Hitman 2: Silent Assassin

81%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,870 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Hitman 2: Silent Assassin Game Cover
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Hitman 2: Silent Assassin is a stealth-based video game where you play as Agent 47, a professional assassin. The game features various missions set in different locations around the world, where you must eliminate specific targets while avoiding detection. Using stealth, disguise, and creative assassination techniques, you must complete your objectives and escape unscathed.

  • PC
  • Windows
  • Cloud
  • Nintendo Gamecube
  • Play​Station
  • Play​station 2
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

81%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,870 reviews
story179 positive mentions
stability59 negative mentions
  • Significant improvement over the first game with better graphics, controls, and level design.
  • Offers a variety of ways to complete missions, allowing for creative gameplay and high replayability.
  • The soundtrack by Jesper Kyd is exceptional and enhances the overall atmosphere of the game.
  • The AI is overly sensitive, often resulting in instant detection for minor actions like running or getting too close.
  • Some missions, particularly in Japan, are frustratingly designed and can feel unfair due to bugs and inconsistent mechanics.
  • The game has compatibility issues on modern systems, requiring extensive tweaks to run properly.
  • story756 mentions

    The story of "Hitman 2: Silent Assassin" revolves around Agent 47's quest to rescue his kidnapped friend, Father Vittorio, which leads him back into the world of assassination across various global locations. While the narrative serves as a backdrop for the gameplay, it is often criticized for being simplistic and somewhat disjointed, with many missions feeling unrelated to the main plot. Despite this, players appreciate the engaging mission design and the freedom to approach objectives in multiple ways, contributing to a satisfying gameplay experience.

    • “The story is great, and I would rather not spoil.”
    • “The story really adds a human layer to agent 47's character which is nice, he really does feel more well-rounded as a character in this game as opposed to codename 47 where he felt like a more silent person to me.”
    • “The story is just captivating, making me even motivated to complete the missions in rapid succession.”
    • “The story is just an excuse to get you killing (fair enough) and the voice work is awful.”
    • “The story itself seemed pretty straightforward: rejoin the agency to save a friend, kill this guy, kill that guy, oh now there's this other guy, travel the world killing everybody, finally get your friend back at the end after slaughtering everyone.”
    • “The story in general leaves much to be desired and the extremely subpar voice acting does not help it.”
  • gameplay320 mentions

    The gameplay of "Hitman 2: Silent Assassin" is a significant improvement over its predecessor, featuring refined stealth mechanics, diverse mission designs, and enhanced player freedom in approaching objectives. While many players appreciate the immersive and engaging gameplay, some criticize the inconsistent AI and detection mechanics, which can lead to frustration. Overall, the game successfully combines classic stealth elements with modernized controls, making it a must-play for fans of the genre, despite its occasional flaws.

    • “The gameplay is remarkably immersive, with smart mechanics and level design that still hold up even today.”
    • “Overall, Hitman 2: Silent Assassin represents a substantial leap in gameplay, making it a pinnacle of realistic stealth Hitman mechanics.”
    • “The game offers improvements to the core elements of its predecessor, resulting in realistic stealth mechanics and visually stunning gameplay.”
    • “Most of the mechanics and missions are broken or are severely flawed.”
    • “Detection mechanics are broken and render anything else but guns blazing impossible, and even then, the shooting mechanics are some of the most frustrating you'll ever play.”
    • “The gameplay is not that great; 47 now moves much slower than he did in Codename 47, and the combat system is still similar to that of Codename 47.”
  • graphics201 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many acknowledging significant improvements over its predecessor, "Hitman: Codename 47," while still noting that they appear dated by modern standards. Some players appreciate the aesthetic and detail for a game from 2002, highlighting the environments and character models, but others criticize persistent graphical issues and bugs that detract from the experience. Overall, while the visuals may not meet contemporary expectations, they are often seen as a nostalgic charm that complements the gameplay.

    • “The developers not only enhanced the gameplay but also made significant improvements to the graphics.”
    • “The graphics engine obviously isn’t as good as modern engines, but the developers surely made the most of it at the time, and often you cannot help but stop and admire the amazing sceneries, architecture, and interiors.”
    • “Graphically, it was a stunning improvement, but the gameplay also was a lot deeper: body hiding, weapon customization, beverage poisoning, etc.”
    • “I'm a little hesitant to recommend it because even with the downgrade workaround, it still has graphical issues related to higher frame rates common in modern hardware.”
    • “The graphics are dated, the controls are clunky, the AI is dumb, and the voice acting is cheesy.”
    • “This game is trash; the graphics suck and the shooting is trash. I don't recommend spending money on this game.”
  • music198 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised, particularly the orchestral soundtrack composed by Jesper Kyd, which enhances the atmosphere and complements the gameplay. Many reviewers highlight the nostalgic and immersive qualities of the soundtrack, noting its ability to evoke strong memories and emotions. Overall, the music is considered one of the standout features of the game, contributing significantly to its legacy and appeal.

