I’ve never been terribly invested in the story of the recent Hitman games but Hitman 3 is the most story-centric of them all. Besides the final level, you could probably skip cutscenes and get by without it interfering with your enjoyment if the story isn’t for you. That said, I highly recommend giving it a chance if you usually skip over it.

Hitman 3 places us in the shoes of Agent 47 as he joins hands with Lucas Grey in his most dramatic and intense mission to date: Destroy Providence, a shadowy Illuminati-esque organization that molded 47 into the monster he is. It’s no longer about completing contracts, it’s a personal quest to destroy the group that stripped 47’s humanity. In some ways, it feels like IO Interactive is attempting to play with some of the themes they introduced in Absolution. 

This story gets under the skin of 47 and furthers him as a character, rather than a vehicle for creative murder. One of my favorite moments in the game is actually totally missable. There’s an optional infiltration point you get for completing one of the levels and it starts you on a walkway with an umbrella. A woman standing next to you asks you if you’ve seen this girl she’s supposed to be meeting and begins wondering if she got stood up. 47 offers advice and somewhat comforts her. It’s incredibly small but it’s such a wonderful touch that really made me appreciate Agent 47 as a character.

There is a bit of a cost to peeling back the layers on both him and his handler, Diana. Hitman 3’s story is rather short, as expected. The vast amount of hours you can invest in the game is in the actual gameplay, so the actual moments that move the narrative forward in a significant way are rather brief. This isn’t the problem so much as its shortened story makes for some weak pacing. Anytime conflict is introduced, it feels like it’s quickly resolved. You don’t get to spend as much time as you may want to with certain characters either.

There’s not as much time spent really feeling the weight of some of the more dramatic moments in the story of Hitman 3. It moves at a very rapid pace and ends just as quickly as it starts. Of course, as I mentioned, most people are here for the moment to moment action so this may not feel as significant to others.

This Hitman trilogy has had the same kind of gameplay across each game, taking inspiration for the beloved Hitman: Blood Money. IO chooses more to refine than to completely evolve and change the way these games play and that’s fine because it’s already pretty much perfect. That said, the story allows for some levels that shake up the formula in more interesting ways, going as far as putting 47 on his back foot. It’s a nice change of pace but also highlighted some of the flaws of the AI.

While IO boasted some improvements to AI in the lead-up to release, it’s hard to tell what changes they’ve made. Targets are still on very strict paths and while this is to be expected given you need to have some predictability to execute certain methods, they feel too on rails. I also had a number of instances where my cover was blown, leading to gunfights. Gunplay hasn’t been the biggest strong suit of the trilogy but it’s serviceable, minus the AI. They will sometimes move in bizarre ways, not attack you at all, and much more. 

They’re not as great at playing offensively as they are just walking around, doing scripted behavior. When you break them out of their trance, they seem to have a hard time adjusting. That said, unless you blow your own cover, there’s very little reason to actually engage with AI like this. The levels are almost overwhelmingly massive and there are so many ways to complete your objective. You may find a sniper’s nest or drop a sack of bricks on someone’s head. If someone finds you in the midst of a crime, you can throw a sack of sugar at their head, resulting in definite brain damage. You may even manipulate a situation in such a way that someone else will kill your target for you. 

There were times where I could feel myself backing myself further and further into corners I knew would be tough to get out of. It’s a game about improvisation and adapting just as much as it is about planning. It’s an incredibly reactive game and that’s what makes it so fun and replayable.

One mission takes you to a massive estate after one of its residents has apparently committed suicide. The family suspects foul play and calls for a renowned detective to get to the bottom of it. If you choose, you can disguise yourself as the detective and play out your own sinister version of the movie Knives Out. There are a number of clues to find, witnesses to interrogate, and pieces to put together. I won’t spoil anything but there’s a number of ways you can use this to your advantage to kill your target. It’s incredibly fulfilling and creates a much richer, more memorable experience than just disguising yourself as a therapist and smothering someone with a pillow. That’s great too but it shows IO has the ability to continue pushing their formula in a way that is consistently entertaining and engaging.

On top of that, there are a few elements that enhance these levels. Hitman 3 has up to 300 NPCs at a time in one location. The levels are densely packed and you can feel the claustrophobia setting in as you shimmy past drunken party-goers. It even allows you to use these large crowds to blend in. It creates both a challenge but also an organic tool for you to use to your advantage if you’re being pursued.

