Agent 47 returns to complete more contracts and to mark his debut on Xbox 360. Blood Money is a fun stealth game that will get you to think a little bit instead of just holding down the fire button when opening up a door. Hitman Blood Money has plenty of things going for it but the Xbox 360 version is not "next-gen" enough to make it cost the extra $10 from the current gen versions.
Being a contracted hitman, you will want to stay undetected and keep your identity protected. Just like in previous Hitman titles, you will be able to knock someone out and take their clothes in case someone starts to suspect you. A meter shows how much you are being suspected and will be red when you are being chased after. At this time you will want to find someone and change into their clothes. Just make sure no one sees you, obviously, or that disguise also won't help you. If you do happen to leave witnesses around and then complete the mission, things don't entirely reset in the next level. As you progress through the game you are also building up a reputation of sorts. In addition to your meter in game, there is an overall meter between levels for all of the witnesses/evidence that you have left at the scene of the crime. A money system comes into play to make use of the earnings you made for the contracted hits. Certain things, such as leaving your standard suit at the scene, is automatically deducted for the agency to recover it. Meanwhile you will be given the option of bribing the police, witnesses, or acquiring a new identity. Each having a different cost depending how much of your suspicion level you want to get rid of.
The monetary system also comes into use right before entering a level by allowing you to purchase weapon upgrades. Only a few things are available for purchase at the start but they do start off useful. For instance the silencer is available quite early.
Speaking of weapons, Blood Money has plenty of options for eliminating targets/witnesses. In addition to the standard guns, you can also sneak up and stick the person with a poison or sedative needle. You can even use the environment to help you out. If you find a knife laying around in a kitchen, you can through it at someone. To be a great hitman, you should try to make the hit look like an accident. If someone is on a balcony and looking away from you, simply sneak up and push them over the ledge. There are also some location specific places where you can set up to kill someone without being right next to the person.
The game's save system might annoy some people. The game will allow you to come back to play the level you left off at but not at an in-game location. In game saves are available but are only used to re-load a spot if you messed up or to go back if you die. Once you turn of the game, in-game saves are reset. The amount of in-game saves are also determined by your difficulty level.
Graphically, Hitman Blood Money looks pretty nice. At the same time, it also isn't an amazing next-gen title to get for the graphics. This is especially true when you see some of the flat textures in the game. The variety of locations for the levels is something that should be noted. You won't get tired of seeing similar locations because there really is a nice variety in where you go and the amount of people will also vary.
Hitman continues a great stealth series with many ways to eliminate a target and allowing the player to actually think about it. The game market isn't flooded with similar games, so it's a nice change of pace to play and even go back to play levels you already completed to try new ways to complete it. I would really like to see some improved graphics and some other additions as $59.99 is a bit much for this current-gen title with enhanced graphics.
