Hitman 2: Silent Assassin

"It's greaaaaat!"

Hitman 2: Silent Assassin. Only one word can be used to describe this magnificent game: great.
I won't go into the story too deeply because this is a review. So, I am going to get right to the point.
Story: 10/10
The story is very good. It definitely out performs the cheesy writing of Max Payne. 47 or any of the other characters don't say stupid things. The script rivals any high budgeted Hollywood movie, and the characters are no exception, either. 47's past is shrouded in mystery, and you never get to see your boss. Your client is a shady character, and you'll never know what he has up his sleeve.
Game play: 10/10
I won't get bored of this game any time soon, because there are so many ways to do a level: sneak, snipe, or shoot. Some levels you get different gadgets. That really ups the game play variety. Then there's the AI. The AI is not like those AI in some first person shooters that couldn't hit a barn that they're inside(i.e. Golden Eye). Act oddly around a guard, and prepare for a fight. You can't survive too many fights, so stealth is the key to victory. But in some levels, you just can't help but to pull out the old Silver Ballers and clean out a room full of bodyguards or other baddies who are trying to protect your target. You're the Hitman, so you will succeed, unless you don't, then you have to start the whole level again. That can be a tedious task over and over again. The only thing that would make Hitman 2 rise above even Halo is the addition of Bullet time (a la Max Payne).
Controls: 10/10
I found the controls in Hitman 2 to be very good. If you choose 3rd person view, or 1st person view, the controls stay easy. One more thing, no targeting system! Yeah! No targeting system = no targeting the person in the back of the room while someone is standing right in front of you shooting (Dead to Rights). If you thought the controls in Max Payne were good or too hard, Hitman 2's controls are perfect. They out do Max Payne's controls by a big margin.
Graphics: 10/10
Beautiful, magnificent, extraordinary, scrumtrelescant, and very good. This game takes full control of the graphics capability of the Xbox. But better graphics will soon come along in other games. As for now, this will do. The blood and weapons look very realistic, and so do the characters. Thank goodness there are no B-movies! Even though B-movies make me laugh! :)
Sound: 10/10
Another place where Hitman 2 excels. Although it excels in every place! The gun shots sound realistic, and so do the civilians screaming. Although the civilians scream the same thing over and over. How can the Russian civilians yell the same thing as the Arabian civilians? Did the Russian civilians move to Arabia? Possibly... The voice acting is good. But why does everyone have an English accent?
Replay Value: 8/10
The replay value has the lowest score on this review. But how many times can you play the same game before you get bored? If you find codes, like I did, they really up the replay value. But you have to find these cheats by yourself.
Rent or Buy?
I very rarely rent games before I buy them. The things I saw on this game was enough for me. On October 3rd, I went out to the old game store and bought it. I haven't regretted it yet. I suggest buy this game if you liked the 1st one (which I never played). If you like action/stealth game play buy this game. If you're one of those people who insist on playing games before you buy them, rent it! I'm not stopping you! Rent it! Go now! decided to stay did you? Well, this review is over!

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 12/03/02, Updated 12/03/02