One perfect shot between the eyes of Dalia Margolis. In decades past, she ruled the runways of fashion week. She wore a blood-soaked gown to her final show. She'd used her retirement from the world of fashion to become one of the world's most influential power brokers. That kind of life curates some potent enemies, and they'd hired me to kill her.
Hitman is the eponymous latest recent game in the 15-year assassination franchise. Players can expect it to be doled out in several chunks, the first of which launches today on PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. The series has a reputation for sprawling maps and the intricate, fly-by-wire plans strategies you'd need to eliminate your targets, and this release is no exception.
The Margolis assassination mission, "Showstopper," takes place during fashion week. With little more than a suit and a garrote, you're sent to conquer her labyrinthine Parisian palace in the middle of one of the biggest shows of the year. Powerful sheiks, countless supermodels, and a sea of gawkers and journalists stand between you and Dalia.
Before the assignment, you can pick a few pieces of kit---a gun or two, sometimes a lock pick---and then you must plan your approach. As the game progresses, however, your circumstances can change. You may miss time-critical moments here, and uncover new ones there. Linger too long in a bathroom stalking your prey, and she might walk off to greet some worldly businessman---or you could eavesdrop on a moment where you could catch her alone and defenseless.
From the outside looking in, that's a disconcerting way to talk about a character, and to be sure, Hitman does get creepy. But the tension of being caught as you plan cold-blooded murder shouldn't be anything but creepy. The thrill that is the game's soul comes in jarring doses.
