Hitman: Blood Money
- March 15, 2007
- Io-Interactive A/S
- 23h median play time
Get on SteamHitman: Blood Money is a stealth action game where you play as Agent 47, a skilled assassin. Complete contracts to eliminate targets in various locations, using disguises, weapons, and stealth to avoid detection. As you progress, you'll earn money that can be used to upgrade your equipment and abilities, while a reputation system tracks your notoriety in the criminal underworld. Your actions and choices impact the story and outcome of each mission.
PC
Windows
Xbox One
PlayStation
Playstation 2
Xbox
Xbox 360
Reviews
- story3,104 mentions
- 26 % positive mentions
- 71 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The story in "Hitman: Blood Money" is generally regarded as more engaging and cohesive than in previous installments, featuring a narrative centered around rival assassination organizations and exploring themes of corruption, power, and conspiracy. While the overarching plot may feel disjointed at times, it effectively ties together the diverse missions, each offering unique settings and objectives that enhance replayability. The game also incorporates a notoriety system that impacts future missions based on player actions, adding depth to the storytelling experience.
“The game's narrative is more engaging and cohesive, featuring an overarching plot centered around rival assassination organizations—the international contract agency (ICA) and Agent 47 against the franchise.”
“Beyond espionage and government themes, the game explores broader political and social issues, such as corruption and power abuse in missions like 'Flatline' and 'Death on the Mississippi', and conspiracy and secret agendas in missions like 'Curtains Down' and 'Amendment XXV'.”
“These missions and the overall plot explore themes of corruption, power, conspiracy, and secrecy, adding levels of sophistication and intrigue to the game's story.”
“The story is a little more disjointed and a touch more difficult to follow from an overarching standpoint, but it is fun on the small scale.”
“The story was much more coherent this time and while the voice acting was almost terrible throughout, at least it felt like it was a complete story with a beginning, a middle and a fun end.”
“The story isn't much to write home about, but it does a decent job stringing the levels together into a larger context.”
- gameplay1,250 mentions
- 39 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The gameplay of *Hitman: Blood Money* is widely praised for its innovative mechanics, offering players a high degree of freedom and multiple approaches to mission completion, which enhances replayability. Key features include environmental kills, body disposal, and a notoriety system that tracks player actions, all contributing to a rich and immersive stealth experience. While some mechanics may feel dated and clunky by modern standards, the overall design and execution remain engaging, making it a standout title in the Hitman series.
“Hitman: Blood Money, with its innovative gameplay mechanics and new features, became the magnum opus of the Hitman series and significantly influenced later titles.”
“The concept of multiple mission approaches became a fundamental gameplay element, providing high freedom and replayability.”
“Hitman: Blood Money's gameplay is brilliantly designed and offers a variety of ways to complete missions.”
“The game isn't fun and the mechanics of it feel clunky.”
“I love playing old games but the constant game breaking bugs, jankiness, and unrefined gameplay made this a struggle to play.”
“The mechanics are old, this game is less intuitive than modern hitmen, it holds your hand much less, but once you get used to how the game works, levels become very easy.”
- graphics776 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Hitman: Blood Money" have received mixed reviews, with many acknowledging that while they are dated by modern standards, they still hold up reasonably well for a game released in 2006. Players appreciate the improved textures, dynamic lighting, and overall visual design, which enhance the immersive experience, despite some criticisms regarding character animations and model quality. Overall, the game's visuals are considered acceptable for its time, contributing positively to its atmosphere and gameplay, even if they may not satisfy those accustomed to contemporary graphics.
“The updated glacier engine enhances the game's visuals and immersion.”
“The graphics and sound design are also impressive, with high-resolution textures, real-time dynamic lighting, and a remarkable soundtrack that complements each mission's themes.”
“Despite some minor issues with facial animations and character model quality, the overall graphical enhancements significantly elevate the game's visual appeal and immersion, making Blood Money a timeless and highly replayable classic in the Hitman series.”
“The graphics haven't aged well and NPCs will do a 180 and look at your face when you're sneaking behind them.”
“Even for an old game, the graphics are laughably bad.”
“The graphics are dated in comparison to newer iterations of the Hitman franchise, fairly sparse environments and a lack of NPCs, especially compared with Blood Money's New Orleans Mardi Gras level.”
