This past weekend I saw the movie “Hitman” and as most of you know it is based on the game series of the same name. I’ve always loved the idea behind the series, yet I can’t play any of them for more then a few minutes before I give up. As I watched the movie which was adequate I thought about what would make me play a Hitman game.
I personally think that if any genre needs to add open world gameplay to it, it would have to be the stealth genre. My biggest issue with most stealth games including the Hitman series is that there is always only one way to get the best rating. Now I know that you will probably say that it only matters to a perfectionist to get the best rating, however I would argue that this design also limits the level design as well. The designers have made the levels, NPCS and viable options all built around only having a few right ways and even with that, I cannot think of anyway for someone to get the best rating on their first try in a level no matter what their skill level is. Now this is my idea that I would like to see in the Hitman series.
Watching the movie it showed how 47 arrived at locations early to prepare suitable measures to kill his targets, such as hiding equipment or learning about any possible openings to get them. Instead of having missions that take place in a closed setting at one point in time, I would like to see things play out over a longer stretch of time. Let’s say the player arrives in the area 30 minutes early for whenever the target arrives, they can now explore the setting or perhaps plant any equipment they feel would be useful at the target location while security isn’t set up yet. I want targets that are not on predefined paths like they’re waiting for me to get there and kill them. I think in essence I want access to bigger locales that allow me multiple ways and to the target and none of them are considered the “best way”.
I haven’t heard any information on a new Hitman game in awhile but I would love for them to move to an open city design for the series.
Josh