I reviewed the game on Xbox Series X where it benefited even more. The visuals are gorgeous with incredible detail, lighting, and a buttery smooth 60 FPS. There’s a level with a pretty noticeable downpour and you can see all the individual rain droplets on 47, creating these little rivers on his bald head. To create an even greater aesthetic, there are all these incredible neon lights accurately reflecting off the puddles. It’s absolutely stunning.

Once you complete the main game, there is a plethora of other content to partake in as well. You can revisit Hitman 1 + 2 (purchased separately) with all the new weapons, tools, and enhancements introduced in 3. There are also a number of side missions, such as sniper assassinations, and escalation missions that present new challenges for you. There’s absolutely no shortage of replay value. From story to levels and pure content, Hitman 3 is one of the biggest bangs for your buck right now. 

The Verdict

Hitman 3 is without a doubt the peak of the trilogy narratively and level-design wise, there’s no shortage of quality and greatness here. Even though it’s easy to breeze through the game, there’s absolutely no reason why you can’t invest dozens of hours in it once you’re done. There’s so much content with virtually none of it lacking.

While Hitman 3 is the end of this trilogy, it’s clear IO will be coming back to 47 after they play around in the 007 sandbox for a while. This isn’t so much the end of Hitman as it is this iteration of 47 and I will be eagerly awaiting his return.

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“We would like to thank fans from around the world on the tremendous reaction to the announcement of Hogwarts Legacy from our Portkey Games label. Creating the best possible experience for all of the Wizarding World and gaming fans is paramount to us so we are giving the game all the time it needs,” reads a statement. The highly-anticipated next-gen RPG will now release sometime in 2022.

Hogwarts Legacy is being developed by Just Cause developer Avalanche and will not feature Potter himself. The game is set hundreds of years prior to the arrival of Harry Potter and allows you to be whatever kind of wizard you wish. You can be evil or good, explore the grounds of Hogwarts, and see all the iconic sights to the Wizarding World. Before its reveal in 2020, the game leaked years prior with some footage.

The game will be entirely single-player and hopefully fulfil the fantasies of many Harry Potter fans.

“Your character is a student who holds the key to an ancient secret that threatens to tear the wizarding world apart. You have received a late acceptance to the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and soon discover that you are no ordinary student: you possess an unusual ability to perceive and master Ancient Magic. Only you can decide if you will protect this secret for the good of all, or yield to the temptation of more sinister magic,” reads an official description of the game.

Hogwarts Legacy looks to be quite promising so hopefully the delay will make it all worth it. Hogwarts Legacy will release on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PS4, PS5, and PC.

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This is not the case, EA has confirmed they have more Star Wars games coming. We’ll likely get to see the series started under EA, Jedi: Fallen Order, conclude properly in a sequel or two. There’s also an extremely high chance EA will continue to develop Battlefront games and who knows, maybe we’ll see more than that from them.

We love Star Wars.
We look forward to continuing our partnership with Lucasfilm Games.
We’re making more Star Wars games.
BD-1 is still the cutest.

— Electronic Arts (@EA) January 13, 2021

This all likely means that Disney has decided to not pick any singular publisher for Star Wars like they did in 2013. This could result in more regular titles for the franchise as well as a diverse line-up. As mentioned, Ubisoft is already hard at work on an open-world Star Wars from the team behind The Division.

In related news, Lucasfilm Games has given Bethesda the greenlight on a brand new Indiana Jones game. MachineGames, the team behind Wolfenstein, will helm the currently untitled game. Due to Bethesda recently being acquired by Microsoft, there’s a chance the Indy game becomes an Xbox/PC exclusive but nothing is confirmed. There are next to no specifics about any of these future titles but the future is bright.

Could the recently revived Lucasfilm Games usher in a new era of classic Star Wars titles? Perhaps a 1313 revival, Force Unleashed 3, or KOTOR 3? Maybe, just maybe. We’ll likely hear plenty more about the franchise in the coming months and years.

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Despite being a PlayStation 5 exclusive, there is simply not enough talk about Returnal. A real shame, since with Housemarque, true legends of the action genre are at the helm.

