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Hitman Dev Comments On Changes In The Stealth Genre

If you hadn't noticed, there has been a lot of genre-blending going on this generation.

And that's simply because newer technology allows developers to implement more gameplay mechanics, so we're not necessarily limited to one style. Hitman: Absolution game director Tore Blystad addressed the franchise's departure from pure stealth and talked about how the genre was shifting.

"It’s difficult looking at the stealth genre today. All the IPs have moved off in all kinds of directions and, while some are pretty close to us, some have gone off in completely different way. Like the new Metal Gear… I don’t know what the hell that’s all about, but it’s definitely not a tactical espionage game any more."

That's true but at the same time, avid Hitman followers have complained that the new entry - currently in the works at IO Interactive - isn't indicative of the kind of gameplay they enjoy. I.e., they're seeing too much running 'n gunning. However, IO has made it clear in the past that such an approach would be entirely optional, and Blystad reemphasizes that point:

"We spent a lot of time on guns, the models and the weapon collection – it’s gun porn, sure, but the fans really like it. But using weapons in the levels themselves was practically useless as a mechanic, kind of a missed opportunity. We had to look into a viable way of using these guns and not just having them there to look at in a viewer, and that meant that we had to implement this dynamic combat AI and spend a lot of time with it.

It doesn’t detract from the other aspects of AI or gameplay – it just adds another dimension, something 47 should always have been able to do."

It certainly makes sense that if you're going to have the option of gunfights, you should at least have a functional and even robust system in place, right? Provided all the bells and whistles associated with full-on stealth are there, the fans shouldn't be disappointed at all. We never mind options; we only mind replacements.

Related Game(s): Hitman: Absolution

Tags: hitman absolution, hitman ps3, mgs, metal gear rising, stealth games

1/13/2012 10:11:02 AM Ben Dutka

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Comments (15 posts)

Jalex
Friday, January 13, 2012 @ 10:33:00 AM
Reply

Funny. The last 'Metal Gear' I played was indeed tactical espionage action. At least the way I went about it.
Anyway, the only other thing I have to say is basically what you say in the final paragraph. I don't mind any additions to the gameplay, or "genre-blending", as long as the option to play the way I always have is still available. Which really shouldn't be that difficult.

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WorldEndsWithMe
Friday, January 13, 2012 @ 1:35:09 PM

He's talking about the hack n slash Metal Gear Revengeance

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Jalex
Friday, January 13, 2012 @ 2:36:17 PM

Ah, I wasn't considering that. But 'Rising' isn't really 'Metal Gear', except in name, and the tagline for said title has even been changed to Lightning Bolt Action, so technically, his comment is still misplaced.

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dmiitrie
Friday, January 13, 2012 @ 3:04:12 PM

His comment was that Rising isn't a tactical espionage game. You, yourself admit that the tagline is no longer 'Tacttical Espionage Action'. I don't see how his comment is misplaced, technically or otherwise.

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Jalex
Friday, January 13, 2012 @ 3:25:14 PM

Because 'Absolution' isn't a spin-off. One can justify 'Rising's dramatic shift in gameplay by the fact that it isn't the successor to 'Guns of the Patriots' or 'Peace Walker', whereas 'Absolution' is a direct sequel to 'Blood Money.' So to use a spin-off from another franchise as justification for altering (expanding?) the core gameplay of your main franchise is indeed misplaced.

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Underdog15
Friday, January 13, 2012 @ 10:33:43 AM
Reply

And genre's should blend to give us more variety.

However, there should also be titles that stand within specific genres as well. I had always hoped that the games that stay true to specific genres would be the ones that are traditionally within their own genre.

If everything blends, then all of a sudden, in pursuit of diversity, you achieve a lack of that same diversity sought after.

Games like Hitman, Final Fantasy, Resident Evil, Front Mission, and more should stay true to their original calling. Blended genres are great, but those should be reserved for new IP's that have clean slates on which to establish their own identity, much like the titles I just mentioned have already done for themselves.

RE5, Front Mission, Final Fantasy.... in pursuit of diversity, they have all fared worse than their predecessors in sales and Meta Scores. Even if they are good games, there are repercussions to abandoning your fanbase.

I fail to see how Hitman will be any different.

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Jalex
Friday, January 13, 2012 @ 10:40:29 AM

In 'Absolution's defense, we haven't actually seen any gameplay that was wildly different from 'Blood Money' (aside from the Instinct feature), and the developers have stated that Silent Assassin is still the best rating one can get, which I doubt can be earned while "running 'n gunning."
Last edited by Jalex on 1/13/2012 10:41:21 AM

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main_event05
Friday, January 13, 2012 @ 6:37:49 PM

I was skeptical till i saw the gameplay.

Posted some time ago by Rapture:

http://www.officialplaystationmagazine.co.uk/2012/01/11/hitman-absolution-ps3-gameplay-preview-and-screens/

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bebestorm
Friday, January 13, 2012 @ 11:08:01 AM
Reply

I've played every Hitman since it first one on pc. I don't see a major difference in this new one the game has always been about freedom and choice. Depending on the player it can be action or stealth.

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WorldEndsWithMe
Friday, January 13, 2012 @ 1:36:38 PM
Reply

No, this should be stealth or die. Games like Uncharted are great at giving you the stealth or run and gun options, but Hitman should rely almost entirely upon it or it bastardizes the concept and ruins the gameplay. If every time I mess up and get noticed I have to get into a big gunfight then what's the point?

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evilmunkie
Friday, January 13, 2012 @ 9:42:13 PM

I remember messing up and getting into big gunfights in the older games, mostly on the first tries of a new level. Off the top of my head the Moscow and Japan level was pretty bad that in that way, still enjoyable. I'd say the point would be that you would hopefully have less enemies to kill if you mess up, unless they just keep on respawning.

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wizzardofozzy
Saturday, January 14, 2012 @ 1:25:33 AM

It always was stealth or die for me.If I'm not stealthy they all die.

lol

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Lairfan
Tuesday, January 17, 2012 @ 6:24:32 PM

World, that's how the older games worked. Why the hell would this one be any different?

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Godslim
Friday, January 13, 2012 @ 3:41:26 PM
Reply

the others can be very action orientated u could do what y want stealth or action thats y i loved it as long as they stick to that i'll still love hitman

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evilmunkie
Friday, January 13, 2012 @ 9:09:42 PM
Reply

Sounds good to me, last I remember 47 was an assassin so he should be able to shoot like one. As long as there isin't a lock on targeting button I don't see anything wrong with this, its just a good addition just like the option to take a human shield. There is nothing wrong with the other games but usually a small screw up meant, well we all know what it meant especially in the earlier games. As for that mode where it shows the path enemies take it seems like its not forced on you, they should make it so that the harder the difficulty the less it can be used. So much fuss over that, its not like you couldn't do that in earlier games! You could open up the map and look at every movement and chart the path every single enemy took. These new changes aren't needed to enjoy a Hitman game but if this game still made as a stealth game first there shouldn't be anything to worry about. Can't blame a game for taking a step forward as long as it doesn't alienate the whole fanbase.

Anyone here ever play Tenchu game? No one thought it was a little lame that you could do awesome stealth kills yet taking on two or more enemies in alert mode means your ninja moved and attacked like he had not ate in two weeks? Sometimes things need to be improved upon, thats one example.

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