Hitman 2: Silent Assassin review

It's always a shame when the sequel to a hit game fails to build on the success of its predecessor, falling instead into the trap of repeating its formula. Hitman 2: Silent Assassin, a stealth-based action-adventure game, sadly is a typical example.

Reprising your role as the bald-headed assassin from the original game, known only as 47, you find yourself working as a gardener in a monastery, attempting to distance yourself from your murky past of assassination and slaughter. However, it's not long before you're once again forced back into your old ways. When your spiritual mentor is kidnapped, you must set out to rescue him by whatever means necessary.

The story unfolds through a set of stunningly presented and superbly acted animations, but sadly the plot - and, worse still, the gameplay - fail to match the polish of the visuals. Instead of delving into the psyche of 47 as he struggles between the need for repentance and the desire to save his mentor, the plot soon degenerates into a cliched mass of tired ideas involving nuclear weapons and saving the world. The tense, stealth-based action of the original also dissipates after the excellent opening few levels, and it's not long before whole chapters can be completed without even a hint of subtlety. Wading in with all guns blazing makes Hitman 2 far too easy to complete, and detracts from the very spirit that the original prided itself on.

It's not all negative, though. Despite its flaws, this game is still more than worthy of your attention. The artificial intelligence of computer-controlled characters actually manages to ape human behaviour with incredible accuracy, and the need to find disguises before infiltrating new areas without detection is an excellent touch.

Hitman 2 may lack the tense, slow-paced atmosphere of the original and fail to build on its initially promising plot, but the stunning presentation, along with some solid AI, make it an entertaining way to spend a few hours.