Parents' Guide to Hitman III

Older gamers who enjoyed the first two games in this trilogy should have little reason to complain about this one. While nothing will be the same for Agent 47, his allies, or the organizations he's targeting by the end of Hitman III, much of what's done is rooted in the proven mechanics and strategies of its predecessors. Good players will exhibit patience, a willingness to listen to random conversations to discover valuable intel, and the ability to detect and quickly take advantage of opportunities when they present themselves. Much of the fun comes from replaying missions, using what you already know to be a smarter, more efficient assassin while discovering additional storytelling tidbits. A lot of enjoyment also comes from simply exploring the game's beautiful and expertly crafted environments, such as a regal old mansion whose ornate halls and rooms are filled with secret passages and long hidden family secrets. Players lucky enough to play on PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X/S will have the added benefit of enhanced resolution, superior frame rates, and terrific lighting and reflection effects that make these stunningly designed levels feel even more realistic.

That said, there are some things that could have been tweaked. Agent 47's environment traversal abilities -- vaulting over railings, walking along ledges, taking cover, climbing up and down pipes -- feel somewhat clunky, and lack the smooth movements for similar actions found in other games. And figuring out whether you're in view of a guard or bystander when you want to do something that might arouse attention can still be a crapshoot, requiring frequent saves if you think there's a chance you could get caught. But these are fairly minor quibbles. Hitman III, like its two predecessors, feels distinct from other stealth action games in the way it strives both for maximum realism and memorable scenarios. If you're looking for something that rewards brains over brawn, this might be the ticket.