4.5/5 ★ – PhatBaby's review of HITMAN 2.

Although I still don't love the episodic format or the 'YOU MUST ALWAYS BE CONNECTED TO THE IO HIVE MIND' online features, Hitman 2 is easily just below Blood Money in the Hitman pecking order. Its maps are sprawling playgrounds with SO much to do and see, sporting visual spectacle comparable to the latest Bond films and a level of limitless freedom most stealth titles simply can't offer. On the gameplay side, Hitman 2 refines the series' naturally evolving, puzzle-solving style to near perfection, as manoeuvring through maps, dispatching foes and getting close to targets feels instantly gratifying and well-paced. Assassinations are rewarding to pull off too, and while the mission stories can be too simple to execute, they make for fantastic introductions to the intricacies of any given map. It feels like every level has such a vast number of deadly scenarios that you're always under the impression you've left your blood-stained signature on it, whether you went for a mission objective or simply discovered your own unique way to execute your target. And there are so many opportunities to do that because every level is so intricately woven and purposefully deep to explore. From Mumbai's densely populated city streets to the medieval hallways of the Isle of Sgàil, there was no area I loaded into that I didn't end up wanting to play again immediately after to discover everything I missed. Just like Blood Money, its crammed with so many fun secrets and assassination methods that you feel compelled to tinker and experiment to crazy degrees, and what's more, Hitman 2 rewards you for doing just that. I'll be real, I have no idea what the fuck is going on in the story (to be honest, I don't think Hitman 2 really does either) and it's still frustrating how much of the game's scenarios rely on leaving a seemingly VERY distracting tap on to lure 27 guards to a cosy, killable corner with a body-sized box nearby, but this is exactly what Hitman should be in 2020. It sucks that the sequel is going to be the finale of the trilogy, because this is a golden age for the beloved barcode egg boy. That being said, if they continue like this, the current iteration of the series will go out with one hell of a bang (along with some incredibly distracting faucets). Oh, also: Isle of Sgàil > Miami > Mumbai > Whittleton Creek > San Fortuna > Haven Island > New York > Hawke's Bay Don't @ me...