Hitman: Blood Money

"Killing is his business, and business is good. *SPOILERS*"

Graphics: 9/10
Hitman: Blood Money looks wonderful on the 360, especially with the component HD cable. The environments are excellent, and the faces on NPCs and 47 himself are also quite excellent. The blood effects are also good. I didn't detect any slowdowns or drops in the frame rate while playing.

Gameplay: 10/10
The real strong point of Hitman: Blood Money. Since he is the world's top assassin, it's no suprise that the weapons you can use to kill your targets range from a poison syringe to hedge clippers... and that doesn't include the guns. The guns are just awesome, as are the upgrades. You could potentially have fully-auto, silenced Silverballers with laser scopes. Stealth in the name of game here, as you can disguise yourself as a security guard, a waiter, a janitor, even a U.S. Marine. The locations range from the Mississippi River to a French opera. Your targets range from drug lords, fellow clone assassins, to even the Vice President. The story of the game is also very well done. It involves cloning and the possible legalization of it, a topic which is intensely debated at the present time. And althought there isn't much of a cinematic ending per se, there is the ending level "Requiem," which was probably the most fun level of the game.

Sound: 8/10
The musical score of the game has a peaceful, serene undertone, which conceals the brutal object of the game. The gunshot sounds are well done. The NPCs voices are also decent, as well as 47's voice. He throws out some funny and badass one liners throughout the game.

Fun Factor: 9/10
This is a stealth shooting game where you can kill with hedge clippers, kitchen knives, and fully-upgraded M4 assault rifles. The fun factor is obvious there. Not to mention there's plenty of fun easter eggs to discover throughout the levels.

This game is overall very well done. It's a relatively short game, so I'd recommend a rental first before you consider buying, but it's worth every penny you spend on it.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 08/18/06