Hitman: Absolution™

After finishing this game it is good. Truthfully its good even though how much hate this game gets its a good game that is definetley enjoyable. The only bad thing i can say is that the story is mid, the detection system is absurd and that other mode thats really good is now offline.

I always wanted to play this game since I saw it's E3 Demo back in 2012. After 12 years I got my wish fulfilled. It's much more linear than Blood Money which is kind of frustrating but nevertheless I had fun. PS: Forget the rating system and play it how you want. That's the true beauty of a Hitman game ;⁠)

Incredible game, great graphics still in 2024. Highly highly recommend

Stylish and stealthy, but a step back for the series.

Hitman: Absolution is a game that’s hard to review because, while it offers moments of pure, elegant assassination, it also feels like it took a few steps backward compared to its predecessors. As the fifth entry in the series, it introduces some fresh ideas but also abandons some of what made Hitman stand out in the first place.

What I Liked:
Beautiful Environments: The game’s levels are absolutely stunning. From bustling city streets to dark, atmospheric interiors, the environments are incredibly detailed and immersive. You can get lost in these locations as you plot your next move.

Classic Assassination Gameplay: For all its flaws, when Hitman: Absolution hits its stride, it's still got that signature stealth and strategy that makes the series so unique. Planning your hits, disguising yourself, and using the environment to your advantage is still the core of the experience, and it’s satisfying when everything goes according to plan.

Multiple Approaches: Each mission offers a variety of ways to approach your targets. Whether you want to go in guns blazing, silently pick off enemies, or set up elaborate accidents, the game offers enough options to cater to different playstyles.

Contracts Mode: This mode lets you create your own hit assignments and challenge others, which adds replay value and some much-needed longevity to the game.

What Could Be Better:
Linear Level Design: One of the biggest departures from earlier Hitman games is the more linear structure of the levels. In previous titles, you were free to explore and experiment in wide-open sandbox levels. In Absolution, many of the levels feel more restricted, funneling you down narrow paths that limit your freedom.

Story and Characters: The story feels forced, and Agent 47’s character is oddly less engaging than in previous games. There’s a lot of focus on a personal narrative that doesn't really suit the silent assassin we know and love. The plot also has some odd twists that don’t land well, and the characters feel more like caricatures than genuine threats or allies.

AI Issues: While the AI can be smart and responsive, it’s not always consistent. Enemies can spot you too easily in certain situations, and in others, they’re almost oblivious to your presence. This makes the stealth mechanics feel more inconsistent than they should be.

Less Focus on Pure Stealth: While the game still encourages stealth, there are sections that feel more action-oriented, with shootouts and intense chases. These can break the flow of the more methodical, stealthy gameplay that Hitman fans typically love.

Conclusion:
Hitman: Absolution is a solid game with moments of brilliance, but it doesn’t fully live up to the legacy of its predecessors. The stunning visuals and varied mission options are great, but the more linear level design and awkward story hold it back from being a true classic. If you’re a fan of the series, it’s worth playing, but it’s not the pinnacle of Hitman that many hoped for. Still, there’s fun to be had, especially in the more creative assassination opportunities, and the Contracts Mode keeps things fresh for those who want to make their own kills.

Great first person shooter. Kept me interested in the entire experience.

controversial take: I liked the story, cinematic approach more than the procedural approach of the hitman games presently...

An icon of the great Hitman game series (The gameplay is a little different but great )

I absolutely love this game!

However, as of 2024 it's completely broken. The game is unable to start, freezing on 'updating executable'. I've looked everywhere online for a fix, but there's none to be found.

To reiterate - As of now the game cannot be played at all.

Furthermore, the online servers for Contracts mode was shut down in 2018, meaning that all single player unlocks and DLC is completely inaccessible.

It's a shame to see the state this game has been left in.

There are two types of Hitman players
Either they go FULL ON STEALTH MODE
or GUNS BLAZING.
Which one are you?

