He "moves without sound, kills without emotion and
disappears without trace". Yes, someone's been reading the
cover of the DVD for Leon.
Playing a tall, near-Richard O'Brien-a-like, with a barcode on the
back of your head, this third-person game has you playing the hitman of the
title who is given assignments like assassinating political targets. You have
the ability to blast people into bits and shoot limbs off, then pick up the
cadaver's weapon(s) and use them on his colleagues.
As you run about the hitman's world, the graphics are a little on the jerky
side but they still move fast and when you need to escape the pursuit of those
wanting to help you meet your maker, it's easy enough to nip round the back of
a building and position yourself so you can catch them when they follow you.
The sound is simple but fairly satisfying as the bullets meet their
destinations.
The control system is similar to that used in
Project I.G.I.
in that if you're not used to it, it's rather a dog to play with at first,
but you do get used to it eventually, because I never used to use a mouse
for first- or third-person-shooters.
Regular mini cut-scenes also appear at preset times, but if you're in the
middle of a shoot-out, while that action will be paused, the fact it's happened
is very off-putting. Pressing 'Escape' will get you back to the action, but
you'll be back in the thick of it so keep on your toes.
Also - and this is the real pain - there's no facility for an in-game save
so as you work your way around your objectives, if you screw up and die,
then it's back to square one. That is SO annoying and puts you off playing.
Overall, the lack of in-game saving is the straw that breaks the camel's back.
It's a difficult game and one where you'd normally pace yourself, moving a
few steps at a time while saving regularly. Constantly replaying the same
points does not excitement generate, it makes you switch off.
GRAPHICS SOUND EFFECTS AND MUSIC PLAYABILITY ORIGINALITY ENJOYMENT
OVERALL
For more info on Eidos Interactive's games, check out their official Website at
www.eidosinteractive.com
As of April 2009, Blu-rays and DVDs reviewed by the editor are watched on a Panasonic TH-37PX80B
37" Plasma TV with a Sony BDP-1500 Blu-ray player and played through a Yamaha DSP-AX820 amplifier.
PC games reviewed by the editor are on:
Since Jan 2011: Intel Quad Core Dell XPS 8100, i7 CPU 860 @ 2.80Ghz, 8Gb RAM, nVidia GeForce GTS 240, Windows 7
Since Nov 2005: Intel Pentium D 830 3.0Ghz, 1Gb RAM, 128Mb nVidia GeForce 6700XL, Windows XP
Since Aug 2003: Intel Pentium 4 2.66Ghz, 512Mb RAM, 128Mb GeForce4 MX440 graphics, Windows XP
Since May 2003: Intel Pentium 4 2.6Ghz, 512Mb RAM, 128Mb ATI Radeon 9600TX graphics, Windows XP
Since Jun 2002: Intel Pentium III 600Mhz, 384Mb RAM, Windows 98 SE, 64Mb ATI Radeon 8500LE
Since May 2000: Intel Pentium III 600Mhz, 384Mb RAM, Windows 98 SE, Voodoo 3 3000 AGP
He "moves without sound, kills without emotion and
disappears without trace". Yes, someone's been reading the
cover of the DVD for Leon.
As you run about the hitman's world, the graphics are a little on the jerky
side but they still move fast and when you need to escape the pursuit of those
wanting to help you meet your maker, it's easy enough to nip round the back of
a building and position yourself so you can catch them when they follow you.
Overall, the lack of in-game saving is the straw that breaks the camel's back.
It's a difficult game and one where you'd normally pace yourself, moving a
few steps at a time while saving regularly. Constantly replaying the same
points does not excitement generate, it makes you switch off.