The Finnish studio is well-known for awesome arcade action with titles like Resogun, Super Stardust Delta, and many more. But Returnal looks to be the studio’s most ambitious project to date. After years of spending time in the 2D and 2.5D space, Housemarque finally goes full 3D.

The matter of fact is that this shift makes Returnal instantly is more appealing to many more gamers. That doesn’t mean it lacks in action or beautiful effects. On top of that, the game also features an interesting science-fiction story that seamlessly combines roguelike elements into its story.

Each death restarts a time loop. But Returnal features a clever progression system that lets you keep some upgrades across runs. The more you play, the better upgrades you receive.

But none of that matters if the actual gameplay is any good. And Returnal promises the entire package here. You can get a nice overview of the types of weapons both in the new trailer and detailed PlayStation Blog post.

As expected, a range of futuristic weapons is available. But the brilliant part here is that combat doesn’t revolve entirely around projectiles. Many weapons also have unique mechanics and secondary modes. Combined, they add an extra layer of depth to the combat.

Rounding the package are alien artifacts and items that give the player additional bonuses. Both active and passive. Overall, Returnal is a highly promising title that should be on every PS5 owner’s radar when it launches this May 19th.

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The hits keep coming after yesterday’s reveal of a new Indiana Jones game. Today, Wired reports that Disney and Lucasfilm Games have big ambitions for the Star Wars franchise in the gaming world. And one key aspect of achieving that is to grow beyond the bounds of Electronic Arts.

Back in 2013, Disney and Electronic Arts made a multi-year deal that gave EA the exclusive game right for all things Star Wars. The result was a mixed bag. While the Battlefront series rose from its ashes, it failed to live up to expectations. Mainly because of excessive microtransactions.

EA just recently started to fulfill its promise with great single-player Star Wars games. We’re of course talking about Jedi: Fallen Order and Squadrons. Nonetheless, both in quantity and quality, EA failed to satisfy fans.

Disney announced just earlier this week the revival of the legendary Lucasfilm Games division. An iconic brand that is responsible for many of the best games of the 90s. Today, we learn that Disney has a lot more planned.

Ubisoft’s Massive Entertainment is working on a full-fledged open-world Star Wars game. You’ll best know Massive for The Division games. Hence, the pedigree for good open-world action games is there. We also learn that the same capable Snowdrop Engine used in The Division will be used.

While we know the developer of this elusive new Star Wars title, Lucasfilm Games hasn’t shared any other details yet. But one thing is for certain as of today. The days of Star Wars fans being at the mercy of EA to deliver great games is over.

Lucasfilm Games also states that there is ‘room for others’ when it comes to licensed Star Wars games. It looks like we can look forward to more studios creating games set in a galaxy far far away.

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The second mission in GTA 5 sees Franklin returning home with Lamar when the two get in a comical argument. The low blows and delivery of Lamar’s lines have led to the scene getting memed to death, especially with mods. Players have added characters like Arthur Morgan, Kermit, Spongebob, and many, many more to roast Franklin.

After seeing the recent trend, GTA 5 actors Shawn Fonteno (Franklin) and Slink Johnson (Lamar) re-enacted the scene in real life. It’s perfect, it’s beautiful, and we couldn’t ask for anything better.

GTA 5 will be getting a re-release for Xbox Series X and PS5 later this year. The new remaster will carry various enhancements and exclusive content.

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The update will create a silky smooth Jedi experience. You can view the specifics below.

Xbox Series S

• Framerate has been increased to 60 FPS (up from 45 FPS)

Xbox Series X Performance mode

• Framerate has been increased to 60 FPS
• Dynamic resolution added in the range of 1080p to 1440p

Xbox Series X Normal mode (non-performance mode)

• Postprocessing has been increased to 4K
• Dynamic resolution in the range of 1512p to 2160p

PlayStation 5

• Framerate has been increased to 60 FPS (up from 45 FPS)
• Postprocessing increased to 1440p
• Dynamic resolution has been disabled and the game is rendering at 1200p (up from 810-1080p)

We recently wrote about the state of Star Wars games, noting that Jedi: Fallen Order was a highlight but the rest have been disappointing. Shortly after this, Disney announced they were reviving the Lucasfilm Games brand with a focus on things like Star Wars games. The first new game announced under the banner wasn’t a Star Wars game but instead an Indiana Jones game from Bethesda.

