Hitman World of Assassination Review

You play as Agent 47, a cold, emotionless, and highly efficient assassin. He works for the International Contract Agency (ICA), a secretive organization with global influence. Despite their reach, Agent 47’s past remains a complete mystery even to them. Your main point of contact is his handler, Diana, who provides intel and organizes missions. I will avoid further story details to keep this spoiler-free, but I found the trilogy very rewarding to play.

Regarding gameplay, the mechanics are fantastic and well-designed. However, keep in mind that this is a slow-paced experience that requires subtlety and patience. It is not a typical shoot-em-up where you are indestructible; success depends on being a methodical professional. Entering a gunfight is one of the worst mistakes you can make because Agent 47 will likely die.

The goal is to remain covert. If you must kill someone, do it subtly and hide the body immediately. If a guard discovers a corpse or an unconscious person, they will begin searching for you. The game is somewhat forgiving, offering plenty of hiding spots while guards patrol. If you stay hidden long enough, they eventually abandon their search, allowing you to resume your mission.

The game is challenging, and I died many times, but the difficulty is well-balanced with various levels to choose from. Its greatest strength is creativity; rather than following a linear path, each level is an open sandbox. Whether you are in a swamp or an exotic hotel, you can complete objectives however you wish. A single target might have half a dozen different elimination methods, offering immense replay value.

One of the most fun mechanics is using disguises. You can find outfits lying around or take them from neutralized guards. However, it isn’t always easy. Senior staff may see through your ruse, and certain disguises only grant access to specific areas—a chef can’t simply walk into a VIP lounge. This forces you to be resourceful. When it comes to the hits, you can use a silenced pistol, or get creative by drowning targets, choking them, or even dropping a chandelier on targets for creative, often hilarious results. Agent 47’s cold personality makes his attempts to blend in—like at a local barbecue—unintentionally funny.

The game is very stable on PS5, though the cinematic pacing is inconsistent. While the first and third games have full cutscenes, the second uses static images with voiceovers, likely due to budget constraints. Despite this, the superb voice acting and character design make the trilogy feel like a high-quality conspiracy thriller.