This is simply a truly and delightful masterpiece, i ended up getting obsesed with the story, the revelations, and how certain kind of scenes or aditions to the narrative make presence, the graphical setup is excelent for a game relased on 2012, and the mechanics, play styles, dificulties, and mapping are simply perfect, you really get into the whole game, is not just killing bad guys and hiding them or taking disguises, you have a story, and in part, the game makes you feel deeply into that, it is simply a goty and is worth the price tbh🐀💎

I don't have too much to say that hasn't already been said - not a Hitman game, but a Hitman themed stealth shooter. Game has a bit of an identity crisis which becomes obvious on some levels ("Here's a silenced sniper rifle and a perfect overlook - but remember, no killing"). The story is silly but the NPC dialogues are great. While the levels are linear some of them have fantastic designs. It's worth getting in a sale and playing through at least once. My recommendation is once you learn the controls, stick the difficulty to purist and play as though you are 47's alter ego - Johnny Kill-em-all and stealth-murder through the game.

i like to kill people this is fun very enjoyable would recommend to any upcoming assassins in the area

More than a decade later and I still don't like this game, as a Hitman veteran and current speedrunner in World of Assassination in the top 10% of players globally. A lot of cool ideas were intro'd in this that were actually USEFUL in the new games. In this....just a lot of headscratcher decisions that seem forced by Squeenix, vs actually being a good Hitman game.

So good, i love every aspect of this game. story line, gameplay. Very good overall im happy with my money spent on this game

I know I'm going to be in the minority for saying this but, HITMAN: Absolution was awesome, and a favorite of mine.

Yes it is quite different from previous entries but it is still a good game on its own. People will argue that the game is actually linear and freedom of choice is a illusion, but ultimately it was still fun. And the story made me connect with Agent 47 when I couldn't before. I could go on about the varied stages and set-pieces, how it was addicting to replay stages just to complete challenges and see all outcomes, and how gorgeous the game looked visually. This is a good looking game considering the year it was released in. Oh, and for those who prefer to go gun blazing, the shooting mechanic is solid, and every weapon feels unique.

I did buy this game on discount, so that added to the appeal. But I recommend it nonetheless.

The last of the original franchise. What the reboot gained in DLCs, it lost in grace.

I find absolution to be the best hitman game because the feeling that the mechanics in this game give off is unmatched, It also feels a lot "cooler" than the hitman series (1,2,3) A lot more john wickish, fun in its own way but the next hitman games nail the freedom and creativity aspects of the hitman series.
This release in the series has a lot less freedom compared to 1,2 and 3 but it compensates by being cool in the execution of its story and such.

very polished.
controls are too clunky for me at times.
quite addictive.

Игра бы отлично сработала как один большой гэг над хитманом, но вместо этого она почему-то является частью серии. А как часть серии это булщит во всех смыслах, начиная от левелдизайна и заканчивая сюжетом.

Quite different from the rest of the series but still very cool. While the other games are a stealth focused fantasy of you being a contract assassin preparing and executing extraordinary assassinations, Absolution is a stealth action game when that same hitman has been made and is being constantly pursued throughout different parts of cities with no planning and only improvisation. Different, but still neat. Also appreciate that the style of this one is more a kin to Kane and Lynch (who even make cameos in the game lol) with how grimy and gross everyone and everything is, though not at all at the same level ofc as that game. I get that people may not have wanted that fantasy but I really do think it was a cool experiment that actually paid off.

---{ Graphics }---
🔲 Awful
🔲 Bad
🔲 Will do
✅ Decent (Nothing special)
🔲 Stunning
🔲 Visual Masterpiece

---{ Gameplay }---
🔲 Bad
🔲 Okay
✅ Nothing special
🔲 Good
🔲 Very good
🔲 Try not to get addicted

---{ Audio }---
🔲 Bad
🔲 Not too bad
✅ Decent
🔲 Good
🔲 Beautiful
🔲 Masterpiece

---{ PC Requirements }---
🔲 Potato
✅ Decent
🔲 Fast
🔲 High-end PC
🔲 Ask NASA if they have a spare computer

---{ Difficulty }---
🔲 Just press a bunch of buttons
✅ Easy
🔲 Significant brain usage
🔲 Easy to learn / Hard to master
🔲 Difficult
🔲 Dark Souls

---{ Grind }---
🔲 Nothing
✅ Only if you care about 100%
✅ Average grind level
🔲 Too much grind
🔲 Insanity

---{ Story }---
🔲 None/Not important in this game
🔲 Bad
✅ Average
🔲 Great
🔲 Well written
🔲 One of the best i've had the pleasure of playing

---{ Price }---
🔲 Free
🔲 Cheap
🔲 Under priced
✅ Acceptable price
🔲 Overpriced
🔲 Complete waste of money

