Trained killers apparently don't do much background research before taking on assignments these days. Then there's the issue of the controls. Quick responses are therefore a no go, meaning you shouldn't waltz into enemy territory unless you've previously prepared a strategy and already maneuvered the weapons menu into the ready position. Surely, professional assassins can handle their business with more finesse than this product would have the public believe. On a more shallow note, the audio-visual ambience rocks.
Gunshots ring out clearly, and feature the best muzzle flash and ricochet effects seen to date.
Clean, smooth texture work laces environments with a polished sheen that most titles can't match. Remote real-world locales yield their colorfully painted secrets in mysterious, compelling fashions in due turn. Excellent character animations move with blissful perfection over the 3D-rendered backgrounds, as foes dodge, fire, and run like hell in a realistic manner when the hit man runs rampant. Although the voice work is unremarkable, you'll also be extremely pleased with the detailed sound effects and moody music, which amplify the decor. Overall, Hitman is a very mixed bag.