Hitman: Absolution Video Walkthrough

Hitman: Absolution release date in October isn't far off but Square-Enix decided they want to give players an even greater look at Agent 47 in action despite the countless other videos and Sniper Challenge mini game. Game director, Tore Blystad and Travis Barbour provide commentary as Agent 47 searches for answers concerning the whereabouts of Victoria. In the level entitled "The Streets of Hope" he's after Lenny "The Limp" Dexter, the leader of a local street gang that goes by "The Cougars". In addition to kidnapping Lenny, you are also tasked with taking out the members of his gang.

The non-linear style of play allows you to approach in your missions in your own unique way and at your own pace. You can explore the environment and find tools and other assets that will aid you in your completion of the mission. Improvised weapons and disguises are two of the biggest assets you will come across. These improvised weapons will prove invaluable to making quick kills or creating accidental deaths to drawing suspicion. Disguises, as always will be your key into restricted areas. In some cases however, characters can see through your disguise if you aren't careful or linger in their line of sight too long, so they aren't fool-proof this time around.

A new notebook feature, similar to the PDA from Blood Money, allows you to track your progress in the current mission. You can see your completed objectives and view challenges in the notebook as you play. Challenges are similar to those in the Sniper Challenge game and if completed will earn you more money. The notebook tracks how much money you've earned for the current mission as well and tells you what negative and what positive scores you have received. Playing more stealthily and covering your tracks will earn you more money.

The new instinct feature shows off how it can be utilized to discover hiding places, weapons and to locate targets. Instinct can be turned off however along with other various advice tools and tips that display on the screen. A new "trespassing" alert will appear if you're in an area that you aren't supposed to be so you know to be careful or to find a disguise. Unlike other Hitman games though, trespassing won"t instantly get you shot at by armed guards. In Absolution, you're simply escorted out of the area, permitting you didn't see any potentially incriminating material. The other alert lets you know that there is a visible weapon equipped so that you can put it away before you're caught. The tips and instinct can all be disabled though for veteran players or those who want more of a challenge.

The trailer shows off a couple of other new features but i'll let you watch to discover those yourself. the visuals look better than any Hitman game before it with excellent lighting effects, facial detail and general body movement and environment detail. Look for Hitman: Absolution on November 20, 2012 and be sure to pre-order the game to earn one of four cool in-game bonuses.

Agent 47 makes a visit to China Town

He's not there for Orange Chicken.

In the first hands-on footage for Hitman: Absolution, shown at E3, Producer at IO Interactive, Luke Valentine gives us some insight on what we can expect in the game. Our favorite bald assassin is after the King of China Town and the demo shows how assignments in Absolution can be completed in a variety of different ways. As Agent 47, you can draw attention to yourself and make a scene, do things quietly or just make the hit look like an accident. In the game, it's up to you.

The gameplay also does an excellent job of demonstrating the crowd effects in Absolution. Unlike the Mardi Gras level from Hitman: Blood Money, the crowd in Absolution behaves realistically. You can overhear conversations, you see people eating, buying or doing different kinds of jobs on the jumbled streets. All of it adds up to create an experience that feels like a real situation. Absolution also makes fine use of a more present soundtrack as well featuring plenty of low, foreboding tones.

You can see some of 47's new tricks and all the methods he employs to complete his assignment in the video below. What do you think of Hitman: Absolution so far?

New Hitman: Absolution trailer pits Agent 47 against Nun Assassins

In the latest trailer (below) for Hitman: Absolution, we see Agent 47 take on some unique looking, rival assassins. The leather clad nuns, armed to the teeth with guns and rocket launchers, ambush 47 in an old looking motel but quickly learn that they are outmatched. In a stylistic fight scene, Agent 47 uses stealth, hand-to-hand combat, and his trusty Silver-Ballers to take out each of the nuns.

While the nuns serve as a cheap effort to implement sexuality into Absolution, the trailer highlights some of the games other strengths. The visuals look absolutely stunning; at one point, early in the video, the game almost looked like a live action sequence. Even during the actual fight scene, the graphics just looked so fine and detailed. The general movement of the characters, their clothes, the behavior of the rain water all made it into a brilliant looking trailer. I really hope to see more in the future and hope that sequences such as this will be abundant throughout Hitman: Absolution. Hitman: Absolution will sneak onto store shelves in November for the PS3, Xbox 360 and PC.

Hitman: Absolution's Sniper Challenge is a riot

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!

