Hitman 2: Silent Assassin

Published by Eidos Interactive
Developed by IO-Interactive
Platform: GameCube
Price £39.99
Released: Out Now

Almost a year later than it arrived on other platforms, Hitman 2: Silent Assassin finally arrives on GameCube. Such a time difference between releases would be enough to turn most gamers off, but when the game is as unique and as challenging as Hitman 2 all is forgiven. Agent 47, who first appeared on the PC in Hitman: Codename 47 a few years ago, is once again the ruthless assassin who has a multitude of contract killings to perform.

The game begins with Agent 47 apparently having repented for his sins and seeking a life of tranquility. This peaceful existence is soon shattered though when his friend, the Padre, is kidnapped and the kidnappers demand a large sum of money for the Padre's safe return. There is only one way that Agent 47 can earn the money and that is to return to the life of an assassin. The agency who Agent 47 used to work for will not provide information on the Padre's kidnappers for free though and in return they want him to carry out various assignments.

Hitman 2 is an excellent addition to the GameCube catalogue. Splinter Cell got a lot of attention for being a top notch stealth game when it was released on GameCube but in all fairness Hitman 2 is just as good and equally as challenging, probably more so in fact. For every mission there are multiple ways of achieving your goals. It's worth a second play through just to see how things differ when you opt for a different route. Even though the primary goals in each assignment is to assassinate someone the missions feel nicely varied and you don't ever get the feeling you're simply playing a rehash of an earlier mission.

Generally speaking this is a first class port to the GameCube. The framerate is quite good and there are only one or two places where it occasionally dips. The GameCube controller has been used really well with the analogue stick controlling movement and the C stick controlling the view. Despite the odd shaped buttons on the controller the game feels very comfortable. One source of irritation though has to be the size of the save game files. One save will take 59 blocks, so if you're using the original grey memory cards that means an entire card will be filled just by Hitman 2.

IO-Interactive have certainly made Hitman 2 very deaf gamer friendly. Everything is subtitled, by default I might add, from the initial introductory cutscene to warnings about people being alerted to your presence. Mission objectives can be recalled at any time via the select button, which may not sound like a terrific feature but it's one of those features that's sorely missed when it's absent. The only thing I would say here is that I wish the game would pause when you're looking at the map. It's really infuriating when you try to get your bearings by looking at the map and end up getting killed.

Hitman 2's transition to the GameCube has been a good one and it instantly becomes one of the best games on the console. The subtle blend of stealth and assassination make this, in many ways, a refreshing title for mature GameCube owners who are looking for something more cerebral and challenging.

Overall Game Rating: 9.0/10
It may have arrived later on GameCube but it's still an excellent game that rates as one of the best on the console.

Deaf Gamers comment:
No problems at all for deaf gamers.