Hitman: Contracts on PS2 (2004)

Brief synopsis of Hitman: Contracts

The third instalment in Io Interactive's stealthy kill-em-up series continues the cold-hearted and rather sinister traditions of the previous games, again casting you as baldy man Agent 47 as he does what hitmen do best and, er, kills people. Hitman Contracts is not just 'more of the same' however, as, as well as delivering a host more brutal missions, the game also introduces a few new gameplay elements and visual overhauls.

The game kicks off in Paris as you find yourself wounded and trapped in some kind of asylum. From here the main task at hand is obviously to escape and, as with previous instalments in the series, there's more than one way to tackle the problem. Guns and ammo are not in short supply so the option of arming yourself to the teeth, taking the offensive and blasting your way right out of the front door is certainly not out of the question. However, the more stealthy approach can also prove handy - you've got your trusty wire for garrotting and you don't have to travel far before you find a willing volunteer with which to exchange clothing.

The rest of the game continues in similar style, with you travelling to various international locations and taking on a wide array of missions. In each case, you won't be surprised to hear that there's somebody or other who needs taking out - how you go about it is up to you. When you're infiltrating enemy territory it's often a good idea to take advantage of a recent victim's attire, but it's never too long before you're rumbled so be prepared to take part in some pretty large-scale shoot-outs.

As mentioned before, Hitman Contracts has undergone a fair few tweaks in comparison with the previous two games. The game now offers you a greater variety of ways in which to make the perfect kill, along with an increased arsenal of firearms and close-combat weapons with which to do it. A new graphics engine showcases your 'work' in much more brutal detail and also brings the new locations to life, while an improved control system and more gradual learning curve ensure that the game is accessible to all aspiring hitmen (not that we're condoning such aspirations!).

The game also benefits from a much darker feel to it throughout, with some impressive yet thankfully not over-indulgent cut-scenes setting the mood and atmosphere just right before you make a beeline for your next target's jugular. The accompanying blurb assures us that this is the most disturbing episode of the series and, from what we've seen, it's certainly looking that way.