Compared to previous entries in the Hit-man game franchise, this one trades a semi-open world game play mechanic with being, not required, but strongly encouraged to sneak around from place to place. However, it still has the core elements of a traditional Hit-man game in it. With things like being able to change disguises, specific targets to kill, and being able to use the environment to your advantage (accident kills can be some of the most satisfying in the game.). Hit-man: Absolution's storyline is also the most personal of them all for the legendary Agent 47. Set after the events of 2006's Hit-man: Blood Money, 47 is given a task that will force him to turn on the only person he's ever cared for: Diana Penelope Burnwood. Before passing on from a grave bullet wound inflicted by 47, Diana uses her final, dying breaths, to ask 47 to look after one thing: a young girl that she stole from "the doctors." 47 chooses to fulfill his only friend's dying wish, setting up the remainder of the game for a cat and mouse chase as The Agency attempts to retrieve both 47 and the girl. Gameplay features a new "scoring system," which either rewards the player points for playing stealthily, or punishes him/her for making mistakes. However, if you are the type of player who prefers to go guns blazing, then you will find your score well into the negative. This could have been improved by playing as the Silent Assassin (leaving one's environment untouched and unaware) the most rewarding, and players who prefer to put a bullet in anyone that is carrying a gun will have the least rewarding experience. Each level also contains challenges, which, when completed offers a permanent score modifier to the player, but some of these challenges are also repetitive, such as "Find the Evidence" and "Wear All of the Disguises." Contracts mode allows players to challenge other player from around the globe to create in-game contracts using the game's levels. By doing this, players earn money for upgrades and they also receive scores based on their individual performance, which are then compared to other players. With new contracts still being created every day, this can be an exciting opportunity to improve your skills. However, the weapons upgrade system feels somewhat forced, because none of them can be used in the single-player story. So, overall Hit-man: Absolution is a very good game, it's just the repetitive challenges and the forced upgrade system that bring it down. PS: This game is also extremely vulgar at parts, so I would not recommend parents buying this game for young children.
