Hitman: Codename 47

67%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,797 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Hitman: Codename 47 Game Cover
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In Hitman: Codename 47, players assume the role of an elite assassin, known only as Agent 47, as they carry out contract kills for various clients. The game features a unique blend of stealth and action gameplay, allowing players to choose their approach to each mission. With a variety of weapons and tools at their disposal, players must navigate heavily guarded facilities and eliminate their targets with precision and creativity.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

67%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,797 reviews
story191 positive mentions
stability78 negative mentions
  • The game offers a unique and challenging gameplay experience that requires strategic thinking and planning.
  • The soundtrack composed by Jesper Kyd is excellent and enhances the atmosphere of the game.
  • As the first game in the Hitman series, it provides valuable backstory and context for Agent 47's character.
  • The controls are clunky and outdated, making the gameplay frustrating for modern players.
  • There is no save system during missions, forcing players to restart levels from the beginning upon failure.
  • The AI can be inconsistent, often leading to unfair detection and unexpected deaths.
  • story1,148 mentions

    The story of *Hitman: Codename 47* serves as an origin tale for Agent 47, a genetically engineered assassin navigating a series of missions across various global locations. While the narrative provides intriguing backstory and character development, it is often overshadowed by frustrating gameplay mechanics, such as the lack of mid-mission saves and the trial-and-error nature of mission completion. Despite its dated design, the game offers memorable missions and a unique atmosphere, making it a notable entry for fans interested in the roots of the *Hitman* franchise.

    • “The story is really interesting and captivating, detailing the secret origin of agent 47, our favorite silent assassin.”
    • “The story was very good and the game was really enjoyable for me.”
    • “The story is an important aspect of this game, it introduces the character and tells you how he came to be and what he is.”
    • “The lack of autosave or really any sort of save feature is immediately annoying, and I too often turned to online guides and videos to see how to get past each level rather than figuring it out myself due to how large some of the maps are, how long some missions are, and how each time I died I would have to start over from the very beginning of the mission.”
    • “The gameplay is terrible and stupid; you'll have to retry some missions for hours until you can get them done.”
    • “The story is non-existent as far as I can tell.”
  • gameplay338 mentions

    The gameplay of *Hitman: Codename 47* is often criticized for its outdated controls, clunky mechanics, and frustrating difficulty spikes, leading to a trial-and-error experience that can feel unfair and tedious. While the game introduces innovative stealth mechanics and a unique approach to assassination, many players find the execution lacking, with inconsistent AI detection and a lack of clear guidance on mission objectives. Despite its historical significance in the stealth genre, the game's numerous flaws make it challenging for modern audiences to fully enjoy.

    • “The gameplay premise of Hitman: Codename 47 is intriguing, emphasizing the importance of executing and escaping tasks with minimal attention and maximum effect, which is central to the stealth gameplay for the sequel.”
    • “Hitman: Codename 47 lays the foundation for the iconic stealth franchise with its innovative gameplay and intricate level design.”
    • “Despite some dated mechanics and difficulty spikes, the game's emphasis on strategic planning and execution remains engaging.”
    • “The controls, mechanics, and detection system are pretty random, unforgiving, and sometimes even unfair.”
    • “Some missions require 20 or 30 minutes of very precise gameplay; failing those near the end is beyond painful.”
    • “The gameplay is utterly frustrating, annoying, and you'll have to retry some missions for hours until you can get them done.”
  • graphics255 mentions

    The graphics of "Hitman: Codename 47" are widely regarded as outdated, even for its time of release in 2000, with many reviewers noting poor textures, low draw distances, and clunky character models. While some appreciate the nostalgic charm of early 3D graphics, others find them unplayable by modern standards, often detracting from the overall experience. Despite these graphical shortcomings, the game is still considered enjoyable for those who can overlook its visual flaws and focus on its gameplay and atmosphere.

    • “Hitman: Codename 47, using IO Interactive’s Glacier engine, has stunning graphics for its time, despite having empty spaces and maze-like locations.”
    • “The graphics are amazing, in my opinion, and the ragdoll system is great and feels realistic.”
    • “The graphics, if one accepts that it is an older game, are still pretty decent, and the game creates a really great atmosphere in the levels, along with the fantastic music composed by Jesper Kyd.”
    • “The graphics are a complete disaster, the object positioning seems rushed and the character models are all pretty awful compared to the graphic fidelity of today.”
    • “The graphics have not aged well and the controls are difficult to work with.”
    • “Graphics are very poor looking.”
  • music113 mentions

    The music in "Hitman: Codename 47," composed by Jesper Kyd, is widely praised for its atmospheric and immersive qualities, effectively enhancing the game's various settings. Many players highlight specific tracks that capture the essence of each mission, with the soundtrack being considered one of the game's standout features despite some criticisms regarding its repetitiveness and occasional technical issues. Overall, the soundtrack is regarded as a significant asset that contributes to the game's dark and engaging atmosphere.

