they showed 2 playtroughs both of these didn't involve any exploration at all as the guy playing knew exactly what to do, when to do it and where to go. That's hardly a good point of view from which to judge the size and interaction possibilities of the levels. Even in this one: There is plenty of places you can obviously reach but the demo guy didn't bother to go there because he allready knew where he had to go.

On the topic of level size: Some of my favorite Hitman levels are amongst the smallest ones in each game. This is particularly true of Hitman 2. It's all about the design, the setup, the puzzle, and the variety of ways to achieve your goals. Hitman is at its best when all those points are clicking together in a tight level.

:)

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HerbieBug

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Edited By HerbieBug

I weakened on my anti-spoiler resolve and watched this with the sound turned off.

This game is in good hands. They just need to fire whatever marketing team put together those awful nun trailers and all will be well. The nuns themselves aren't the problem, Hitman has always had corny shit like that. It's the way those trailers present them and the game by extension. Trying to make the game look like something it isn't. Refusing to highlight any of the stuff that makes the game cool.

But nevermind all that. Hitman for GOTY 2012 LET'S GO!!!! :D!

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gutterkisser

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Edited By gutterkisser

@Korolev said:

Uh, why does it look like it takes place in the 50's, when they are CLEARLY using modern tech like cellphones?

It's a shitty backwater town, but more importantly it's just variation in art/level design. Which kinda seems like a really good thing to me.

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paulwade1984

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Edited By paulwade1984

Shut the f**k up and take my money.

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Tremayne

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Edited By Tremayne

Great demo video, and while I think walking away from explosions like a badass is great, surely there should be a mechanic where the AI notices the one guy slowly walking the opposite way from a gas station explosion?

I guess that you wouldn't be able to have Agent 47 run with the AI to the scene and pretend to be concerned etc as it would completely counter the "dont walk too close or they will immediately recognise you aren't from these parts", but the whole setting up of a big event and then having people just watch you not react and skulk away kinda breaks it for me.

It'll still be getting my money of course, as walking slowly away from explosions is badass.

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korolev

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Edited By korolev

Uh, why does it look like it takes place in the 50's, when they are CLEARLY using modern tech like cellphones?

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theguy

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Edited By theguy

@Ksaw said:

I know it's in the interest of momentum to have 47 automatically switch clothing like that, but considering how far they appear to be going with all these little details, It feels outdated and kind of jarring. Even if they just did a quick fade out, fade in when changing disguises, I think it would preserve some the immersion without hurting the gameplay too much.

They might change that, it is pre-beta. I'm assuming they will also clean up the camera on the point shooting because that looked kinda janky.

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ProfessorK

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Edited By ProfessorK

WHO LET THE DOGS OUT?!

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n0nametaz

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Edited By n0nametaz

The music is fantastic!

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AssInAss

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Edited By AssInAss

@Sackmanjones said:

I will buy this game. Also when he was walking away from those exploding cars was probably the most amazing thing I've ever seen.

Bald assassins don't look at explosions

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ezdude

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Edited By ezdude

This seems promising.

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leebmx

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Edited By leebmx

Not going to watch this, firstly cos I can't because my internet is so godawful, but secondly I don't want to spoil the game and despite all the bondage nuns rubbishness I was always semi-confident it would stick to what I like about Hitman - being smooth and stealthy and then walking away slowly while everything explodes in the background/lies dead on the floor/hasn't noticed a thing.

The comments have reassured me that I may be in luck........let's hope so.

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Schuultz

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Edited By Schuultz

Is it just me or did they redesign 47's face to look a little more like Timothy Olyphant?

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thomasonfa

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Edited By thomasonfa

They need to add animations to Agent 47 during the point shooting sequences.

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Cubidog1

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Edited By Cubidog1

Looks amazing. I can't wait for this.

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Sackmanjones

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Edited By Sackmanjones

I will buy this game. 
 
Also when he was walking away from those exploding cars was probably the most amazing thing I've ever seen.

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deactivated-5c7ea8553cb72

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Not a fan of mark-and-execute move they included, but the game looks solid otherwise.

I have a feeling this is just me, but the visuals look like they slapped on some weird Instagram filter over them in parts.

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MudMan

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Edited By MudMan

@Khann said:

@NoelVeiga said:

@Shaanyboi said:

@Dixego said:

Take that, people who bashed the trailers!

On a separate note, where's 47's neck barcode?

? That trailer was still a fucking abomination. I'm glad to see the game is turning out alright, but that doesn't excuse that pandering shitty marketing

I'm pretty sure he means the reveal trailer where 47 shot a bunch of guys and made every geek whine about how they "had made Hitman into a shooter".

Yeah, we remember. I'd like some acknowledgement of that one from the guys that freaked out, given how straight-up Hitman this game is turning out to be.

