After work yesterday at approximately 6 P.M. I made my way over to my local Gamestop to pre-order my copy of Hitman: Absolution. After my receipt printed, the cashier handed it to me and kindly pointed out the redeemable code for one of the coolest pre-order bonuses ever. Sniper Challenge is a downloadable game you can play if you pre-order Hitman: Absolution from Gamestop. I was skeptical about this bonus game but it's well worth the two minutes it'll take for you to pre-order the game. It's based on a single re-playable mission in which you can compete for the highest score or just find different and creative ways to complete the objectives.
As Agent 47, you are assigned a target, a one Jr. Strong to eliminate. Strong is making an appearance at a party being held atop a Chicago high-rise. In your briefing, you're informed that Strong is very punctual and will only be in attendance for 15 minutes. He's also surrounded by a small army of guards who are either by his side or patrolling the building.
Perched atop a neighboring building, it is your job to eliminate Strong and all of his body guards in whatever fashion you deem necessary. You can make a lot of noise and scare everybody off or you can keep a low profile, like a true assassin. You can time your kills carefully and 'hide' bodies; for instance when guards walk over to a ledge, you can plant a bullet in the back of their skull to send them to street-level. A fountain and elevator shaft also provide excellent spots to dump bodies. By hiding and timing your kills carefully, you can avoid being 'exposed' and earn the legendary Silent Assassin bonus to be added to your score. You also get bonuses for making quick, successive kills, landing head shots, moving shots and how much time you have left when you've eliminated all of the targets.
The bonuses don't stop there however. You're given a list of challenges, which if completed earn you a permanent score modifier. Some challenges offer a tough goal but other challenges aren't so much difficult as they are quirky. The Hitman games have always had a subtle brand of comedy in them and Sniper Challenge is no exception. Be prepared to take out some gnomes, activate some mines, cap a ninja and even remove evidence of a stripper when you go after the challenges. High scores earn you upgrades for your rifle such as enhanced sights, a faster bolt and reload times. These upgrades are also transferred to your game when you play Absolution.
While I have had a blast so far competing for a high score, completing my still incomplete challenge list and just sniping as Agent 47, I have to admit, one of the most impressive features of the game were the actual visuals. The graphics are leagues better than Blood Money (yes I know it came out a long time ago) and the game just looked beautiful. The Chicago skyline is coated in orange hues from a setting sun and it just looks brilliant. You're also given snippets of cinematic and gameplay video when you restart the mission each time and I feel as though I'm awed each time I watch them. I also feel the controls deserve a mention as well. They're set pretty standard (you can really only, aim, shoot, reload) but following guards in the scope felt unusually smooth. I feel like in most games when I use a sniper, the scope staggers, goes to fast and I lose control. In Sniper Challenge, it felt very easy to control the rifle and the scope followed guards very fluidly. There's also a button that activates Agent 47's 'instincts'. When in instinct mode, 47 can see enemies through walls and obstacles highlighted in yellow or the main target in red.
Bottom line, Sniper Challenge is awesome and easily one of the best bonuses I've ever gotten for pre-ordering a game. If you haven't reserved your copy of Hitman: Absolution yet, go to Gamestop and do so now and redeem your free copy of Sniper Challenge!
