Hitman: Absolution is the fifth installment in the stealth assassin franchise starring Agent 47. The plot picks off where the last game, Hitman: Blood Money, left off. Diana Burnwood, Agent 47’s handler at the International Contract Agency, goes rogue and organizes a sabotage operation that threatens to expose the entire agency. Benjamin Travis reforms the organization and orders a hit on Burnwood, tasked with killing her and bringing back the adolescent girl Victoria under her care. He tracks Diana down early in the game but hesitates when given the option to kill her. The plot develops into a broader conspiracy, with the girl Victoria at the core. Compared to the previous game, 47 frequently produces an emotional link with the victims and becomes hunted.
Instead of being separate missions, they are now linked by parts in which 47 travel from one area to another. The fundamental gameplay remains. He frequently has to infiltrate locations to take out a specific target and then vanish. Points are earned by achieving primary and secondary objectives and the method of choice. Taking a cautious strategy centered on stealth and non-lethal kills is always more rewarding. Following tasks, a ranking is displayed and compared to players globally. There are also individual challenges to achieve, such as employing a particular number of different weapons or disguises. Points are used to access upgrades that improve Agent 47’s abilities, such as reduced visibility when concealing, more shooting accuracy, less time to strangle opponents or faster melee fighting. Full-on shooting is also an option when the surgery goes awry, although it will not yield the best results.
The primary gameplay focuses on seeking cover, taking out and dragging individuals out of sight, and performing acrobatic movements. Certain sections of the environment, but not all, can be used to jump or hang from a ledge. Instinct is a trait that indicates whether or not a particular part can be used. Game behaviors gain Instinct. It is also capable of activating Point Shooting. This mechanism allows Agent 47 to pause time, mark his opponents, and then fire and kill in rapid succession. Another Instinct feature is the ability to observe adversaries’ locations and movement patterns through walls. Bluffing is another application. Certain characters may know him even while disguised, especially if he approaches too close. Sometimes, a bluff can be used as a last resort, but it consumes a lot of Instinct. Agent 47 will then make a maneuver that confuses them, causing them to lose their suspicion.
His primary weapon is the Silverballer pistol with a silencer. They can be outfitted and used in pairs. Weapons left by foes can also be collected and used. There is also space for electronics, such as a piano string, and materials found in nature, such as bottles, bricks, hammers, knives, etc. They can be used to murder or to create a distraction. Because opponents frequently patrol in groups, they must be isolated, and their movements must be studied. Strangled opponents can be killed or made unconscious. To avoid alarms, they must always be hidden and out of sight.
In addition to the main objective, contracts can be accomplished in an asynchronous multiplayer mode. These are jobs that the developer or other players have done. Anyone can mark a specific target in a level and decide how he should be eliminated, for example, with a particular weapon or disguise. Other gamers can then take on these tasks. A single Contract can have up to three victims assigned to it.