I am one of those that was not pleased with the "E3 Demo" footage. That footage was what they chose to use to market their game, and it did make it look much more shootery than fans of the franchise would like. This video has certainly made me a lot more interested (even though the AI seems retarded), but I stand by my reaction to the first video, as that was all I had to go on.

What they showed in that E3 video was what they wanted the gaming community to discuss, and if that's a gross misrepresentation of what their game actually is, then the blame is on them.

It doesn't change the video, it just shows how much of a whiney, knee-jerk reaction it was for people to complain about the E3 video by assuming that just because they showed shooting there wouldn't be stealth in the game. You definitely had something more to go on: the knowledge that you still didn't know enough about the game. You could have said "hey, this has a lot of shooting in it, but it's a three minute video, so I'll wait until the game is more finished before I freak out". That's not what people did, though.

Also, I thought the AI looked just fine. Cops asked 47 to stand down rather than shoot on sight, awareness was dependent on reporting rather than automatic and enemies checked out disturbances instead of going straight into alert. That's pretty solid, right there.

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majorchin

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Edited By majorchin

@prencher: Yeah, to me it looks like he's limping.

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Edited By turboman

remember when people were worried with this game?

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Conciliator

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Edited By Conciliator

Well fuck, that looks goddamn amazing. +1 Calmly walking away from an explosion(s).

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dvorak

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Edited By dvorak

Whoa whoa whoa. Wait. So the whole game isn't in that crazy old mansion or whatever? What the hell is wrong with Eidos marketing team on this game? I was probably always sold, but I had no idea the game had a traditional mission structure.

...video game marketing strikes again!

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Edited By CaLe

I'm glad they added the vision stuff etc because I'm not a hitman in real life so I don't subconsciously pick up on little things. I'd notice a cute puppy and that would be it, mission over, because I'm not gonna kill someone after I see a cute puppy. But with the vision mode it makes you notice things only a hitman would notice because he has years of expertise doing these missions. It's cool to see so many guys in here are expert hitmen and aren't swayed by cute puppies or anything like that. I wish I was as cool as you guys.

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prencher

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Edited By prencher

Something about the way he walks is really irking me. The animation for it.

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curious_george

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Edited By curious_george

I think it's looking really good. But I'll be going all purist all the way.

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MeatSim

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Edited By MeatSim

Now this looks like a Hitman level. Definitely going for the purist mode becuase that's more of the Hitman I remember.

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avidwriter

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Edited By avidwriter

Commenting was I watch....

What's with the 70's cars... and style? I like that it lets you know if you are clear from being caught once you pass. That is always a tense moment and you are not sure if you want to save or not. I like that. Slow down on explosions is a nice touch. I was watching the points, they really did pretty bad if you looked. So it seems there might have been a better way?

Faith restored.

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clank543

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Edited By clank543

seems pretty cool. The disguise stuff is a little weird looking, and I think Agent 47 would flat out look suspicious in that town with his suit on, but at that point I just have to tell myself that it's a video game. I can already see some pretty cool options to going through these levels, though.

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Nethlem

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Edited By Nethlem

@squirrelnacho said:

The "instinct mode" should be labeled easy mode, and the default should have that all removed. Those features are for people who can't stand to play anything thats not a linear action game. That is not what Hitman is about.

The levels still seem sort of small with with less challenging objectives. Still need to see if the levels are really as big as the old Hitman games. A lot of the obviously new fans here have no perspective on this.

The music sounds generic and pretty bad without the old composer Jesper Kyd, just generic suspense music. Additionally, they are just reusing the Blood Money Hitman theme now (something they never did before) which is pretty lame, they always had nearly all new music in each game before.

The old voice actor was a much better fit as well.

Otherwise it looks like it has many of the elements of an old Hitman game. Without the old voice actor and composer it's missing some important elements. Hopefully the gameplay and level design holds up.

1. Then don't play with it, there is a purist mode for a reason. But i guess complaining about having options and not just "MY WAY" is the cool thing to do?

2. The levels seem small? So far they showed 2 playtroughs both of these didn't involve any exploration at all as the guy playing knew exactly what to do, when to do it and where to go. That's hardly a good point of view from which to judge the size and interaction possibilities of the levels. Even in this one: There is plenty of places you can obviously reach but the demo guy didn't bother to go there because he allready knew where he had to go.

3. You can label any music generic, the sound design still seems solid and manages to sets a mood. Some people call it "reusing" others call it "remixing". But nice contradiction right there, first you complain about the music being generic because there is no Jesper Kyd involved, but when they use a theme composed by him you cry foul and label it "lame" because it's "reused". Can't be happy with anything, right?

