The world of an assassin can be a lonely one. Calls come when you’re needed, but the act of killing leaves an irredeemable mark on the soul. Calls come when you’re needed, but the act of killing leaves a dark mark on the soul. If done correctly, with some patience, the target in question must be in the right place at the right time, hopefully with no detection. But does the developer, IO Interactive, bring the world of Agent 47 into even better ways? Let’s find out with HITMAN World of Assassination for the PlayStation VR2.
HITMAN World of Assassination has you entering the world of the man, the myth, and the legend, Agent 47. But for those who have played the Hitman series and want to know what the game is about, remember that this is essentially all the Hitman in one package. This includes Hitman I (all DLC), II, & III. However, it does not include the DLC for Hitman II or the deluxe content of Hitman III, unless you purchase the Deluxe version.
You do have the option of playing everything from the campaign to challenges in standard non-VR. But we all know why you want to play, and that is because of VR. Keep in mind that once you start playing in VR, you may not go back and look at HITMAN in the same way.
One of the things that I felt this series needed was the ability to use both hands independently of each other and not have to use a controller. When I reviewed HITMAN III on the PlayStation VR, this is exactly what I was hoping would be added. Needless to say, it took the power of the PlayStation VR2 and the listening of the fans to present us with a proper HITMAN VR experience.
If you have never played any of the HITMAN games or are getting back into the series, you play as Agent 47. And as an agent, you’ll dive into a world of thrilling challenges and stealthy maneuvers. It’s not just about taking out targets; it’s about mastering the art of subtlety and creativity to achieve your mission. Sure, you could charge in, guns blazing, but let’s be honest, it’s a surefire way to end up in a tight spot! Instead, think strategically. Blend in with your surroundings, keep a low profile, and let your cunning shine. After all, the best agents know that success lies in the shadows, not in the spotlight!
Remember, you have the freedom to play the missions in any order, but by doing so, spoilers will happen. A great feature of the HITMAN games is the freedom to go anywhere; however, you will need to be able to blend in to avoid being noticed or trespassing.
With HITMAN World of Assassination, everything feels more polished than before playing on the PlayStation 5. You have the 4K + HDR visuals, and when you add the adaptive triggers of the DualSense controller, weapons have a different feel to them, which adds to the experience.
But if you want the true experience of having that feeling of being Agent 47, there is no other way than in VR on the PlayStation VR2.
But now, with HITMAN World of Assassination, we have the Sense controllers and the ability to move around like we have always wanted to, and I have to say, it truly feels like this is the HITMAN experience that we should have had from the beginning. Collecting items that you pull towards your body to become part of the inventory is a nice touch. The inventory comes in handy when you need that one item that can be used as a distraction or that item that is going to be needed later, such as a key to open a door. Using weapons also feels better. From being able to look down the scope of a sniper to being able to throw objects, you can be creative, which I feel is better in VR.
Walking around the crowds in Marrakesh, where, if you wanted to, you could interact with NPCs you came across and make your decisions on how you will interact with them. But remember, trying to assassinate everyone that you see is not going to get you very far. So, try to focus on what the mission is, be careful where you go and who you come across, and you might make it out alive…maybe.
Let’s talk about the graphics and sound. With the graphics, not only does moving around in VR feel great, but seeing things with the PlayStation VR2 headset is great as well. Walking around and seeing the detail in the walls, even the shadows that are being displayed on the ground from the sunlight, and the people you come across. It starts to feel less like a game and more like allowing you to be put in a do-or-die situation with different paths to get to the same point.
With the sound, listening to the different conversations between the NPCs and to the slightest movements with interactive objects sounds exactly as you think they would. And I do enjoy how the sounds of gunfire echo depending on where you are and how the music can intensify at the right moments to add to it all.
There are some things that I would love to see updated. First, some adjustments to the controls. What I mean is that there were a few times when I was trying to hold something, and the item would drop. These adjustments will further improve the HITMAN experience. Second, the option to see the cutscenes in a more 3D effect instead of being flat screen would add another level of uniqueness here. And finally, it would be nice to have the option of not going into third person when climbing ladders or vaulting over objects. I don’t want to have the player’s arms to climb, but more options are always a good thing. Other than that, it would be amazing if there could be some additional content made for the future and using VR to the best of its ability.
HITMAN World of Assassination gives us the world at our fingertips and allows us to become Agent 47 in the best way possible. It may not be perfect, but neither are we. When it seems like the world is against us, it’s important to confront those challenges directly. Remember, every time we stumble, we have the strength to rise again and keep pushing forward.
HITMAN World of Assassination is out now for PlayStation VR2 on the PlayStation Store and is also available on Steam VR. A review code was provided. To learn more about IO Interactive, please visit their site, like them on Facebook, and follow them on X.
In case you missed the trailer, please enjoy. Until next time, I have more missions I need to be a part of.