    • “The soundtrack for Hitman: Codename 47, composed by Jesper Kyd, is a notable aspect of the game.”
    • “Key tracks from the soundtrack, such as 'Main Title', 'Hong Kong', 'Jungle Exploration', 'Harbor', and 'Hospital', effectively capture the essence of the game.”
    • “The music is perfect; it made the game even more fun to play.”
    • “Despite its stunning graphics for its time and a notable soundtrack, the game ultimately fails in its execution, with some entertaining aspects and potential design concepts overshadowed by serious flaws.”
    • “It's a terribly ported game as the music won't work 80% of the time and the game is basically dependent on the music.”
    • “In addition to technically playing poorly, the plot is missing in action, and what's with this overly calm and soothing music that persists throughout the game?”
  • stability81 mentions

    The stability of the game is widely criticized, with numerous reports of game-breaking glitches, soft-locks, and frustratingly buggy controls that hinder gameplay. While some players have experienced minimal issues, the overwhelming consensus is that the game is plagued by technical difficulties, making it difficult to enjoy without significant patience. Overall, the game's age and poor programming contribute to a frustrating experience, often overshadowing its potential.

    • “Outside of that, it does function well. I've had no glitches or crashes and got the game to work with a widescreen resolution.”
    • “Always wanted to play this game, finally bought it. No glitches, bugs, or viruses. This is one of the hardest Hitman games I've ever played. Despite the graphics and quality, I find it really good even in 2022.”
    • “Needs a little bit of work here and there, but still runs great!”
    • “There's also a massive load of game-breaking glitches everywhere; it is super easy to soft-lock the game, usually by getting stuck somewhere.”
    • “The game is very buggy; you will encounter bugs here and there, and sometimes you die because of a bug.”
    • “Plagued by technical difficulties and buggy AI, as well as some curious design choices, this is a game that is difficult to like and even harder to enjoy.”
  • atmosphere47 mentions

    The atmosphere of "Hitman: Codename 47" is widely praised for its immersive and unique settings, enhanced by a compelling soundtrack that complements the game's dark and gritty tone. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to create memorable environments across various locations, such as Hong Kong and Rotterdam, despite its dated graphics. Overall, the combination of atmospheric level design, engaging music, and a rich narrative contributes to a captivating experience that stands the test of time.

    • “Despite all this, I think it's a very charming eurojank game with some pretty great levels towards the end (the hotel level is especially good and more reminiscent of the later entries) and a pretty killer atmosphere.”
    • “The atmosphere in this game is amazing; every mission has a special music, that special feeling that it's unique, not just another useless task.”
    • “The challenge, atmosphere, and incredible music by Jesper Kyd is what allows me to recommend this; most likely the hardest game in the Hitman series.”
    • “The most prominent one is the music – the main menu theme became a permanent part of my playlist, and the rest of the soundtrack creates a perfectly grim, dark, cruel atmosphere fitting for a clone devoid of humanity whose only purpose is to take life.”
    • “The story is mediocre, but given that the soundtrack is very well composed by Jesper Kyd, it gives the game a special dark atmosphere.”
    • “Aside from this being a PC exclusive, yes, the game might as well be so old and irrelevant that you'd want to pass up on it, but even so, the game still has an irreplaceable charm; it has atmosphere, weight, and stupid decisions all over the place.”
  • grinding35 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for its tediousness, primarily due to the lack of a save system, which forces players to repeatedly restart lengthy levels after minor mistakes. Many reviewers describe the gameplay as frustrating and time-consuming, often reducing the experience to a cycle of trial-and-error that detracts from enjoyment. While some missions offer engaging stealth gameplay, the overall sentiment is that the game suffers from excessive repetition and poorly designed level structures.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “The game, for this reason, felt far more tedious rather than fun, and by the end of the game I was dreading starting it back up and was just trying to push through to move on to Hitman 2.”
    • “There is no in-level save function, which makes most levels needlessly tedious.”
    • “Save function: there's zero sort of checkpoint or save function besides the mission select. Some of the levels are extremely long and tedious, where you'll have to repeatedly do the same sequence of events just to get to the part that you failed at.”
  • humor35 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by a mix of intentional and unintentional comedic elements, including funny dialogues, absurd situations, and hilarious character interactions. Players appreciate the game's black humor and the amusingly inept AI, while the voice acting is often described as hilariously bad, adding to the overall charm. Many find the combination of stealth mechanics and over-the-top action moments to be both entertaining and comically frustrating.

