Trailer Talk Episode 6: Absolute Nikmin Edition

Trailer Talk Episode 6: Absolute Nikmin Edition from David Liao on Vimeo.

It's been a long time coming but finally, after months of teasing, Brad and Nick finally have it out over Hitman Absolution. Plus, Brad introduces Nick to a Vita title that has his name all over it.  Please watch the video before reading below.

Brad and I talked briefly about Hitman Absolution during the Extra Life charity event back in October and, as you may remember, he and I are on opposite sides of the game.  Brad is quite against IO Interactive's new approach to Absolution but, for me, I really like this more narrative-focused, potentially more linear take on the game.  I wrote a preview of the game based on the E3 build back in June and it really excited me to see Agent 47 playable in a new way.

A few points I want to mention:

• Regarding the demo as a whole: IO Interactive has stated that this serves as one of a few transitional stages and that a large portion of the game will be classic Hitman gameplay.  I think that IO's decision to show the transitional level is a great way to demonstrate how different a Hitman experience can (and sometimes should) be as stealth shouldn't be limited to either entirely social or hidden gameplay.  This demo gives you a good example of blending both of those and while 75% of this demo focuses on cover-based stealth and hiding it seems that it was necessary for that to be the focus as to introduce this mechanic.

• In consideration of the inclusion of transitional levels: I have to wonder why they haven't been in the series before.  It's logical that a next-gen transition of Hitman would include levels where he is pursued.  Blood Money, despite having released this generation, was distinctly last-gen in terms of gameplay concepts and, in my opinion, was simply a port of its last-gen counterparts.  I want to see a STORY come from Hitman, not be given playgrounds to explore with only a briefing screen to tell me how these two environments are linked.  I also want to explore 47 as a character, something that Silent Assassin tried to do and the other games only briefly touched on.  There is a man of morality hidden somewhere under that dark, murder-focused mind and I think it's about time we learn about it.

• Brad's fear of scripting: while it is fair to suggest that there's a lot of scripting in the game I'm sure that it won't be nearly as bad as Brad fears.  Like many demos and press-builds before it, this demo of Absolution surely isn't going to be like this when the final product ships.  Sure, there are probably area-focused events like what happened with the pigeons on the upper level of the library.  The lack of button prompts probably is just a design choice for the demo specifically and, more intriguingly, might be related to a minimalistic display option that will ship with the game.  Many people lamented the pre-release demonstrations of Assassin's Creed as they had Altair climbing the same tower over and over again.  A later public demonstration had him climbing a different tower chosen by the viewers using that same build.  I'm certain that is the same case here as it is perfectly possible here in this demo but this path was chosen by both a marketing and a development team on how to do a bug-free run of the demo and get the maximum 'wow' factor.

• The sound design: I personally LOVE the game's new score.  It's dynamic, raw and powerful.  Though Jesper Kyd isn't scoring the game it is being scored by Peter Keyd and Peter Peter (pumpkin eater?) who did the soundtrack to Kane & Lynch 1.  While I don't particularly remember that soundtrack I will say that this is a logical improvement over the previous entries.  The transitions between background and action music was harsh and I like how it blends in well with what's going on on-screen.  I do say that I will miss hearing David Bateson's voice but considering that Agent 47's voice and likeness were modeled after him I have to wonder if there wasn't a reason as to why he isn't reprising his role other than IO saying 'no.'

• The "stealth meter:" this is something that I think IO has done right.  It will be a great tool for inexperienced players and I'm certain will be something you can turn off if you want to.  The comparisons between this and Splinter Cell Conviction are apt but I don't think this is a bad thing at all.  I'm sure that it will be regenerative in nature over time and that, on higher difficulty levels, it won't regenerate.

Overall I can't wait to see what IO does with Agent 47.  I'm certain we'll see the game next year at E3 (perhaps even at PAX East) and that the build demonstrated there will be traditional Hitman gameplay.

See you guys next week.