- music486 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 41 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The music in *Hitman: Blood Money*, composed by Jesper Kyd, is widely praised for its exceptional quality and ability to enhance the game's atmosphere, seamlessly blending classical, electronic, and ambient styles to match the themes of each mission. Reviewers highlight how the soundtrack elevates emotional moments and intensifies gameplay, making it a standout feature of the game. While some mention that the music can be hit or miss, the overall consensus is that it significantly contributes to the immersive experience, with tracks like "Ave Maria" being particularly memorable.
“Hitman: Blood Money boasts a remarkable soundtrack, composed by Jesper Kyd, which seamlessly blends classical, instrumental, electronic, and ambient genres to complement each mission's themes and adapt to the player's actions.”
“Whether it's the haunting melodies that accompany moments of suspense or the pulse-pounding beats during intense action sequences, the soundtrack is a masterclass in creating mood and atmosphere.”
“The combination of stellar sound design and a gripping musical score immerses players in the world of Hitman, heightening the overall gaming experience.”
“The main menu music is too loud and jarring, a version of 'Ave Maria' that is god awful, overly cheesy, and highly irritating to be constantly met with.”
“For the most part, you wouldn't want to hear any music, because it only starts when enemies/police get suspicious.”
“The soundtrack itself is not really noteworthy except for the main theme, which is 'Ave Maria'.”
- replayability443 mentions
- 54 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The replayability of "Hitman: Blood Money" is highly praised, with players noting the game's open-ended design that allows for numerous approaches to missions, resulting in near-infinite replay value. Features such as diverse mission strategies, a robust upgrade system, and a notoriety mechanic enhance the experience, encouraging experimentation and replaying levels for better scores. Despite some criticism regarding the linearity of a few missions, the overall consensus is that the game remains engaging and enjoyable long after its initial playthrough.
“Its high replayability comes from several key features and gameplay mechanics that encourage experimentation.”
“The game offers a plethora of different ways to approach each mission, allowing for endless replayability.”
“The open-ended gameplay, cool missions, and replayability are fantastic.”
“The new games don't even allow you to customize your weapons, reducing the replay value (as if there was 'play' value to begin with), and making the game feel like something you want to hurry up and finish so you can go do laundry.”
“It is by no means a broken game but at least 3 levels are more linear and lack replayability unlike the new games.”
“My criticism for this game is there isn't that much replayability.”
- humor234 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for its dark, quirky, and often slapstick elements, with players enjoying the absurdity of situations, funny NPC interactions, and the comedic potential of various gameplay mechanics. Many reviews highlight the hilarious ragdoll physics and the amusing ways players can creatively eliminate targets, contributing to a lighthearted atmosphere despite the game's serious themes. Overall, the humor is seen as a significant and enjoyable aspect that enhances the gameplay experience.
“The music, aesthetic, simplicity of the gameplay, diverse and creative levels, and what I refer to as the hilarious 'hitman jank', all cumulate into a wonderful, fun experience.”
“There are so many ways you can play a level and many creative ways to use the environments to assassinate the target (which are mostly hilarious).”
“The situations this game creates are always tense, but often hilarious.”
- atmosphere160 mentions
- 61 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in "Hitman: Blood Money" is widely praised for its meticulous level design, immersive environments, and exceptional soundtrack by Jesper Kyd, which enhances the emotional depth and tension of the gameplay. Each mission offers a unique ambiance, from opulent parties to gritty clubs, contributing to a memorable experience that balances dark themes with engaging gameplay. While some players note that it may not reach the atmospheric heights of earlier titles like "Contracts," the overall quality and design still make it a standout in the series.
“Each level is a meticulously crafted masterpiece, whether it's the opulent surroundings of a high-profile party or the gritty atmosphere of an underground club.”
“The music not only enhances the overall atmosphere but also elevates the emotional impact of key moments in the game.”
“Overall - the themes of each level are fantastic and the music of the game creates an excellent atmosphere combined with the great level designs, all leading to a legendary experience of constant tension and thrills.”
“Additionally, the early-2000s tone and atmosphere are really off-putting to me, though this is definitely a subjective nitpick.”
“Great music and very well designed levels, but, in my opinion, the Hitman series started getting pretty generic here; since the atmosphere and overall feel established in Hitman: Contracts and everything before it is barely in this game and every subsequent sequel lacks it, too, which is a shame.”
“Some of the levels are too easy or too linear, and lack the atmosphere and challenge of the previous game.”