    • “It's especially funny that some moments can only be completed by shooting down a ton of enemies, and there's no other way, even though this is supposed to be a stealth game.”
    • “Blasting the evil taser man in the face point-blank with a shotgun was hilarious because he did a back-flip and slammed against the wall with more force than my dad’s belt after we ran out of Jameson Irish whiskey, but it made me fail the tutorial.”
    • “The voice acting is hilarious for the most part.”
  • optimization20 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization is a mixed bag; while it can run smoothly on modern hardware for many players, issues such as poor draw distance, clunky controls, and a confusing user interface on Windows 11 detract from the experience. Some users report significant performance drops in specific areas, while others manage to achieve high frame rates on low-end systems. Despite its age, the game struggles with optimization for contemporary PCs, leading to a less than ideal gameplay experience.

    • “With that being said, the game does run smoothly once you get those issues sorted out, and the fixes aren't terribly complicated to implement.”
    • “I won't post a benchmark because as already been said: this game can run on any computer with smooth performances (60+ fps).”
    • “The game is a great start to a gaming selection if you're on a budget and/or are using a laptop as the game's age and optimization has really aided in it performing amazingly on modern hardware.”
    • “On Windows 11, the user interface optimization is negatively impacted, resulting in a reduced size of the main menu and gameplay user interface at a 16:9 resolution, with a limited 4:3 ratio.”
    • “Bad gameplay, confusing map design, and poor optimization (I was playing at 20 fps). Maybe you want to play this game for the story, and a lot of people say this game was awesome for the 2000s, but we are in 2024, so no.”
    • “Game doesn't age well, and is not optimized for newer PCs.”
  • replayability20 mentions

    The replayability of "Hitman: Codename 47" is generally viewed as limited due to its linear level design and lack of alternate endings or unlockables, which diminishes the incentive to replay. While there are multiple methods to complete missions that can provide some strategic depth and unique experiences, many players find that the game's flaws and difficulty hinder its overall replay value. In comparison to later installments in the series, this title is often recommended only for those with a high level of patience and skill.

    • “There are numerous ways to complete every mission, which makes for great replayability.”
    • “The flexibility adds strategic depth and replay value, making each mission a unique experience.”
    • “The sheer replayability of these levels is what defines Hitman as a series.”
    • “The replayability of Hitman: Codename 47 is limited due to various flaws in the gameplay and a lack of freedom in mission experimentation compared to later installments.”
    • “Reviews and user opinions also suggest that the replay value of the game is relatively limited, as players may quickly figure out the best strategies for each level, reducing the incentive to replay.”
    • “Codename 47 does not have much replay value, as the levels are fairly linear and there are no alternate endings or unlockables.”
  • emotional8 mentions

    Players find the emotional aspect of "Hitman: Codename 47" to be deeply engaging, with a well-crafted story that elicits strong feelings, including moments of shock and sadness. The game's diverse settings and Mr. 47's humor enhance the emotional experience, leading some players to shed tears during pivotal moments. Overall, the narrative's impact encourages players to invest in the series and appreciate its emotional depth.

    • “The plot is well written and has an emotional ending; you will surely enjoy it, and you will also be shocked.”
    • “Overall, I enjoyed Hitman: Codename 47 and I also shed a tear during the last level.”
    • “I cried when I played this game.”
  • character development2 mentions

    Character development in the game is characterized by its quirky and absurd design, reminiscent of early 2000s eurojank titles. Despite limited story time, the game effectively builds a richer world for its characters, achieving more depth than some full-length Hollywood films.

    • “You know, it's amazing how something as little as 15 minutes of story time and character development sprinkled through this very old game creates a better world for Hitman than two full-length feature Hollywood movies could not do.”
    • “The character design is typical of eurojank games in the early 2000s, but it is absurd and goofy in a good way.”
    • “It's amazing how something as little as 15 minutes of story time and character development sprinkled through this very old game creates a better world for the hitman than two full-length feature Hollywood movies could.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

9hMedian play time
7hAverage play time
2-12hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 4 analyzed playthroughs

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