---{ Bugs }---
✅ Never heard of
🔲 Minor bugs
🔲 Can get annoying
🔲 Bugpocalypse: Proceed with caution

---{ Length }---
🔲 Very Short (0 - 4 hours)
✅ Short (4 - 10 hours)
🔲 Average (10-30 hours)
🔲 Long (30-50 hours)
🔲 Extremely long (50-100+ hours)
✅ For 100%: 10-15
🔲 No ending

---{ ? / 10 }---
🔲 1
🔲 2
🔲 3
🔲 4
🔲 5
🔲 6
✅ 7
🔲 8
🔲 9
🔲 10

Good game. not many bugs or errors, it runs smooth, many achievments to unlock and it has a decent story for agent 47, and plenty of places for 47 to go. very good for the decently low price.

Simply the best stealth-action game I've come across, the fact that the game was released in 2012 makes it an old unique game that people like me still play it to this day.Congratulations to IO for developing the game like this 10/10.

você precisa matar escondido mas muitas vezes você vai matar muita gente e reiniciar rapidamente em seguida

Hitman: Absolution is a mixed bag. Right from the jump, you’re thrown into intense moments — like hiding behind a shelf while cops sweep the area, with red and blue lights flickering around you. The atmosphere is super immersive, and it feels like you’re in a high-stakes action movie.

But for fans of Hitman: Blood Money, this one’s kinda off. Sure, it looks way better, but the gameplay has some frustrating bits. Disguises, which used to be key, are kinda broken. NPCs get suspicious way too quickly, and you have to burn through your focus bar just to avoid being noticed, which kills the flow.

The story? Yeah, it’s a mess. It tries to pick up where the last game left off but gets confusing fast. Plus, 47’s agency? Not nearly as cool as it used to be — it’s like they turned them into some basic movie spy group.

Is it fun? Definitely. But is it the Hitman sequel we were all waiting for? Not really. If you go into it thinking of it as a standalone game, you'll enjoy it more. Just don't expect it to live up to its predecessors.

Final score: 7/10.

people dont give this game enough credit. probably my favorite in the series.

First playthrough review time.

Hitman: Absolution is bit different from other games in the series in terms of narration and gameplay. The gameplay is easier than its predecessors, and the story is interesting and well-made. The plot is more engaging than in earlier titles, making it a special addition to the franchise.

If you are looking for the same gameplay as Blood Money, this game might not meet your expectations. However, if you approach Absolution with a willing attitude, you will find it to be one of the best stealth games available. The focus on storytelling adds a new element. If you notice issues like no audio in cutscenes, go to the display options in the game and turn off exclusive full-screen mode to fix the problem.

Overall, Hitman: Absolution has an engaging plot and good gameplay.

Hitman: Absolution might not be the most beloved entry among long-time fans, but I found it to be a very enjoyable and visually impressive game, even 12 years after its release.

Graphics:
For a game this old, the graphics still hold up exceptionally well. The lighting, reflections, and textures are top-notch. While some characters have a slightly cartoonish style, it doesn’t detract from the overall fidelity of the game. It’s still one of the best-looking games of its time, and the attention to detail is impressive.

Gameplay:
The checkpoint system is a mixed bag—it's a challenge, no doubt, and adds a new layer of difficulty. At times, it can be a bit annoying, but it never took away from my enjoyment. It’s a relief that the newer Hitman games moved away from this, but for Absolution, it adds its own flavor. The instinct system also felt like a double-edged sword: while it sometimes breaks immersion, it helps maintain a sense of realism, especially during tense moments.

Story:
The story is where Hitman: Absolution truly shines. It’s fun, engaging, and filled with some excellent twists. The homage it pays to Hitman: Blood Money is a beautiful touch, and the plot kept me hooked from start to finish. The ending twist in particular was a highlight for me.

Overall:
In my 16.6 hours of gameplay, I managed to achieve Silent Assassin on some levels, while I rushed through others due to time constraints. I played on normal difficulty, and it was a thrilling experience, with every level offering something fun and intense. The heated moments in this game make the challenges worthwhile, and despite the game’s divisiveness, I think it deserves appreciation.

For 54 rupees on sale, this game is an absolute steal. Even at full price, it’s worth checking out.