- stability112 mentions
- 2 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 98 % negative mentions
The game's stability is a significant concern among users, with frequent reports of crashes, freezes, and various glitches that can disrupt gameplay and lead to lost progress. While some players find the bugs amusing or manageable, many express frustration over game-breaking issues, particularly in early missions. Overall, the game is described as quite buggy, with a mix of minor and major technical problems that detract from the experience.
“Runs great on newer hardware too.”
“However, the game freezes after every couple of loads, which requires me to force close the game, clearing all progress for that level and wiping out all your saves.”
“The game freezes and crashes after the intro/tutorial mission, and nothing has solved the problem.”
“If you're trying to play a normal run-of-the-mill Hitman game, don't buy this game. It has awful mechanics, crashes, and glitches.”
- optimization74 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 51 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
Overall, "Hitman: Blood Money" is praised for its solid optimization, allowing it to run smoothly on a variety of systems, including lower-end PCs. While some players report occasional performance issues and graphical limitations typical of older games, many find that the game performs well without major bugs, especially after minor adjustments. The game's mechanics and features, such as the performance ranking system, are also well-received, contributing to a satisfying gameplay experience.
“A classic game, very unique and charming, and it's really well optimized!”
“One of the best Hitman games, runs smoothly unlike Silent Assassin and Contracts.”
“I encountered no major bugs or performance issues; this game is stunningly well optimized, showing 90%+ GPU usage (4070) during gameplay at 4K.”
“And the performance is pretty bad too.”
“However, I'm still experiencing crazy performance issues.”
“Graphics are good, but if you max it out some of the extra visual effects come with performance hindering bugs.”
- grinding26 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 62 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being excessively tedious and time-consuming, with players feeling that it requires an unrealistic amount of effort to progress. While some find enjoyment in the game despite its slow pace and limited save options, many reviewers express frustration over the overall grind, suggesting it detracts significantly from the experience.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“This is just downright tedious, don't buy this game.”
“It's mind-numbingly slow, tedious, you have limited saves which is total BS and the stealth system is garbage but the biggest offender, the one I can't look past is, the AI sucks donkey balls.”
- emotional20 mentions
- 90 % positive mentions
- -5 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is significantly enhanced by its music, which elevates key moments and contributes to the overall intensity of the story. Players express a deep connection to the narrative, with some revisiting the game years later and finding new emotional depth. While some titles focus more on mechanics than story, the emotional rollercoaster experience remains a highlight for many.
“The music not only enhances the overall atmosphere but also elevates the emotional impact of key moments in the game.”
“Absolution was a linear game with roughly one outcome to each level; but what made up for that was the beautiful, emotional storyline which took a place in my heart.”
“This is one of those games I played a lot when I was young, and revisiting it after years of intentionally not touching it really gave me a new outlook on it.”
“The story was incredibly boring and failed to evoke any emotional response.”
“I found the narrative to be dull and lacking in emotional depth.”
“The emotional aspects of the game were overshadowed by a tedious storyline.”
- monetization12 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The monetization model of this game is highly praised, as it features no microtransactions, DLCs, or season passes, allowing players to purchase a complete experience for a low price. Reviewers appreciate the absence of forced online modes and DRM, highlighting it as a return to classic gaming values without the pitfalls of modern cash-grab practices. Overall, it is seen as a refreshing alternative to contemporary games that often rely on monetization strategies.
“No microtransactions, you pay 10 dollars and get a full game, no forced online mode, no DRM Denuvo. This is the last Hitman game that has all the pros and none of the cons.”
“This game was released at a time when there were no such things as DLCs, season passes, or microtransactions.”
“A 9/10 classic OG Hitman vibe with no microtransactions, great with mods and new textures. A full experience if you get it on sale!”
“Back when Hitman was a great game and not a semi-annual re-skin cash grab.”
“This game was out at a time where you had no such thing as DLCs, season passes, or your godforsaken microtransactions.”
“Buy this, and you will never need another Hitman game; keep away from the always-online episodic cash grab dumpster fires that now infect gaming.”
- character development6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Character development in the game has been criticized for being minimal, with the protagonist, 47, portrayed as quiet and two-dimensional. Reviewers noted that the voice acting varies in quality and the dialogue feels wooden, contributing to a lack of depth in character progression, despite the presence of intriguing elements in the story.
“Voice acting is extremely hit or miss, the dialogue is wooden and character development is virtually non-existent.”
“The only issue I have is character development - 47 is at his most quiet and two-dimensional in this one.”
“There isn't much in the way of character development, but there's a lot of intrigue; that's for sure.”
