Agent 47, who has appeared in a wide variety of video games, is undeniably one of the most attractive and well-liked protagonists ever created. The idea of being the ideal agent—reserved and flawless despite overwhelming odds and able to do anything—holds a certain allure. Newly branded the Hitman: World of Assassination trilogy, Hitman: Freelancer is the pinnacle of the Hitman series and the most remarkable feature addition being published by IO Interactive. While Hitman: Freelancer doesn't add much new content by remastering all the levels from every edition in the World of Assassination, it does bring everything in an overwhelming roguelike package to wrap up all its loose ends.

In many respects, the World of Assassination trilogy stands as the series' crowning achievement. It has been a flawless approach by IO Interactive to introduce the game to new fans and veteran players. It has changed the series for the better by maturing into what it set out to be. Thus Hitman 3 continues to build on this popularity while continuing the series' rich history. In this regard, the new approach to playing as Agent 47 in Hitman: Freelancer is effectively a brand-new game, with players entering a roguelike world where flexibility is the central tenet. And there is no additional cost for this update for those who have already purchased Hitman 3.

You are tasked with eliminating many criminal Syndicates over several different missions while playing Hitman: Freelancer. The new mission cycle focuses on bringing down four criminal organizations via a variety of progressively challenging objectives. As Agent 47, you travel to 18 different sites throughout the world to bring down criminal organizations. At the outset of a mission, you'll choose a target Syndicate, or group of enemies, that fits the mission's overall concept.

There are certain goals in a campaign that must be accomplished before you may engage in a final confrontation. In a battle, you must eliminate the Syndicate's top dog, but identifying them will be challenging. If you complete a task successfully, you will be rewarded with Merces, the mode's money, which can be used to buy weapons and freelancing equipment to help you complete future missions.

Aside from the typical actions of the Hitman series, Hitman: Freelancer brings a widely differing experience. It's impossible to play the Freelancer mode strictly as a stealth game; instead, you'll need to take a contingency approach, making up your moves as you go along and hedging your bets. It's unlike any other game of this series in several ways, not the least of which is that you begin the game unequipped. Gameplay-wise, Freelancer mode has a lot in common, although lacking the rich narrative and ominous network of criminals that characterize the traditional Hitman games.

In addition to the traditional methods, there are now other resources from which to acquire weapons and armor. The first step is to locate gun dealers using the map. However, as with any good item, they will cost you Merces, the game's new currency. There are a number of methods to earn merces, the most common of which is via successfully completing missions and any associated bonus goals. You can also get merces by killing couriers since they often carry little money with them. While pursuing equipment and merces, you may come across caches or break safes if you take the time to do so.

As Agent 47, you will travel to 18 different locations throughout the world to bring down criminal organizations. At the outset of a mission, you'll choose a target Syndicate, or group of enemies, that fits the mission's overall concept. Failing to eliminate a key member of the Syndicate will force you to begin the mission from the beginning. Also, you'll lose half of your merces and currently carrying weapons, including those from the headquarters. Simultaneously, tension level will increase, and you'll be viewed with heightened suspicion throughout his next assignment.

And if you are unsuccessful a few times in a row, your campaign will end, and you will have to start again. So, it's crucial in the Freelancer mode to have a good understanding of the full game before starting. Also, the Armsdealers' side quests will test your proficiency with a variety of weaponry. In contrast, the Organtrader's side quests will force you to experiment with poisons and other means of controlling your targets.

Even when you are unsuccessful, you will feel as if you are making progress in Hitman: Freelancer, much like the basic Hitman experience. Although you may feel exposed sometimes, the game provides some coverage. In each of the plans, you'll find a number of storage containers that may accommodate an unusual collection of objects. You will be able to gather a variety of essential equipment, ranging from noisemakers and certain poisons to weapons of varied rarity.

In addition to advancing through the campaign, completing each task awards you with one of three different Freelancer Tools. You will be given a random weapon that will be made constantly given to you after completing the campaign and eliminating the head of the Syndicate. As your inventory expands and you get access to more powerful weapons and equipment, you'll quickly realize the importance of having access to many slots.

Elusive Targets, assassination missions where you only get to take one shot and are not allowed to save the progress, have also been brought back into the game and will now appear in a rotation. Their return to the Arcade mode adds a whole new level of complexity. Depending on the situation, a random spawn location is also assigned to you, which may be either an advantage or a disadvantage.

There is no longer a rating system. As long as the task is completed, the method used is irrelevant. You'll need to be resourceful, what with there being no way to save in-mission and no Target Story options to choose from. With the latest update, you must constantly worry about running out of items. You'll have to develop adaptable and inventive strategies even in the most challenging circumstances.

The Mastery is not extinct; nevertheless, in this incarnation, it takes the form of Freelancer Mastery. Gaining mastery levels is an essential part of Hitman: Freelancer, maybe more so than in any previous Hitman game. You can level up to Mastery as you solve puzzles and perform objectives. As one's Mastery increases, so does the quality of their fortifications. As a bonus, you'll be able to do things like bring extra stuff with you on missions and make some aesthetic changes to Agent 47's new hideout.

With experience, you'll get access to more features, including a shooting range and a chance to spruce up your residence. There is a 100-level mastery track that you will go through as you accomplish goals and gain experience points. There are additional parts of 47's safehouse to explore and modify as you go through the game. Unlock the vault, the kitchen, the complete upstairs residence, and the outside grounds as you progress through the game.

The difficulty of Hitman: Freelancer is by far the most noticeable change for anyone coming from previous Hitman games. Its biggest feature is undoubtedly the addition of Freelancer's Hardcore mode. Aside from the fact that the level layouts may be learned during the main narrative campaign, the gameplay in Freelancer merely seems quite different. Every single one of the sites will begin with an alerted status, which indicates that there will be an increased number of cameras, that the security will pay closer attention, and that the targets will always be able to identify you.

In addition to this, you will be required to select a prestige target and see it through to completion. If not, literally, the entire campaign will be a failure. You must often resort to extraordinary measures of inventiveness while trying to pick them out of a crowded room. You need to forget a lot of what you now know about Hitman and choose Hardcore mode only if you want to put yourself to the test.

Technically speaking, Hitman: Freelancer delivers, although you'll have to tolerate certain inherited difficulties throughout the game. If I had to point out a problem, and I would consider this to be a very minor and apparent issue, it would be that the game is not the ideal starting place for somebody who has never played a Hitman game before. Of course, there's no harm in someone trying to learn the game from scratch, but the difficulty level might just push them away from playing it.

Most maps require you to have at least some familiarity with the game's mechanics, including how the different systems interact with one another, how you may use and manipulate them, and how you can utilize them to your advantage. Other than that, it's a game anyone would love to play for hours. Particularly for its visual presentation, which certainly looks impressive with its rich environments and dramatic light effects.

Hitman: Freelancer offers an uncommon and enticing combination of difficulty and adaptability. It's, without a doubt, the finest sandbox experience that blends all the best parts of the Hitman series. Despite the lack of multiplayer mode and persistent internet needs, the game is nevertheless fun. And if you can adapt to its difficulty, as soon as you get the swing of things, each run of Freelancer has its own flavor and significance. It adds a new layer of depth and replayability to Hitman by increasing the stakes of every choice. Hitman: Freelancer is a brilliant roguelike in its own right and surpasses even the original in every way.
 

Azfar Rayan (@AzfarRayan)
Editor, NoobFeed