Hitman GO: Definitive Edition answers the proverbial question which is, “How can we package Hitman into a mobile game and release it again for console and PC?” In spite of its rehashed nature and minor changes, the ported version condenses familiar themes of the Hitman franchise into a minimalistic turn-based strategy board game that’s easy to pick up and challenging to master. Fans and newcomers will find enough here to satiate them until the traditional entry arrives next month.
Hitman GO: Definitive Edition
Developer: Square Enix Montreal
Price: $7.99
Platform: PS4 (reviewed), PS Vita
MonsterVine was supplied with a PS4 code for review.
Hitman GO’s console entry contains all the improvements one would expect. Cross-buy and cross-save integration, touchpad functionality, Improved visuals; the list goes on. Players who own both a PS4 and PS Vita will find a lot of value here with integrated features and price point given the biggest difference between the mobile and console releases are the removal of in-app purchases and added trophy support.
From the first impression, Hitman GO makes a visual statement through its gorgeous crafted dioramas set pieces and the attention to detail towards achieving the board game look and feel. An example of this is seen through the distinctive sound effect when a piece is eliminated from the game. All post-launch content come with the console release including levels inspired from Hitman: Blood Money and Hitman 2: Silent Assassin furthering the Definitive Edition moniker.
The bulk of Hitman GO’s gameplay transfers over Agent 47’s skillset into a board game that starts off rather simple but quickly becomes difficult, layering its mechanics in a challenging but thoughtful way. The bald headed assassin moves around nodes in turn-based succession using trapdoors, firearms, disguises, distractions to outwit obstacles found on the board. Most of my time spent in each level involved “trial-and-error” attempts and occasionally using brute force methods to game enemy movement patterns until there was a window of opportunity to proceed. The initial chapters teaches the mechanics well and builds upon this natural progression by introducing new enemy variants and challenges.
The developers award more savvy thought-out approaches with optional challenges, such as obtaining a briefcase within the level, achieving a no-kill, or “x” amount of steps but I was merely satisfied enough making it to the end. So here lies the dilemma. For a series that touts its creative freedom and player agency, having it relegated in the confines of a board game environment feels rather uncharacteristic despite all the window dressing. These restrictions play out when the player moves Agent 47 on a special node which auto-enables the action instead of having the choice to activate it, the absence of skippable turns, and the constraints the game ultimately shows when it narrows down to one determined way of completing a level. Hitman GO is a board game with set rules and parameters but I was hoping for more classic Hitman versatility and leeway in its approach.
The Final Word
Ultimately, the premise of Hitman Go boils down to its puzzle based gameplay that works as is and because of its mobile oriented approach. The ‘pick up and play’ style lends to its replay value for both casual and completionists alike. As an unconventional spin-off of the series, players will maximize reward and payoff in short playthrough sessions or as a relaxing detour on the go.
– MonsterVine Rating: 3.5 out of 5 – Fair
Interested in playing Hitman: GO Definitive Edition for PS4/PS Vita? We’ve got five codes up for grabs in our giveaway, ends March 4th 11:59 am PST.
