Hitman 2: Silent Assassin (PS2)

Eidos' stylish, strategic and almost puzzle-like Hitman 2 makes its console debut, managing to address many of the criticisms that haunted the PC original while still falling short of its potential. The premise sets up the player as a genetically modified hit man, forced out of retirement when things get a little personal. Each level then sets up an overall mission, broken down into sub-objectives, thankfully with a much-requested save-game feature included in case things get a little hairy. This isn't your standard walk-and-shoot kind of game, though; Hitman 2 rewards planning, and lots of it. While there's no fixed linear route through any of the levels, each will require a lot of thought to be defeated.

What limits the game's potential though is the continual stream of frustrations. The enemy's artificial intelligence, for instance, is sometimes very sadly lacking, and there are occasions when the pace drops to snail-like speed, without always generating sufficient tension to carry the player through. That said, when it hits top gear Hitman 2 can be tense, atmospheric and enjoyable. Graphically it's very polished, and those who enjoy games that reward solid thinking more than an itchy trigger finger will certainly find something to enjoy. But while undoubtedly a step forward from its predecessor, it's an ambitious game that still falls short of what could have been. Put simply, it's good, it's challenging, but it still leaves quite a lot of room for improvement. --Jon Foster

"If you're the kind of steely soul untroubled by sentiment, Hitman 2 is a stone-cold killer. 9/10."

Hitman 2: Silent Assassin is the sequel to the PC's popular Hitman: Codename 47. Once again, enter the mind of the Hitman, a for-hire assassin who is trying to distance himself from his violent past and discover his true identity. Eventually, you find yourself tricked into returning to your trade by a twisted Russian crime boss bent on assisting rogue countries for his own personal and financial gain. You soon realize that you're caught in the middle of a ring of deception and discover that you have become a target yourself--of a highly trained ex-Spetsnaz assassin. Utilize stealth, tact and survival instincts to complete your missions. Plan your hits carefully and think to survive.