Lastly, to address some of the hate from long-time fans: whenever a new studio or team works on a beloved IP, changes happen. We’ve seen this with Max Payne 3 and Halo 4. This is a transition game in many ways—a bridge between the old and the new. Many elements in the UI and design carried over to the newer Hitman trilogy, and that makes Absolution important in its own right. Just think of it as an action-heavy Hitman game with smaller, but still rewarding, sandboxes due to seventh-gen hardware limitations.

terrible hitman game, wonderful shooter, the shooting mechanics feel very nice, its an inexplainable feeling of happiness with each shot

Even though this is a more linear experience as opposed to the common Hitman sandbox-style gameplay I personally had immense fun playing the game. Some of the levels on Professional can be tricky, especially if you're going for a high score, but I'm glad I gave this game a shot, as it was worth the time investment. Definitely worth picking up on sale.

---{ Graphics }---
☐ You forget what reality is
☐ Beautiful
☑ Good
☐ Decent
☐ Bad
☐ Don‘t look too long at it
☐ MS-DOS

---{ Gameplay }---
☐ Very good
☑ Good
☐ It's just gameplay
☐ Mehh
☐ Watch paint dry instead
☐ Just don't

---{ Audio }---
☐ Eargasm
☑ Very good
☐ Good
☐ Not too bad
☐ Bad
☐ I'm now deaf

---{ Audience }---
☐ Kids
☑ Teens
☑ Adults
☐ Grandma

---{ PC Requirements }---
☐ Check if you can run paint
☑ Potato
☐ Decent
☐ Fast
☐ Rich boi
☐ Ask NASA if they have a spare computer

---{ Game Size }---
☐ Floppy Disk
☐ Old Fashioned
☑ Workable
☐ Big
☐ Will eat 10% of your 1TB hard drive
☐ You will want an entire hard drive to hold it
☐ You will need to invest in a black hole to hold all the data

---{ Difficulty }---
☐ Just press 'W'
☐ Easy
☑ Easy to learn / Hard to master
☐ Significant brain usage
☐ Difficult
☐ Dark Souls

---{ Grind }---
☐ Nothing to grind
☐ Only if u care about leaderboards/ranks
☑ Isn't necessary to progress
☐ Average grind level
☐ Too much grind
☐ You'll need a second life for grinding

---{ Story }---
☐ No Story
☐ Some lore
☐ Average
☑ Good
☐ Lovely
☐ It'll replace your life

---{ Game Time }---
☐ Long enough for a cup of coffee
☐ Short
☑ Average
☐ Long
☐ To infinity and beyond

---{ Price }---
☐ It's free!
☑ Worth the price
☐ If it's on sale
☐ If u have some spare money left
☐ Not recommended
☐ You could also just burn your money

---{ Bugs }---
☐ Never heard of
☑ Minor bugs
☐ Can get annoying
☐ ARK: Survival Evolved
☐ The game itself is a big terrarium for bugs

---{ ? / 10 }---
☐ 1
☐ 2
☐ 3
☐ 4
☐ 5
☐ 6
☐ 7
☑ 8
☐ 9
☐ 10

The single-player is great with so many possibilities and ways to play.
The story is interesting.
However be careful as the online features / contracts / servers are all down since a long time ago.
I was planning on finishing single player then trying those out - just to find that servers are permanently down.

NOTE: The game is linear which is not normal for Hitman games as it does not really allow you to freely do whatever you want. I'd only recommend it if you wanna know more about 47's story. The two only good thing in this game is lore (prolly 7/10) and graphics.

An extremely high-quality game, despite the fact that strong hardware does not require extremely attractive mechanisms and having different methods to complete the game and stages.

this game was a wild introduction to the hitman series for me, and honestly, it was a pretty solid experience overall. the game really knows how to make you feel the tension while planning your hits. i loved how you could approach each mission in so many different ways—whether you wanted to be stealthy or just go in guns blazing, there were options for everything.

the story had its ups and downs. there were some parts that really grabbed my attention. overall, hitman absolution was a fun ride and a great intro to the series (i guess it is subjective after all). it definitely left me wanting to explore more of the hitman franchise. if you’re into games where you can get creative with your approach, this one’s worth checking out. 7/10

It's fun enough, but I think previous games were much better.

fire game yk type and um yeah its worth it but contracts dont work so yeah

This is one of the best games I ever played. From the story line to the mechanics and graphics. 100/10.