Anyway i love how you can write up three huge paragraphs how "everything sucks and why this is such an bad hitman game" just to end you whole comment along the lines of "Oh it looks like it has all the things an hitman game needs!". Haters gonna hate i guess...

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cap123

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Edited By cap123

oh my gosh perhaps the game i'm most excited for in the future. what a demo.

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Edited By kpaadet

Was the tomahawk a wink at Assassin's Creed?

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Funky_Pasta_Tommy

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Always had faith they'd stay true to hitmans spirit as a game and if this video doesn't shut up the doubters then nothing will.

Looks terrific and while some of the new powers may almost make it too easy, they look like a ton of fun and I'll enjoy them a lot before I go for the pro playthrough.

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Edited By Pop

that's pretty freaking good, I like the hints and the text over items you can use, I liked hitman: blood money but it had too much trial and error just like the other hitman games. This one looks exactly how I wanted the other ones to be, and they didn't ignore the hardcore crowd either cause if they want to remove all the helpful stuff they can which is awesome!

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MachoFantastico

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Edited By MachoFantastico

Reminded me a lot of Splinter Cell: Conviction with some of the mechanics. 

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Edited By skunkdragon

WOW

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Humanity

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Edited By Humanity

@Dark_Lord_Spam: I think fans of the series weren't affected by that trailer. The series was never very serious in my opinion but at this point were just getting into a "my opinion" versus "your opinion" argument where no one wins. I respect your stance that you think it was a bad trailer, although I personally disagree with it.

On a complete side note I don't think they are wearing S&M gear but thats because I mainly associate that look with zipper masks and a lot of belts. I just think they were wearing leather suits, some with skirts, that covered 90% of their bodies. They look EXACTLY like some insane boss-type assassin character in a videogame would.

Man I remember at the end of Hitman 1 you go back to the facility where they "grew" you and they send clones of 47 to kill you. Standing in this hallways with a minigun, that was just lying around, mowing down carbon copies of yourself just streaming down the hallway .. man crazy game.

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SupberUber

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Edited By SupberUber

@Dixego said:

Take that, people who bashed the trailers!

On a separate note, where's 47's neck barcode?

See, this is what I don't get. What do people, of similar mindset to the person I quoted, think led Hitman fans to loudly criticize IO Interactive every time they released new information? Because we feast on the dark and the evil, and that nothing would please us more than seeing a series we enjoy get a shitty sequel? Would make all kinds of sense, right?

We've experienced the games industry, and we've seen what suits and their focus groups have been able to screw up many a time in the past.

Splinter Cell hit pretty close to home for many. A highly rated game, surely, and that's exactly the point. Some Hitman fans were concerned that the success of Conviction would inspire IO Interactive to follow suit, and, honestly, judging by IO Interactive's shitty job at communicating with its fan base, can you blame them?

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JillSammich

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Edited By JillSammich

So I guess this video is to put out the internet fires...

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Jazz_Lafayette

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Edited By Jazz_Lafayette
@Humanity: The problem is that Hitman - at least on the surface - takes itself seriously. If a group a nun assassins had tried to murder Agent 47, people would have been "whatevs." But the fact that they're wearing bondage gear, and that it had to be revealed that they were wearing bondage gear halfway through the trailer, lays bare the fact the the whole thing was a cynical marketing ploy.
 
It's why there was no outrage over the skimpy nuns in Saints Row 3. That game is up front about the fact that it's all a fun, dumb joke. Whether or not players are in on the joke doesn't matter there, because they can have fun either way. Plenty of people won't, however, be able to take Hitman as seriously as they were hoping to because of the shitty nun trailer.
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kirathian

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Edited By kirathian

This looks really good but I'm getting tired of every action game on earth having "Eagle Vision" or "Hyper Awareness" or "Futuristic Eye Mods/Contact Lens". I like having to figure out things for myself rather than instantly knowing everything at the press of a button. I guess the game's designers do that to make things easier or less frustrating.

Whatever, I liked what I saw in this footage and will most likely buy this. Yay Purist Mode!

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KingLouis51

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Edited By KingLouis51

This is the second time I've been completely blown away by this game (the first being the Run for Your Life level).

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Humanity

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Edited By Humanity

@Dark_Lord_Spam: they're not even strippers just assassins that wear full leather suits. I thought it was a cool trailer, guess people just forgot what fun is anymore.

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Jazz_Lafayette

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Edited By Jazz_Lafayette
@Nightfang said:

Now stop bitching about the nuns!

@Humanity said:

Oh no guys, remember, how that nuns trailer ruined the game, how it's SO awful. Man that marketing trailer oh no .. oh ...oh no so bad.. game is so bad where is the stealth... they ruined Hitman..

This being cool does not lessen the idiocy of the stripper-nuns trailer.