The Hitman series, a cornerstone of stealth gaming, has captivated players for decades with its intricate assassinations and captivating environments. While the game’s core gameplay loop of planning and executing elaborate murders remains consistent, the question of whether the Hitman games offer an open world experience has sparked debate. This article delves into the nuances of the series’ structure, examining its evolution and exploring the debate about its open-world nature.
The Foundation of Mission Design: From Linearity to Sandbox
Hitman’s first installment, released in 2000, featured a distinct linear structure. Players progressed through a series of levels, each with a specific target and a predetermined path. This approach, while effective, lacked the freedom and flexibility that would later become synonymous with the series.
The shift towards a more open-world feel began with Hitman: Blood Money (2006). While the game retained its mission-based structure, it introduced a greater sense of freedom within each level. Players were no longer confined to a narrow path but could explore the environment, discover hidden areas, and approach their targets from multiple angles. This shift towards open-level design paved the way for the series’ later evolution.
Embracing the Sandbox: Hitman (2016) and the World of Assassination
Hitman (2016) and its subsequent expansions, collectively known as the World of Assassination trilogy, represent a paradigm shift in the series’ design. Each level is meticulously crafted and offers an unparalleled level of freedom. Players can choose from a variety of disguises, tools, and weapons to execute their targets, with the environment itself becoming a powerful tool for creating unique and imaginative assassination plans.
Here’s what makes these games stand apart in terms of open-world design:
- Detailed and Immersive Environments: The levels are sprawling and meticulously crafted, with hidden pathways, secret areas, and rich details that encourage exploration. From the bustling streets of Paris to the secluded island of Hokkaido, each location feels alive and offers countless opportunities for creative problem-solving.
- Multiple Objectives and Playstyles: Beyond eliminating the primary target, each level presents a range of optional objectives, adding further complexity and replayability. Players can choose to take a stealthy approach, blending into crowds and using distractions, or embrace a more direct and aggressive strategy.
- Dynamic AI and World: The game’s sophisticated AI system allows NPCs to react realistically to the player’s actions, creating a dynamic and unpredictable environment. This dynamism adds a layer of depth and unpredictability, encouraging players to adapt their strategies and approach each mission with a fresh perspective.
The Open World Debate: A Matter of Perspective
While the Hitman series has undeniably embraced elements of open-world design, the question of whether it truly constitutes a “true” open-world experience remains a subject of debate. Critics argue that the game’s focus on individual missions, rather than a seamless, interconnected world, prevents it from fully achieving open-world status.
Here’s a breakdown of the arguments for and against Hitman being considered an open world:
Arguments for Open World:
- Vast and Detailed Environments: The scale and depth of the levels provide a level of freedom and exploration rarely found in linear games, allowing players to discover hidden pathways, secrets, and objectives.
- Multiple Approaches and Playstyles: The flexibility of the gameplay allows for a variety of strategies, from stealth and deception to brute force and improvisation, catering to diverse playstyles and encouraging multiple playthroughs.
- Dynamic World and AI: The interactive environments and reactive AI create a dynamic and unpredictable gameplay experience, rewarding players who adapt their strategies and explore different approaches.
Arguments Against Open World:
- Mission-Based Structure: The game’s core design revolves around individual missions, with each level acting as a self-contained experience. Players are not free to roam between levels seamlessly or explore a continuous world.
- Limited World Interaction: While the environments are detailed and interactive, there are limitations to player interaction beyond the primary objectives.
- Lack of Persistent World: The game does not feature a persistent world where player actions have lasting consequences or affect the overall environment.
Conclusion: The Legacy of Open-Level Design
While the debate regarding Hitman’s open-world status may continue, there’s no denying the series’ embrace of open-level design. By offering expansive and intricate environments, diverse playstyles, and a focus on player agency, Hitman (2016) and its successors have redefined the genre.
The series’ commitment to player freedom and its dedication to creating engaging and challenging levels have cemented its position as a pinnacle of stealth gaming. Whether you consider Hitman an open-world game or not, there’s no doubt that it offers an unparalleled sandbox experience that allows players to truly unleash their creativity and become the ultimate silent assassin.
FAQ
Here are 7 FAQs with answers about the structure of the Hitman series:
1. Is Hitman an Open World Game?
While Hitman levels are designed with a high degree of freedom and exploration, they are not truly open world environments. The maps are contained areas with set boundaries, and players can’t freely explore the world outside of these locations. However, within these levels, you have a vast amount of options for navigating, interacting, and eliminating targets.
Think of it as a sandbox within a larger world. You have freedom within the sandbox, but you can’t leave the confines of the sandbox itself.
2. What Makes Hitman Levels Feel So Open?
The key to Hitman’s open feel lies in its intricate level design and the vast array of opportunities offered within each location. Each level is meticulously crafted with multiple pathways, different environmental interactions, and numerous disguises to utilize. This allows players to choose their own approach, whether it’s a stealthy infiltration, a chaotic showdown, or a clever social engineering scheme.
This freedom of choice allows for numerous replayability and encourages players to experiment and discover different ways to complete their objectives.
3. How Does the Level Design Support Player Choice?
Hitman levels are designed to encourage player agency and experimentation. The environments are filled with intricate details and opportunities, allowing for various approaches to each mission. From disguises and social interactions to environmental hazards and hidden pathways, players can choose the method that best suits their playstyle.
The game doesn’t force a specific approach, giving players the freedom to improvise and adapt to the dynamic situations within each level.
4. Does Hitman Offer a “Free Roam” Mode?
While Hitman does not feature a traditional “free roam” mode, the game allows for ample exploration within each level. Players are free to roam around the locations, interact with the environment, and observe the AI routines. This exploration is crucial for finding the best ways to execute the targets and complete the objectives.
Even after completing the main mission, players can continue to explore the levels, uncovering hidden secrets, experimenting with different approaches, or simply enjoying the immersive atmosphere.
5. Can You Explore the World Between Levels?
No, unlike a traditional open world game, Hitman does not allow for free movement between levels. Each location is a self-contained environment, and players are transported between them through the game’s menu or story progression. However, the developers have started experimenting with connecting levels in later installments, suggesting that future games might feature more open world elements.
This focused approach on individual levels allows the developers to create meticulously crafted environments with unique characteristics and opportunities.
6. How Does Hitman Encourage Replayability?
The core of Hitman’s replayability lies in the freedom of choice and the numerous options available to players within each level. With different approaches, disguises, and objectives, every playthrough feels unique. The game encourages players to experiment and discover new ways to complete missions, leading to a constant sense of discovery and reward.
Furthermore, the game’s unlockable items, mastery levels, and leaderboards provide additional incentives for replaying and perfecting skills, ensuring a consistently engaging experience.
7. What is the Future of Open World Elements in Hitman?
While the current Hitman games do not feature a full-fledged open world, the series has shown a growing trend towards more interconnected and open level design. The inclusion of more complex level connections and the introduction of multi-stage missions suggest that future installments might offer a more open and expansive experience.
It’s likely that the developers will continue to explore ways to expand the open world elements, offering players even greater freedom and choice within the Hitman universe.