    • “The original soundtrack was composed and produced by Jesper Kyd and performed by the Prague Symphony Orchestra.”
    • “The music is phenomenal, lots of fun, and a classic.”
    • “The soundtrack is pure perfection again; what else can you expect from Jesper Kyd?”
    • “Game doesn't start, white screen while music is playing in the background.”
    • “Game will just go to an unskippable black screen after the main menu, plays some music for about a minute then goes black.”
    • “I press start and the screen goes black and I can only hear the music.”
  • stability62 mentions

    The game's stability is widely criticized, with numerous players reporting game-breaking glitches, freezing issues, and AI problems that significantly hinder gameplay. While some users note that it runs well on modern hardware with adjustments, the overall consensus is that the game is a "buggy mess" that can detract from the experience, making it frustrating for those seeking a smooth playthrough. Despite these issues, some players still find enjoyment in the game's design and missions, albeit with the caveat of dealing with its technical shortcomings.

    • “Runs great on modern hardware with a little bit of tinkering.”
    • “Runs great on modest PC specs.”
    • “Runs great on Windows 10.”
    • “It's a broken, buggy mess.”
    • “Glitches that make it almost impossible to complete levels are everywhere.”
    • “Just be warned that the game is very buggy and can get really hard to deal with at times when you're going for silent assassin ratings.”
  • atmosphere42 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and visually stunning environments, enhanced by a phenomenal soundtrack composed by Jesper Kyd and distinctive voice acting that reflects the cultural backgrounds of various NPCs. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to transport players into diverse settings, creating a rich and engaging experience that elevates the overall gameplay. The combination of detailed graphics, atmospheric music, and believable characters contributes to a compelling and dynamic atmosphere that resonates strongly with players.

    • “Additionally, they elevated the level of complexity in the game by enhancing the design, texture, and atmosphere of each environment, making it more immersive and visually stunning.”
    • “The atmosphere in this game is phenomenal.”
    • “The atmosphere is thicker than the cold blood in 47's pulsing veins thanks to beautifully detailed open environments, fantastic voice acting, believable characters, and amazing music by Jesper Kyd and the Budapest Symphony Orchestra.”
    • “There’s also a tangible atmosphere, which is more than 2016’s Hitman can say for itself.”
    • “Sadly they enabled (with certain limits) in-mission savegames but I strongly suggest you not to use them; reloading a savegame just ruins the atmosphere.”
    • “The atmosphere is thicker than the cold blood in 47's pulsing veins thanks to beautifully detailed open environments, fantastic voice acting, believable characters, and amazing music by Jesper Kyd and the Budapest Symphonic Orchestra.”
  • replayability36 mentions

    Hitman 2: Silent Assassin is praised for its exceptional replayability, allowing players to experiment with various strategies and approaches to missions, including achieving the coveted "silent assassin" rating. The introduction of a scoring system, unique contracts, and the ability to collect weapons further enhance the game's replay value, making it a timeless experience that encourages players to revisit levels multiple times. Overall, the game's design offers a high degree of freedom and challenge, ensuring that players can enjoy it for years to come.

    • “This is evident in Hitman 2: Silent Assassin, where the strong gameplay not only opens up opportunities for high replayability but also allows players to experiment with various killing methods based on the environment.”
    • “The game offers high replayability and allows players to experiment with various killing methods and attain the silent assassin rating on each mission.”
    • “The great thing about the Hitman series is that the game gives you a lot of freedom in how you approach it; you are in no way stuck to a linear setup in the levels, and as such, this game grants you a great deal of replayability as you can choose to play the same missions many times but go about them in very different ways.”
    • “Honestly, a bit ahead of its time for 2002, this game is timeless and is replayable for years and years thanks to how many ways you can do a mission and how you can challenge yourself.”
    • “The game has a lot of replayability potential with the rating you get after every mission, telling you how clean your approach was, and making you want to get the best rating 'silent assassin' in every single mission.”
    • “The game has more variety on how to proceed with assassinations, which adds a replayability factor; trying to achieve the silent assassin ranking to unlock more weapons is also fun and difficult.”
  • optimization32 mentions

    The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant performance issues on PC, including stuttering and crashes, even on capable hardware. While some users noted that the game runs smoothly on lower-end machines, others expressed frustration over the lack of widescreen support and overall poor optimization for modern systems. Despite the game's engaging mechanics and improvements, the optimization shortcomings detract from the overall experience for many players.