Really nice story, but I don't understand why Agent 47 has to go around and protect Victoria. He could have just killed Benjamin Travis and gotten it over with by killing Victoria too.

I love this game very much! This game giving me a motivation to become a Hitman in real life. Thank you developer for making this awesome game! MASTERPIECE!

Not a Hitman game in a traditional sense, but fun regardless. Hate the instinct system personally. Glad they removed it in the reboot

Something stank. It's either the archival Greenlandic spread I've dipped my elbow in, or it's me. I crouch behind the shelf of local consumerism and feel that option b is correct. I observe a flickering red-blue light on the walls of the shop. The search began. The atmosphere thickens. Music from wistful strings quickly gives way to majestic brass. The lawmen are coming. The conversation with the salesman is like something out of a movie. The policemen occasionally smile, clear their throats, put the rim of their glasses in their mouths, but in the end they learn nothing. The citizen does not know. He has no idea that the suspect has already exchanged the described jacket for a butcher's uniform. A few more phrases, the promise of a phone call "if anything", one gratis coke and the officers leave. You can't see much through the cans, but judging by the disappearing shadows, I think it worked. The music can turn up again. I feel like a winner who just can't raise his hands. Now to prevent the grocer from going to check the goods. For my scalp would answer him with clear speech.
I'm the Hitman. The man barcode readers love. 30%

The best game in the Hitman game series.
Very nice plot and for such an old game the graphics are great.
The creators of Hitman should make a similar version of the game to this one.

This game is amazing, I love the style! You can be a real silent assassin "47" or choose to kill everyone in order without regret. For me 10/10 game, graphic and story is so good!

Story was nothing to write home about, stealth and gunplay was cool.

Score: 6.5/10

An absolutely amazing game with great story line.

Well, it's been a few hours, but I've played this game before, about 8 yrs ago, so i guess i can review. This has an amazing story, with all the tactics the hitman uses, and the unique opportunities are awesome. Just like all hitman games, this game is awesome, and I have to tell something else as well, I really love the main menu man, that's one of the prettiest ones I've ever seen hehe. Highly recommended.

I honestly HATE this game.
One of my first games was Codename 47. I was a boy and its a game that forged my love for stealth and multiple choice. A franchise know for its solid stealth and disguise mechanics encased in open ended maps with a true difference in your choices.
Absolution boiled away everything that made Hitman stand out from every other franchise, while also doing what it set out to do poorly. It cant even do a linear story well. It does nothing but punish the player with arbitrary scoring with no rewards for those who do wish to get a good score.

I played every hitman game again, to see if the games were as good as i remember and all of them besides Absolution hold up. I was genuinely seething with hated for this price of crap. It was trying to be a Hideo game with token wacky characters but it done nothing but bore me shitless.

** DO NOT BUY THE BUNDLE **

To be honest, having played all of them at this point... NONE of these games are worth it. THE BUNDLE IS A SCAM. THE ONLY things that work in there are Hitman Blood Money and the sniper challenge. EVERY game in the bundle that isn't those 2 doesn't work, you have to jump through hoops to get it to work or (to my surprise now) doesn't work properly. Hell, this game right here? HALF of it's features were pulled offline with the servers or the achievements are bugged and DO NOT unlock under any circumstances making unlocking necessary things impossible.

Just playing this game now, It's no wonder these games are heavily discounted. They're broken trash.

Get this too... Becuase I played the sniper challenge and the one game that worked, they won't refund me. THIS game, I tried over and over and over and over and over TF again to fix the achievement nonsense and it doesn't work.

It's a scam DO NOT buy it.

By the way, this is IF you can even get the games to work. Some of the "fixes" don't actually work for everyone. Roll the dice if you want to, but this is a money-grab.

Last update before I abandon this game...

Achievements are entirely gone, I had to download someone else's save progress onto this game to access all content only to confirm that the achievements in the game are entirely impossible to complete. NOT because the servers are offline, the ones that don't require connection cannot be done.

Want to upgrade weapons? NOPE, that's fully 100% gone due to the servers. This game is a shit-show. Not even just this game though.

Hitman Codename 47, silent assassin, and contracts do not function properly. This one cheats you out of content. the DLC counts as you playing it despite it only being extra content and not a game so it really just leaves Blood Money as the only functional game.

With that being said, be a sucker and purchase this if you want to.

Hitman: Absolution

Final Score: 5/10