Multiple game delays

Bioshock Infinite was slated to be one of the biggest games at E3 and launches of this year but it looks like no one will be seeing Bioshock Infinite at E3 or be playing it this year. The game was recently delayed until an approximate date of February, 23 of the year 2013. Ken Levine, of Irrational Games, released a statement apologizing for the delay but promises that some specific tweaks and improvements will make Infinite into something even more extraordinary. Levine goes on to promise that the wait will be worth it and that Irrational Games feels they owe it to their fans to make the game great. He also noted that Bioshock will not be present at E3 due to the fact Irrational wants to make sure they show-off the finished product only.

While I was initially pretty disappointed when I read about the delay, I realize that Levine's statement sounded very sincere and I trust him, along with Irrational Games to make Bioshock Infinite into an amazing game. Infinite was my most anticipated title this year and it's almost ironic that I had pre-ordered it just days before the delay. It's also funny that I thought to myself that I still have Tomb Raider to look forward too.

Just a few days later, Square-Enix announced that Tomb Raider wouldn't be hitting store shelves until the first quarter of 2013 as well. Studio head at developer, Crystal Dynamics, Dave Gallagher, stated that to achieve the goals that had originally been set for this ambitious game, that more time was needed. However, we can still look forward to seeing the game at E3 and Gallagher said the game is already looking amazing. As an extended apology, Crystal Dynamics released a screenshot of the game as well. Somehow, it's just my luck the two games I wanted most this year are being delayed.

Finally, the less anticipated but sure to be a hit, South Park game has also been delayed until early 2013. THQ did not provide a reason for the game's delay but I feel that it may have been some of the differences in ideas between designers and the original South Park creators that led to a delay. While I wasn't specifically excited for South Park and it likely won't measure up to Bioshock or Tomb Raider, the game still looked pretty solid. The concepts and innovations going into South Park really intrigued me and is still looking to be a good game.

 I suppose we'll just have to wait until the first quarter of 2013 however to play any of these games. I have to admit, I was initially surprised when I heard the October release date for Infinite, so I guess I almost expected it. Tomb Raider on the other hand I did not expect but I'm glad developers are taking the time to really make these games worth it to their fans. How do you feel about these delays? Were you planning on getting any of these games when they came out? This also poses the question of any other games possibly being delayed. Grand Theft Auto V is speculated to be released this year but I"m really beginning to doubt that and I'm getting the feeling Borderlands 2 may be delayed as well. I'll keep my fingers crossed though and hope that all launches go as according to plan.

Hitman: Absolution gets release date

Square-Enix announced this morning that Hitman: Absolution will be hitting stores November 20 and will be available for the PS3, Xbox 360 and the PC. There are a load of pre-order bonuses for Hitman like unique suits and firearms depending on where you pre-order the game from. Gamestop however, is offering the Sniper Challenge bonus game which will be available on May 15. Hitman: Absolution is being released with a list of killer titles this fall, you can take a look at the list here.

Where is Thief 4!?

I'm sure a lot of people reading this wondering are wondering, "What the heck is Thief 4?" Then there are those of you who are wondering the same exact thing as me. Thief 4 is the fourth entry into the Thief game series and was announced almost two years ago (May 11 is the two year anniversary). Since then there has been absolutely no news on it or any kind of mention, tease or anything anywhere. I have to admit it has kind of been driving me crazy and I'm wondering if it's even still in development.

Thief is a game series set in the medieval ages with some steam punk inspiration (steam powered technology). You play as a thief named Garrett who comes from a sacred order called the 'Keepers' where he gained the the skills and abilities that make him so adept at his profession. He's a thief with a bounty on his head who tends to get himself mixed up a supernatural situations that threaten the well-being of 'The City' he lives in. The game relied a lot on stealth and using shadows to hide while creating distractions. Garrett had an gadget arsenal that could rival James Bond's (or at least a medieval version of James Bond) complete with flash bombs, mines, specialized arrows, and other items that help you gain access into locked areas and scout for guard patrols. The game reminds me a lot of Hitman because it has plenty of quirky comedic moments in it but takes a nice spin on stealth.

I'm a big Thief fan, I remember playing the original two (Dark Project and Metal Age) on the PC back in the 90s. Yes that's right, the 90s. The third game, Thief Deadly Shadows expanded the series when it was released on PC and the original Xbox back in 2004. New technology played a role in the game's many new features, its presentation and overall capabilities making it a great entry in the series. Now that gaming technology has evolved even further, there's so much more opportunity for new developer Eidos to make Thief 4 even better than its predecessor which is what excites me most. Thing is I've been waiting eight years for this game and 2 of them have been spent waiting for a single shred of news on the game after it has already been announced.

So what happened to Thief 4? Was it Eidos' intention to keep it dark for this long the whole time or has the game fallen into limbo. I feel like Eidos should have been ready to share some of the game if they made the decision to announce it but i guess developers work in mysterious ways. Producer, Square-Enix will be present at E3 so I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for some news regarding Thief 4.