TheHitmanseries is one of the most innovative stealth games of all time. The dynamic and open worlds are far more interactive and layered than most other games in the genre. The developers at IO Interactive created a series that set the bar for spy and espionage games. It implemented disguises, non-lethal attacks, and gave each level and mission a life of its own with almost unrivaled world-building techniques and replayability.
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However, the series has a long storied history of ups and downs since the first game in the seriesHitman: Codename 47launched in 2000. It has seen several publishers and very nearly came to an abrupt end before the studio became independent and purchased all the rights to theHitmanfranchise. Since then the series has gone from strength to strength, withHitman 3exceeding sales expectationsand earning a lot of critical praise.
10One Of The First Games To Use Ragdoll Physics
TheHitmanseries has become synonymous with its dynamic and procedural worlds that react and change around the decisions and actions that Agent 47 makes. Each map in the new series has some of the most brilliantly designed levels ever seen in a game.
Yet, even as far back as its first titleHitman: Codename 47, the series was breaking new ground as one of the first games to use realistic physics. The game used ragdoll physics, realistic cloth, and even 47’s tie looked great.
9Most Gamers Started With The Sequel
Even though the first game in the series broke new ground in its use of physics and the graphics engine, most players actually started the series with its sequelHitman 2:Silent Assassin.This is because the first game was PC only and never made it to consoles.
In fairness,Silent Assassinstill served as a great starting point for the series. It helped introduce many of the key features that fans have to come to enjoy while breaking ground for level design and interactivity.
8Contracts Is A Retelling Of The First Game
Hitman: Contractsis the direct sequel toHitman 2: Silent Assassinbut its narrative sets the game up to tell the story in the past tense. As a result, this turned out to be the perfect opportunity for the developers to retell the story of the original gameHitman: Codename 47.
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In terms of its tone,Contractswas a much darker but also a far more accessible entry thanSilent Assassin. It also does a great job of tying into some of the events of its successor,Hitman: Blood Money.
7It Crossed Over With Kane & Lynch
In addition to theHitmanseries, IO Interactive created another crime series calledKane & Lynch. They were more linear action-based games that were fun in their own way but didn’t quite live up to theHitmangames.
Nevertheless, both Kane and Lynch make an appearance inHitman:Blood MoneyandHitman:Absolutionwhich suggests – at least at the time – that the games exist in the same universe. The most interesting interaction between 47 and Kane and Lynch is the bar fight that takes place inAbsolution.
6The Seasonal Episode Approach Proved Costly
AfterHitman: Absolutionunderperformed in terms of sales, the rebooted series needed a new approach to keep the series alive. The newWorld of AssassinationHitmanseries launched in 2016 and took the unusual approach of releasing each level in the first game as episodic content.
Unfortunately, this approach proved very costly for the studio and the disappointing sales of the physical copies led to Square Enix dropping the franchise. Fortunately, Square Enix worked with IO Interactive to ensure the latter didn’t lose the franchise and that it could continue on as an independent studio.
5The Novels Were Retconned
Since the series relaunched with theWorld of Assassination,some elements of the story were retconned. As a result, the stories in the twoHitmannovels by Raymond Benson and William C. Dietz, known asDamnationandEnemy Withinrespectively, have been a point of confusion for fans.
However, the stories are no longer considered canon.According to the comicsoutlining 47’s origins, the events that occurred in those books are now looked upon as false memories implanted and forced upon Agent 47 after he tried to escape the facility he was created in.
4Traci Lords Voiced Four Characters In The Series
Actress Traci Lords has appeared in films such asBlade,theZack and Mirimovie, and the comedy detective seriesSwedish Dicks. She’s also worked as a voice actress in several video games, including providing additional voices toLightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII.
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Lords has also voiced four different characters in theHitmanseries, with her first being Layla Stockton inHitman: Absolution. Lords returned to the series for 2016’sHitman,voicing Dino’s Agent, Dexy Barat, and Maya Parvati.
3There Are Three Voice Actors For Diana Burnwood
Diana Burnwood’s guiding voice is almost asiconic as Agent 47himself. She watches 47 via satellite and provides intel on missions as well as the backstory on certain characters. Her cold personality, dry wit, and often sarcastic overtones convey a woman that seems to have a dark past of her own.
However, as recognizable as Diana is, it may be a surprise to some that there have been three different voice actors that have portrayed this role throughout the series. From the first game up toHitman: BloodMoney, Diana was voiced by Vivienne McKee. InAbsolution, the role was handled by Marsha Thomason, while in theWorld of Assassinationseries, Diana is currently played by Jane Perry.
2The Non-Lethal Approach Wasn’t Introduced Until The Second Game
One of the major themes of the series has always been getting Agent 47 to achieve the Silent Assassin rank in missions. This usually means that all NPCs other than his assigned targets are off-limits when it comes to kills.
However, it wasn’t until the second game,Hitman 2: Silent Assassin, that non-lethal weapons and takedowns were introduced. It’s just another example of whyHitman: Codename 47felt more like a practice run compared to the sequel.
1The Creative Kill System
TheHitmangames are loved by the fans for the almost completely dynamic and procedural ways that 47 can take down his targets. While it may seem like this has been the case sinceHitman 2: Silent Assassin, the “Creative Kill System” wasn’t actually introduced untilHitman: Contracts.
The Creative Kill System is what gives playersthe freedom to take down their targetsin a number of ways. This includes using the environment, creating events that appear to look like accidents, and many other approaches to taking down the target.
