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Common Sense Note

HITMAN 2: SILENT ASSASSIN is brutally violent and not for kids. It's set into motion when the lead character -- a guilt-ridden retired killer called 47 -- finds his spiritual guide kidnapped from a Sicilian monastery. When it becomes clear that the only way to help his mentor is to return to his old ways, 47 steps into the role of classic anti-hero. You may want to talk to your teen about whether ends ever justify the means, if there are things in their lives worth fighting for, and if there is something noble about someone who pursues a worthy goal with brutal singularity. But if these points are too subtle for your kid, you may want to skip this extremely violent game altogether.

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Common Sense Review

Reviewed By: Aaron Lazenby

The sequel to the successful Hitman: Codename 47 finds the bald killer -- recently retired and tormented by his violent past -- working off his guilt in a remote Sicilian monastery. He's handed his guns and soul over to Father Vittorio, a kindly priest who is aiding 47 on his path to redemption. When the Father is kidnapped by a group hoping to bring the killer back into action, 47 grudgingly returns to the world of international assassination and intrigue in hopes of rescuing his counselor.

Violence aside, HITMAN 2: SILENT ASSASSIN is one of the best designed games of its type. Each of the 19 levels offer a variety of ways to solve problems, measuring your success based on the tools and methods you use. For example, if you blast your way through the underground barracks in St. Petersburg you may score high on the aggression scale, but you'll bottom out on the stealth meter -- ultimately earning a rating of "Hatchet Man," instead of "Professional." This flexibility, allowing you to choose whether you sneak around, disguise yourself and kill only your intended target or slaughter everyone in sight, leads to a nearly infinite number of game situations for you to navigate.

And you'll want to spend a lot of time in the game, as the environments are carefully rendered and remarkably interactive. Eidos programmers spent a lot of time on the mood created in the various environments, be it the whirling blizzard that envelops you in Russia, the quietude of a traditional Japanese retreat, or the creepiness of the various sewage systems that connect sections of the game. Controls are easy to master yet provide an impressive range of options and control.

But make no mistake -- HITMAN 2: SILENT ASSASSIN is appropriately named, and there is no shortage of graphic violence. The brutality players can perform as 47 ranges from launching impersonal sniper fire from a distance to up-close strangulation with a wire. Copious amounts of blood paint the walls during gun fights, and depictions of torture, injury to innocents, and the potential to attack police officers all add to the general unseemliness of the game. While gameplay may have been expertly executed, never forget that you play the part of an expert executioner. Parents and children beware.

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Content
		CS	adults	kids
Sexual Content Scantily clad women share a hot tub with one of your adversaries.
Violence While you can control how much you kill, your character is still an assassin. Enemies and innocents can be dispatched in a number of gory ways.
Language Some strong language.
Message
	Social Behavior Killing is not only rewarded, it's your job. Also, some members of the Sikh religion are boycotting the game due to negative portrayals of their people and holy places.
	Commercialism
	Drug/Alcohol/Tobacco Champagne plays a part in one mission.
	Educational Value Unless your child is preparing for a life as a contract killer, there is not much to learn here.

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