A man will come and take you away ...

Agent 47 is back - and in addition to a varied history and a noticeably modified gameplay in luggage. And, as often happens, is precisely what is many an eyesore, others a foray into the right direction. The polarization is no different to explain the title of this new resulted in the following. In any case, 'Hitman: Absolution' in my eyes more than a cursory look.
But first things first ...

The game is linked historically to the previous parts, so knowing this is sometimes an advantage if one wants to understand the motives of the cloned assassin. To have fun in this new part, playing the predecessor, of course not mandatory.
The story of 'Absolution' starts with a successful intro sequence as well as a questionable motivation for the first attempt - after all, the plot from then is continually striving to improve. To spoil anyone with unnecessary spoilers joy, I want to lose over the course of story not too many words here. The story, however, is far more personal than in the previous parts, it shows '47' not only as ice-cold killing machine, but also as a human being with feelings.
It should be noted for safety's sake, that the act is not for the squeamish, but well understood in this game series of its own. Faithful Christians will be the latest in the chapter 'Rosewood' spit stay away, otherwise provide super slow motion and countless killing ways anytime for spellbinding horror or unbelieving enthusiasm - according to individual temperament of the player. Whether police officer, civilian or crook - you decide yourself who you executed and how brutal it is going. So you can be a precise scalpel or even a grobschlächtiges broadsword. In this regard, remains this Hitman part its predecessors faithful.

Meanwhile, the control, compared to the previous parts of the series, much less wood while the gameplay has experienced with the 'instinct mode' a general conversion. The 'instinct' of 47 serves to perfect their own camouflage, to obtain important information (eg walking distances of the guards) or to activate the slow motion in order to respond more quickly to opponents can. Fairings now no longer protect generally prior to the discovery by all observers, but only before the unmasking by those persons, as the one is not (!) Has disguised. So a police uniform simulated eg Chinese cooks, construction workers and passers-by, however, by other police officers this panel can be seen through - unless one uses his 'instinct' and merges briefly with the assumed role. This new incident raises in my view, the approach to the attacks to a whole new strategic level. The change of panels and the hatching in certain roles at the right time, in some chapters now very important to the movements within a level have to be matched, you do not want to be transferred to the first available corner.

The level design is meanwhile highly variable. Certainly there are some linear 'hose Levels', then be understood as a challenge to the Schleich skills of the player in the first place. But even in this 'level type' there are always several ways you can get to its destination. Will not you be the unseen shadow, you can of course also bring out the sledgehammer (to understand this please in both senses: metaphorically and literally) and beat wildly. While this ruined the rating (which may of course be revised by a later repeat of the level), but can be quite spread bitter joy.
On the other hand, there are also several open levels where the targeted execution of one or more persons can be done in different ways. Play called 'challenges' in this part an important role: If you fulfill certain conditions while playing through a level (eg 'create all sorts of disguises', 'kill only the target person and otherwise hurt anybody', 'do not be discovered'), includes one the particular challenge in this particular level and receives a positive evaluation from then multiplier at repeated denial of this level. Rating Received turn turn freely abilities like an increased sprint capacity, enlarged instinct reserves or shorter loading times. Perfect Level passes no longer help only to a feeling of satisfaction, but are now also strategically advantageous. Of course you can play one and the same chapter as many times and meet so gradually all challenges. That is precisely the greatest strength of this new offshoot - and makes the next game, the steering of this particular figure prepares anyway, most of the replay value of each chapter.

Appealing is how big the scope: Whole Chapter 20 which are divided into 54 sections - one section corresponds to a 'Level', each with a separate vote, some of them, while others are quite short very spacious. Especially meeting the challenges requires skill, knowledge maps and generates a great motivation to stay on the ball, so that even absolute Hitman veterans certainly have given well over 50 hours of gameplay. Here should also be noted that there are no fewer than five different difficulty levels: Easy, Medium, Heavy, expert and purist. And the choice of difficulty also important in deciding how the game is henceforth perceived. On 'light' or 'means' like you 'Absolution' still play dumb as third-person shooter, but not later than the degree of 'heavy' this is no longer easily possible. The AI ​​is smarter, more rarely ventures out from behind cover, shoot very accurately and the 'instinct' of 47 (his greatest weapon against the superior numbers of the enemy) is significantly limited (or to 'Purist' even no longer available). In itself, the game is therefore primarily to be understood as 'stealth-adventure', but also good for repeatedly shooting brutal orgies, provided for in the mood is rather afterwards. Those who want a real challenge and knows the earlier parts, should draw equal to the higher difficulty levels. Beginners can, however, reassured romp in 'Easy' and once to get to know the game mechanics.

The graphics of the game is for putting on the PS3 absolutely fine. The console is already 5 year old and its successor is already waiting at the door. The new part of the Hitman series, which have had to wait at least 6 years in relation to, is simply a console port, and thus not tailored for the PS3. Graphically it is not enough, therefore, to connect with game series such as 'Uncharted' or 'Assassin's Creed', but also does not have to be ashamed of his appearance. The lighting effects are excellent even set the scene, the world seems dark and dirty and '47' is exhausted, sweaty and pale. Striking muddy textures not crowded on me while the animated sequences between and during the various chapters have an excellent quality.

Another big plus is the sound, because the German language edition is simply top notch. The only drawback here is that the lip movements of some minor characters are belauschter now and then asynchronously. As for the quality of the voice actors, no desires leaves open the game but. Especially the voice of 47, on loan from the voice actor Torsten Michaelis, the Germanized among others Sean Bean, Wesley Snipes and Julian McMahon, fits perfectly to this figure.
The comments of innumerable figures in the world of 'Absolution' are meanwhile used relentlessly and skuril. Political Correctness? None. Whether Chinese and their products, or 'American police itself' - for 'Absolution' get it all off their fat. The titling as a 'Uncut' is therefore at all levels to understand and so - no matter whether in terms of violence, eroticism or impiety. Unvarnished sayings, black humor and macabre jokes are thus inevitable, by the way is in some chapters also a 'reunion' with 'Kane & Lynch' (two more vicious good video game characters) on the plan. Where this is more likely for plotunrelevante cameo appearances.

A disappointing fact is that you can not put together like in the predecessors before each level even its equipment. While this is explained by the tight timing for the content, but it takes the game a tactical component. The story now looks more like a progressive action thriller with personal motivation, thus less a 'Jetsetten' from job to job, as it was known from the predecessors. In 'Absolution' is '47' which asked on their own exceptional talent, the icy guardian angel on revenge - but that just even without the backing of 'the Agency'. According limited is his equipment, but more exciting is the procurement of foreign weapons in the levels. One can, away from a variety of commercial firearms, ultimately utilize countless everyday objects (eg bottles, power cables, fire extinguisher, radio, busts, hookahs, hammers) as killing tools, which already applies to find all those 'weapons' in each level as satisfiable challenge.

In short, the game is known for its excellent genre, has few weaknesses and generally gets my buy recommendation. Who liked the predecessor, has a good chance, that excited him this part. The main bone of contention of the fan base is the instinct mode: Some see it as an enrichment of the game, other than the downfall of former gameplay. Anyone starting a new game in this series, you should be aware that they are buying here not intuitively controlled shooter, but a bleak bomber adventure in any case.
Perhaps invents IO Interactive the wheel here is not new, but the studio brings the old game rolling again and sprinkled here and there under the long-standing innovative gimmicks gameplay. All in all, a worthy successor to the well sympathetic cold blood in video game history.