

Those who never played the original Hitman already know all the background on Hitman 2 that they'll really need. Simply put, Hitman 2 fixes virtually all of the problems of its predecessor and stands tall on its own merits as an outstanding action game. The sequel takes this same idea a step further and fully realizes it, proving that IO Interactive has the ability to back up flashy graphics and controversial subject matter with great gameplay. At its best, the game offered both full-on intense action as well as plenty of nail-biting suspense. Some players were able to overcome the control issues and punishing difficulty level of the game and appreciated it on the strength of its violent concept-you played as a genetically engineered contract killer and were tasked with stealthily eliminating a number of well-guarded targets. The original Hitman: Codename 47 featured some undeniably impressive technical elements, but it also had a number of serious problems.

Hitman 2, released simultaneously for the PC, Xbox, and PlayStation 2 platforms, is the sequel to a PC game released two years ago by Denmark-based developer IO Interactive. One look at the bald, sharply dressed man on the cover, grim as death and armed with a hardballer pistol in each hand, and you can tell that this isn't exactly lighthearted stuff. There's no mistaking what Hitman 2: Silent Assassin is all about.
