Hitman: Absolution’s Sniper Challenge hits the mark

The marketing for Hitman Absolution, seemingly focused as it was, on gratuitous sex and violence had me worried about the game. After playing the Sniper Challenge pre-order incentive, those fears have been assassinated, with a skilful bullet to the head.

Pre-order incentives, the largely meaningless add-ons that publishers attach to their big-budget blockbuster games to try and tempt you out of your money long in advance of a game’s release tend to be of little consequence; you’ll normally be treated to extra in-game content, new weapons, new outfits, new cars and inconsequential fluff.

It’s what makes the Hitman Absolution Sniper Challenge pre-order bonus quite refreshing – and rather exciting. by pre-ordering  Hitman: Absolution, you’ll be given a download token to download a standalone, sniper-based mission, built using the game’s Glacier engine.

Functioning as a demo (so no achievements or trophies), you’ll be tasked with assassinating some generic high-value target – Richard Strong Jr. – CEO of Stallion Armaments –  as he makes his annual public appearance, at a rooftop party. Perched in a nest in an opposite building, you won’t have full control of the barcoded agent 47. Instead you’ll have to track the target, watch the movement of his guards – and silently pick them off, one-by-one.

You’ll have three tools at your disposal to accomplish the assassination. A trusty long-range rifle, an “instinct” mode that helps highlight targets and your own, real-life wits. The sniper challenge, you see, requires a measured, thoughtful approach. You have just 15 minutes to take out your target – and you’ll have to learn the enemy movement patterns, observe their positions and choose the precise moment at which to acquaint a bullet with somebody’s face.

A single wrong move; shooting a civilian or letting a body be discovered and you’ll spiral the party in to a frenzied panic, making it nigh impossible to complete. The decidedly arcade mini-game rewards stealth, experimentation and pinpoint-precision – and much of the title’s fun comes in finding neat little tricks to exploit.

As you take targets out, you’ll be awarded with a score for each, with multipliers running for successful streaks. Your score carries through your multiple replays, unlocking new weapons and perks – some of which carry through to the final, retail game. And believe me; there will be multiple replays. Not only will you likely fail your first time around, but there’s a wonderfully irresistible arcade-driven compulsion to keep going, to keep aiming for a higher score.

Rounding it all out – and making it even more addictive for compulsive gamers are the games wacky and wonderful challenges secretly scattered throughout the single level. Find all the pigeons, rubber duckies and gnomes; crack all the ridiculously difficult to find eggs and a whole lot more.

IO Interactive, incredibly, has managed to stuff a 15 minute demo with more content than others have in entire games. If this cerebral, surprisingly open-ended, careful and measured mini-game is anything to go by, we’re in for a treat when Hitman: Absolution arrives on the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC on November 20th, 2012

My only complaint about the sniper challenge is that as a bonus for people who’ve already decided to lay out money for Hitman, it’s a case of preaching to the choir – and I sincerely hope that IO and publisher Square open this little gem up to more people.

The Hitman Absolution: Sniper Challenge is available to those who’ve pre-ordered the game for Xbox 360 or PS3. It’ll be available to Pc players on August 1.

Last Updated: June 15, 2012