Hitman: Contracts Review

One vision replaced another: narrow Hong Kong streets flashed before the eyes, the snowy Kamchatka whitened, and the ancestral mansion of an English lord hid behind a veil of rain... The ghosts of the past are relentless and ruthless. Only by meeting them face to face once more, fighting and winning, can one free oneself from their shackles.

The Past in the Present

Hitman: Contracts was preceded by two games in the series - Hitman: Codename 47 and Hitman: Silent Assassin. However, the third part does not advance the plot further. It is rather a look at past deeds from a new angle.

The missions in Hitman: Contracts are visions from the past that haunt a wounded killer. Only the cutscenes between levels and the final mission take place "here and now." Some assignments will seem familiar to players of Codename 47.

Room for Activity

However, let's leave the less important narrative aspect aside and turn to the more pressing matter - gameplay.

What can be said here? A lot, a lot, and again a lot. There are so many ways to complete a mission here. Each mission can be completed in different ways at your discretion: blow up, shoot, poison... Moreover, it's not necessary to confine yourself to stealth-action: hiding and quietly choking around the corner. We boldly cast aside the "stealth" prefix and start the mashing "Macedonian style." However, this is not so interesting. However, no one forbids you from completing the mission quietly and then replaying it entirely differently - with loud shootouts and universal panic.

The abundance of methods to eliminate targets keeps boredom at bay. Each level begs to be replayed to discover new bypasses. By the way, there is another meaning to this - for completing it 'very stealthily', you are awarded the Silent Assassin rating, which comes with trophy weapons, one of which is even the famous Minigun, slightly modified for hand-held shooting.

Symphony of Rain

Hitman: Contracts has a bright yet dark atmosphere. Everything is permeated with the spirit of either tragedy or sorrow. This is felt on the rainy, night streets and in the dimly lit castle of the English lord.

Above all sounds, there is an excellent soundtrack by Jesper Kyd. These melodies, filled with spiritual weight and accompanied by choral singing, fit perfectly with what you perceive visually. The harmonious combination of music and graphics evokes a whole range of feelings that are quite difficult to describe, and there's no need to explain them. It's better to immerse yourself in this atmosphere independently.

Finally, it’s worth noting that the places visited by the killer are far from museums and operas. Strip clubs, a party at a slaughterhouse - all this also contributes to the unique perception of the game.

The Final Word

Hitman: Contracts is not an action movie in the traditional sense of the word, nor is it a 'dry' stealth-action. It would be more appropriate to call it a thriller - dark, somewhat leaden, yet vivid as a work and memorable as a game.

The fourth game in the series - Hitman: Blood Money is done in a more cheerful and colorful style. In terms of gameplay, it turned out even better. But if you desire a dark story and enjoyment from the process of playing - Hitman: Contracts is your choice.