Hitman: Blood Money (PS2)

The Hitman games have always been a great source of dark humour and graphic violence and Blood Money ups the ante even further than before. Where the previous game relied on very nice but criminally overused rain effects to create a dark atmosphere, Blood Money uses subtle black comedy to unsettle the player in the most brutal of ways. For example there's a lot to be said for killing a mark dressed as santa, or a clown. Or a giant red budgie.

Blood Money is also far more realistic than previous games with the introduction of the notoriety system and the ability to make hits look like accidents. The superbly simple push manouvre is a fantastic addition, as is 47's close combat skills. Caught without a weapon in previous games and 47 was stuffed but now he can headbutt people, punch them and even snatch weapons out of the hands of guards. Another fantastic addition is the way you can upgrade your weapons for extra silence or more firepower.

Raising the bar again is the extremely numerous ways of despatching your targets. Hitman relies on the fact that you are killing people rather than dark surroundings for its darkness and some of the methods are quite brutal. Dropping a piano on someone's head or pushing them into a furnace are particular highlights although it's during the 5th mission that the most brutal death can happen, ironically in a quiet suburban neighbourhood, another example of the games grimly black humour. I won't spoil it for you but i'll just say watch out for the barbecue and the lighter fluid.

Of course the game certainly doesn't lack atmosphere. Beautiful lighting and a great use of sound come together to create a cohesive and believable world and makes the game all the more special. The animations are also superb and one of the games highlights, for example when 47 climbs the stairs his feet actually hit each step as he climbs. The best example i discovered though was during the first Mississipi mission which is on a boat. The mission had gone a bit coffin shaped so i went on a bit of a rampage. Snatching up a shotgun i shot at a guard coming up some stairs and as he reached the top he had a railing behind him so that when i fired, not only did the force of the shot knock him backwards, but as he stumbled he bumped into the railing and toppled over in a perfectly animated sequence. Its this kind of detail that really makes the game stand out from the crowd.

Another fine detail is the AI not just of the guards but of the civilians too. Draw a weapon in a crowded place and pandemonium is instant. The guards will actively seek you out and if you're dressed as a guard but wander away from the patrol routes too far and they'll be very suspicious. In addition if you shoot down some guards and they drop their guns then its quite possible that as you walk away one of the civilians will actually pick up a gun and start shooting you in the back.

Replay value is vast because of the wonderfully varied ways of despatching your foes so make no mistake you will be playing this for ages after completing it.

Graphics: 10 - beautifully designed, wonderfully lit, truly one of the best looking PS2 titles out there

Sound: 9 - great voice acting and neat use of sound

Gameplay: 9 - mighty fine and deeply involving if a little stop start

Lifespan: 10 - open environments and very numerous ways of completing hits

Overall: 10 - easily one of the best ever games on PS2, macabre and violent but deeply satisfying and often very funny

Much has changed since the last instalment of the hitman series, the improvements make for a much better gaming experience.

The main improvements are the weapons and the artificial intelligence of game characters.

Even the civilians are dangerous now - if you are shooting in the civilians direction and there is a gun on the floor they will pick it up and shoot back!!!

If the guards see a bloodstain on the floor they will investigate it - they follow blood trails, search rooms and become suspicious much more easily than in the last hitman game.

Weapons can be upgraded, add laser sights, scopes, silencers and loads of other stuff to your array of weapons! You can even select the type of ammo you want to use. If you don't select any special ammo you get the standard bullets which work fine.

Like the last hitman game, this game is also too short - only 12 or 13 levels HOWEVER the game is well worth it! It is the kind of game that you can play over and over again!

If you are a fan of the Hitman series, Leon or any action/stealth game in general-this is the perfect buy for you. Like the earlier Hitman releases Bloodmoney provides a good, thrilling mix of action, strategy and stealth. The graphics are masterfully done and gives the game an eerie, tense feel to it however the character models still appear to be boneless and when shot or being manipulated in any way can amuse you with their strange, jerky movements! The only problems with the game appear to be the above and the instant clothes changing!

All in all this is a great, atmospheric game

8.1/10