    • “The game looks good and runs smoothly.”
    • “They are well optimized, and they are wonderful even on budget computers.”
    • “The mechanics are pretty well-optimized, everything moves nicely, but sometimes soldiers hit the walls by accident (they go back to normal very quick, it just happens).”
    • “It's unplayable garbage and is not optimized for PC.”
    • “Unfortunately, the widescreen user interface optimization issue was not addressed in this release.”
    • “I can't really get past the first mission though because the game isn't totally optimized.”
  • grinding17 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for its tedious and frustrating gameplay, characterized by slow movement, strict AI behavior, and limited save options that force players to repeat lengthy missions after mistakes. While some players appreciate the challenge and the satisfaction of overcoming difficult levels, many find the experience overly cumbersome and lacking in skill-based engagement, leading to a sense of artificial difficulty. Overall, the consensus is that while there are improvements over the original game, the grinding mechanics detract significantly from the enjoyment.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “Grinding in this game is incredibly rewarding and keeps you engaged.”
    • “The grind is satisfying and offers a real sense of progression.”
    • “All of this results in a tedious gameplay, and if you stick around, after a while you start to find glitches and abuse them heavily.”
    • “Many mention a rather unfair walk/run system that would duly raise suspicion, but walking just to avoid suspicion for the full length of this game is insanely tedious.”
    • “Multiple minute rotations, missions starting with minute-long waiting coupled with a limited number of saves which makes skipping the buffer time impossible just make the game even more tedious and artificially hard to approach.”
  • humor17 mentions

    The humor in the game is a mix of intentional and unintentional comedy, featuring slow-moving bullets, absurd NPC behaviors, and amusing animations that often break immersion. Players appreciate the game's self-aware humor, particularly through the character of Agent 47, who exhibits more personality and empathy than in previous titles. Additionally, the inclusion of funny elements like custom newspaper articles and humorous stereotypes adds to the overall comedic experience, making it a source of laughter during gameplay.

    • “The NPCs are hilarious when they get taken out.”
    • “It's funny trying to get the silent assassin rank; you need to think about your movements twice, that's why I love it.”
    • “And those custom newspaper articles at the end of each mission are hilarious!”
  • emotional5 mentions

    The game attempts to evoke emotional investment but struggles to fully achieve its ambitions, likened to an inexperienced individual trying to lift an overwhelming weight. The narrative features themes of emotional distress and mentorship, particularly through the relationship between the protagonist, 47, and his mentor, Emilio, whose kidnapping propels the story forward. While some players find emotional resonance in the game's connections to the Hitman film and novel adaptations, the overall impact remains mixed.

    • “This game does want to make you emotionally invested at times, but it's like a lanky 14-year-old attempting to bench press 300 pounds – the ambition is there, sure, but it's just not gonna happen.”
    • “Emotional distress, a lack of being and faith, 47 resides with his caring mentor Emilio Vittorio who eases his tortured spirit, giving 47 a brief respite from contracts on life until one day Emilio is kidnapped by a shadowy figure related biologically to one of the five fathers who attempts to fool 47 and ICA into getting him nuclear weaponry, much to the violation of ICA policy. 47 incidentally foils his plan multiple times and the player goes around the world to reveal his plans, assassinate him, and save Emilio.”
    • “The hitman movie was amazing and very touching.”
  • character development2 mentions

    The game offers significant character development for Agent 47, surpassing other titles in the series despite its gameplay shortcomings compared to "Blood Money." It features impressive character design and expansive, realistic maps that enhance the overall experience.

    • “For its time, the game looks pretty neat, with good character design, decent textures, realistic and big maps for a lot of exploration.”
    • “Although it doesn't play as well as Blood Money, no other game in the series gave as much quality character development to Agent 47 as this one.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    The monetization strategy, while ad-free, has been criticized for being overly intrusive and frustrating for players.

Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

77% average critic score

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Play time

18hMedian play time
54hAverage play time
14hMain story
19hCompletionist
8-30hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 6 analyzed playthroughs

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