Hitman 3 is the latest entry in Agent 47's travels and the finale to the World of Assassination trilogy started by Hitman 2016. This game has introduced a whole new audience to the series, many of whom are having fun in carrying out murders in the flashiest and funniest ways possible.
While many fans are still toiling away at the numerous challenges of Hitman 3's collection of maps, some are clamoring for something fresh and exciting. Fans of Hitman 3 will be delighted to know that Hitman: Blood Money could just be the game to fill this void, if they haven't played it before.
Hitman: Blood Money Does All That Hitman 3 Does
While Hitman: Blood Money is almost 15 years old at this point, the game has surprisingly aged well over the years and is still considered as one of the best Hitman games by many. The game does almost everything that the recently released Hitman 3 is known for, albeit on a much smaller scale. This isn't necessarily bad, as it allows for a burst-like approach to the game, wherein players play through the game in decently sized chunks as they complete a couple of levels at a time.
Fans of Hitman 3's fluid movements will have to put up with the less refined control schemes and movements of the game, but those who do will be rewarded with an exceptional experience. Just like Hitman 3, Blood Money features a great collection of levels that may be smaller in scale, but make up for it with the sheer number and options given at the players' disposal. A great example of this would be the level Curtains Down, which sees 47 eliminate two targets at a theatre. One of the most iconic assassinations of the Hitman series takes place here, which involves swapping a prop gun for a real one so that the target gets killed by the hands of his fellow actor on the stage.
This is just one example. These kinds of assassinations are the earliest form of opportunities, which the new Hitman trilogy has in spades. However, these assassinations aren't very complex to carry out and reward player curiosity more than anything. Most of these involve sabotaging something or disguising a particular NPC in order to carry out these kills and are a lot easier to pull off without hints, unlike the newer Hitman games which feature multi-step opportunities that can prove difficult to follow for many players without proper aid.
Hitman: Blood Money Has A Better Story
While the World of Assassination trilogy has an overlying story, it isn't the focal point. Many fans also agree that the story is stretched too much and the hype surrounding the story of Hitman 3 let a few fans down. That's not to say that the story in Hitman: Blood Money is exceptional, but it's arguably a little more serviceable and cohesive as it rounds up over the course of a single game.
Hitman: Blood Money's missions take place as the former FBI director recalls his memories of 47's assassinations and narrates it all to a journalist named Rick Henderson. While not the most captivating, there is a certain kind of fun to be had as players explore the differences between what actually happened and what the director narrates, in an effort to suit his own motives. Series favorite Diana also makes a return and plays a pivotal role in the story.
Hitman: Blood Money may not be the most visually pleasing experience, but it's so distracting to be as off-putting as some older games. While some of the mechanics haven't aged well, the collection of levels featured are some of the best Hitman levels which demand players put in the effort to learn their surroundings, all while the thunderous score plays in the background.
Hitman 3 is available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Stadia, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.