It’s unclear if Respawn will make a sequel to Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order right now. A recent job listing seemed to imply they’re currently working on a brand new unannounced IP.

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pic.twitter.com/XSaIwjgiOF

— Bethesda (@bethesda) January 12, 2021

The developer behind the recent Wolfenstein games will lead the charge on this game, which includes an original story. The new Indiana Jones game comes as part of a new push from Lucasfilm Games to work with top-industry talent on brand new games. While most people assumed this would start with Star Wars games, the Indiana Jones game comes as a giant surprise.

“We’re developing a new Indiana Jones video game! As huge fans of the franchise, it’s a tremendous honor for us to create a brand-new Indiana Jones game with a completely original story. We’re very excited and can’t wait to share more in the future,” reads a tweet from MachineGames.

Todd Howard will be an executive producer on the new Indy title as well. Microsoft acquired Bethesda in 2020 with the deal set to officially complete in 2021. It’s highly likely Indiana Jones will be exclusive to Xbox or at the very least be a part of Game Pass on day one.

Similarly, IO Interactive also announced that they’ll be doing an original James Bond game following Hitman 3.

The game has no release date right now. A fifth Indy film is also in the works from director James Mangold (Logan, Ford v Ferrari). Harrison Ford is set to reprise his role in the film.

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The surprise success of the Nintendo Switch led to many nice results. Both first-party and third-party developers not only outdo themselves with new titles, but many classic hidden gems get a second chance, too.

Arguably none other than the ill-fated Wii U’s game catalog profited from the Switch’s comeback story. Almost all notable exclusives of Nintendo’s prior console were ported to the Switch. Soon, that will be the case for Super Mario 3D World, as well. It’s not only one of the best Wii U exclusives but one of the best 3D Mario games to date.

With Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury, owners of a Nintendo Switch can look forward to experiencing the game on the go. But there’s even better news. Bowser’s Fury adds an entirely new expansion to the already great package.

And now, we can see for ourselves what the fuss is all about. Suffice to say, Bowser’s Fury is a big package in more ways than one. The new trailer for the remaster shows gameplay from said expansion, and we get to see Bowser like never before.

Mario’s nemesis is more threatening and dangerous than ever before. Featuring a towering stature that’s more akin to Kaiju flicks like Godzilla or Pacific Rim. Thankfully, our round little plumber has an ace up his sleeves and can transform into a giant version himself, as well.

As an added bonus, you’ll be able to play Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury in full co-op, too. Whether it’s local or online. Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury comes exclusively to the Nintendo Switch on February 12th.

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HITMAN 3 – All Locations Revealed: https://t.co/gxw79z1kpC

This is a spoiler-free list of all six locations in the game, where we’re focused on the locations and not the story. pic.twitter.com/SCq33KBsnj

— IO Interactive (@IOInteractive) January 11, 2021

In case you plan to experience Hitman 3 as an entirely clean slate, you might want to steer clear. To be fair, there are no story spoilers of any kind in the location reveal. But getting to grips with each new locale is arguably one of the best parts of the Hitman series.

Nonetheless, here’s a rundown of all six locations featured in Hitman 3:

• Dubai, UAE
• Dartmoor, United Kingdom
• Berlin, Germany
• Chongqing, China
• Mendoza, Argentina
• Carpathian Mountains, Romania

If you followed the release of Hitman 3 so far, you’ll notice that three of the six locations were already heavily promoted. The jaw-dropping skylines of Dubai are prominently the poster child of the new Hitman game.

But beyond that, IO Interactive also showcased Hitman 3’s Dartmoor and its unique appeal. Unlike many other destinations, here it’s all about depth, not width. The unassuming estate in the British countryside also features a rather unique twist on classic murder mysteries.

With Chongqing, Agent 47 also makes his way into China. And while the city’s name might not ring any bells, it totally should. It’s a massive city with a population of over 30 million people. Prepare for large crowds and seedy back alleys filled with neon.

In that regard, Berlin, Mendoza, and the Carpathian Mountains are the big surprises today. You can read more about each location’s unique appeal on the developer post here. Just a heads up. While there are no story spoilers, you’ll learn the order of progression.

Hitman 3 launches this month, January 20th, for PC, Stadia, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S. A cloud version for the Switch will come at a future date.

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