Hitman: Codename 47
I was first impressed that I was able to find a new copy (unopened) of this lost gem. I searched and searched and searched and finally found a copy of the very first Hitman game. Since I've played, beaten and thoroughly enjoyed the last 3 in the series, this game was a must have since it was the benchmark of the complete series. Unfortunately, being spoiled by the in-depth play of the last 3 and the beautiful graphics of ‘Blood Money’, this game paled in comparison. I was honestly expecting that, but in such a dramatic rear warded change. Even if you like the basic premise and action of the game, a number of very serious flaws quickly sap its entertainment value.
The character you play is the bald and nameless hit man with an alter ego. You begin the game restrained to a bed in a padded room. You're then greeted by a disembodied, Russian-sounding voice that orders you through a training course tutorial. Here, with melodramatic camp, he'll instruct you on how to use a garrote to strangle a dummy, drone on about the origins and technical specs of the AK-47, and largely annoy you. Oddly, your character never once stops to ask where he is, why he has a bar code on the back of his head, or who this talkative Russian is who's ordering him about. The main hint about the hit man's origins is a vague, uninformed, and potentially insulting introduction in the manual that compares science and religion and hints at Frankenstein-like attempts to outdo nature. The predictable truth about the hit man's origins is eventually revealed as you progress through the game.
As I immediately learned in the tutorial mission, controlling the hit man can be a real chore compared to the later 3 games in the series. Your crosshair changes based on the weapon type you're holding, and it also changes when you move it over an object you can manipulate. When you right-click on the object, a pop-up menu lists your available options. So, with a dead body, for instance, you can drag it away from the scene to prevent suspicion, or you can don its clothes for a disguise. I noticed in this first game this system is clever in theory but annoying in practice, since you'll often click on an object and nothing will happen. But then you'll move the crosshair slightly, and then it suddenly works. Another control problem is actually in the lack of control on certain occasions. Instead of manually climbing or jumping at particular times, the hit man will automatically carry out those actions when at a junction that allows it, though you can only guess which those are. At other occasions, you'll inexplicably be able to climb ladders manually. What's even more surprising, given that the game emphasizes stealth, is that you can't go prone to hide or snipe. You'll also get frustrated at the frequency with which the hit man gets snagged on doors, chairs, and other objects…very frustrating when a lot of the times in the game you’re needing to be evasive.
It's unfortunate that flaws like these, in addition to the awkward camera positioning, clunky controls, and excessive guesswork in the missions detract so much from the game. Still, some aspects of the game can be entertaining, particularly the lush graphics for it’s time. Some of the design concepts of Hitman: Codename 47 have potential, but the game ultimately fails in the execution. But this game is still sure to please any of the fans who have played the last 3 games.
~Byron C.