The Hitman series and developer IO Interactive went through some reorganization following the reboot back in 2016. The studio is now independent of former publisher Square Enix and bought back the rights to Hitman during the separation. Fans can take heart that the creative force behind Hitman controls the franchise’s destiny once more, but the transition away from Square Enix to partnership with Warner Bros Interactive Entertainment also put Hitman 2 in an uncomfortable position. While the gameplay of Hitman 2 is as good as ever, there’s no escaping that it’s essentially a re-release of the 2016 Hitman game. This entry feels much more like an expansion pack, the Season 2 of Hitman 2016 that we never got due to IO Interactive and Square Enix parting ways. The episodic structure is gone and there are about six new missions, most of which offer the great depth of replay value that Hitman, but there’s not much else to distinguish Hitman 2 as its own game.

That introduction might sound like a warning to brace oneself for disappointment, but the content Hitman 2 offers is excellent on the whole. There just isn’t enough of it, an ironic problem for a game and series that derives so much of its value from replayability. Hitman 2 depends heavily on that replay factor to justify the $60 price tag, and it doesn’t quite get there despite its best efforts. For that price, the player gets six unique missions and the same training mission recycled from 2016’s Hitman. The first unique mission takes place on a beach in New Zealand and is downright puny, serving as a second, glorified tutorial. That leaves the player effectively with five missions that are large, colorful, open-ended, and every bit the high quality that fans would expect. Owners of the 2016 Hitman on PC can play the previous game’s missions, updated and modestly reworked, within Hitman 2 for free while newcomers can buy all of those missions as a DLC for $20. It’s about a nice of a compromise as IO Interactive can offer fans given the licensing changes and transitioning from Square Enix’s supervision, although that still means that Hitman 2 is either an expansion pack that costs $60, or a game that isn’t truly complete without paying $80 total if you’re new to the modern series.

The main Hitman experience revolves around emergent gameplay and large levels that offer a variety of approaches players can take to dispose of assassination targets. Avoiding casualties and being detected nets the highest scores, but unleashing chaos with firefights and explosives is also acceptable as long as the main targets are eliminated. There are numerous disguises that the player can dress up Agent 47 with in Hitman 2, a few new tools and weapons to play with (including a fish that can be thrown to knock NPC’s unconscious), and the return of 47’s briefcase from Blood Money back in 2006. The briefcase conceals items or weapons that are placed inside, allowing sneaky transportation of items that would be found during a frisking, or can be used as a weapon itself. For the most part, Hitman 2 lives and breathes by the adage “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” and so it delivers more of the gameplay found in the 2016 Hitman.

IO Interactive’s new missions in Hitman 2 are fantastic and among the best the series has had. The environments are colorful and varied, making the most out of a limited set of levels. Agent 47 travels from a sunny Miami waterfront and racetrack to a heavily guarded medieval castle on an island in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. There are so many little secrets to uncover and angles to play while stalking 47’s targets that a single mission offers hours of entertainment for those who enjoy plumbing the depths of the level design. There are extensive options available to players for customizing their gameplay experience, removing or enabling many of the helpful tooltips and hints available by default. One option of particular note is the “Mission Stories” feature that allows for some optional guidance that helps demonstrate some of the more eccentric approaches that 47 can use to carry out his assassinations. These guided methods are nice for easy entertainment, or for casually learning about particular areas of levels in more detail. As with the previous game, there’s additional replay value in the form of “Escalation” missions that offer alternate targets and requirements, or the community-driven “Contracts” mode that allows players to invent missions of their own by using the existing levels as templates.

Visually, Hitman 2 is a modestly prettied up version of the previous game. The lighting system is a bit more dramatic and varied, and these improvements carry over to the reworked levels of the 2016 Hitman if you’re an owner or buy the “Legacy Pack” DLC. Some levels take great advantage of color and lighting, like the Miami level, which might be the showstopper of the entire game with its bright sunshine around the racetrack stands and waterfront. Others demonstrate the shadows and improved crowd detail, particularly Mumbai which focuses on the slums and skyscrapers of the Indian metropolis and its dense population. The locations are almost characters unto themselves, bringing a lot of energy and personality that helps distinguish them from each other.

The story lacks the depth and presentation of the gameplay itself. Agent 47 continues his globetrotting search for answers about a “Shadow Client” who is out to bring down the Illuminati-esque Providence organization. Story scenes fill the gaps between missions in the form of still images and voice overs, and the overall narrative is mostly a standard thriller that makes some political overtures but never gets too concerned with details. It’s enough that it provides an excuse for the player and Agent 47 to go to interesting places in order to eliminate interesting and nasty people.

Outside of the main gameplay, Hitman 2 has two new modes: Sniper Assassin and Ghost Mode. Sniper Assassin is a first-person game that can be played solo or cooperatively with another player. The sniper(s) attempt to eliminate a set of targets and their bodyguards without being detected by carefully timing and placing shots within a set time limit. It’s an interesting side attraction that shows promise with its single map and developer plans for future updates. Ghost Mode is a competitive multiplayer game that pits two players against each in a race to assassinate a few targets before the other can. Targets must be eliminated out of sight and remain undiscovered for several seconds in order to score points, which discourages chaotic bloodbaths. As of this writing, Ghost Mode is called a “beta” by IO Interactive, which is fitting as it only uses the Miami map and doesn’t involve much interaction with the opponent outside of being able to see each other’s movements.

The best way to think of Hitman 2 is as an updated release of 2016’s Hitman. The change in publishers and franchise rights starts the game off with a wonky price point and an odd imbalance of up-front content. But the underlying gameplay is as enjoyable and deep as ever for this unique series, and it will surely pay back fan investment thrice over given enough time to soak everything in. For newcomers to the series, though, the cost may be a bit too steep to bear. At least, for the time being.

8.2/10

Check Out the HITMAN 2 Launch Trailer:

HITMAN 2 is available for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 4 Pro, the Xbox One family of devices including the Xbox One X, and PC.