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We track down the biggest debacles in the history of gaming.
GameSpy Grudge
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 Killing is fun. By Adam Pavlacka | July 11, 2003  90Outstanding
The Lowdown: Killing was never so much fun.
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Platform: GameCube
 Game Type: Adventure Developer: IO Interactive Publisher: Eidos ESRB: Mature Full Game Information While the above is true for many titles out there, every once in awhile a game comes along that breaks out of the mold and offers the player an unprecedented amount of freedom while playing. Hitman 2 is one of those games. The sequel to the original PC game, Hitman 2 follows the path of a reformed and retired mafia hitman. Now in the service of the cloth, he is attempting to reform for his sins by following the path of God. All was well and good until his mentor is kidnapped and his only hope of saving his friend is to resume his old role. As the Hitman, you will be tasked with eliminating various targets throughout the game, but how you do so is completely up to you. Every level has a number of different ways to successfully complete the mission and any one is just as valid as another. For example, one level tasks you with killing two crime lords meeting in a park. You can kill them via car-bomb, you can use a sniper scope from the water tower, or you can even take one of the men out face to face. How you do it is up to you! Because of the complexity of the level design, part of the game's appeal is in attempting to find as many solutions as possible. You can always replay a level to try a new strategy or see a new area. Even hardcore gamers will find themselves drawn back to past levels, if only to answer that age old question, "What if I did this instead of that?" In a neat twist, the player has the ability to steal the clothes off almost anyone in the game. This can be an invaluable asset, especially when you are trying to sneak into a heavily guarded palace. Walk up on your own and you will be shot on sight. Walk up wearing a friendly uniform and you will be allowed to pass so long as you do not do anything to arouse the guard's suspicions. Looking inconspicuous involves more than just wearing the right clothes. The guards will also react to your actions. If you are running around instead of walking, they will start to become alarmed. If you have a shotgun strung over your shoulder instead of a pistol hidden under your jacket, the guards will view you as hostile. Just as in real life, it takes effort to avoid getting noticed. Visually, the game uses the GameCube hardware well, putting it on par with the Xbox version. Character animations are smooth and details are clear. Lighting effects are put to good use and character AI is just as intelligent as it ever was. This forces the player to tread lightly as the NPCs will talk with each other and coordinate attacks. Hitman 2 has been adapted well to the GameCube controller, with the left stick controlling movement and the right stick aiming. Because the game features location-based damage you will want to aim carefully. A single headshot means you can take an enemy down quickly and quietly, whereas a shot to the chest will likely turn into a gunfight -- even if you catch the enemy unaware. In a nice touch, it is possible to switch between first- and third-person views at any time. While the majority of the game will be played in third-person, the first-person view is nice when you are casing your surroundings or setting up that perfect headshot.  Doing what a hitman does best. Originally released for the PC, Xbox, and PlayStation 2, Hitman 2 is finally making a belated appearance on the Nintendo GameCube. The good news is that the game is completely intact, so if you never saw it in a prior incarnation you don't have to worry about missing out on anything. The bad news is that the other versions are already a few months old, and as such, in the bargain bin. It might be worth tracking one down, simply for the cost savings. •
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Essential Links Reviewer System Specifications GameCube, Memory Card 59, Standard Controller. System Requirements GameCube, Memory Card 59, Standard Controller. Reviews Index |
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