Hey everybody, my name is Dave Jackson, and this is Baby Got Backlog, a video games podcast where I will bring in guests to talk about games that I’ve recently played.. My guest today is a good friend and Helmut Kruger enthusiast, Scott Danielson Today we’ll be talking about Hitman, a stealth game developed by IO Interactive and published by Square Enix in 2016. Before we get into Hitman, what has everyone been playing lately? Ok, let’s get into today’s focus, Hitman. Hitman is a game with a fairly obtuse yet simple story, in my opinion, and the real joy is discovering these levels and stories for yourself, so we will discuss the mechanics and very basic info about the story and levels without spoilers, then we’ll have a spoiler section at the end where we get into the juicy details about the levels. Our histories with the game- What interested us in this game? I remembered renting one of the old Hitman games for xbox 360(?) and absolutely hating it, so I wasn’t really paying attention when the series got rebooted, but a podcast that I love (watch out for fireballs) has covered all 3 of the hitman games and they raved about it, and it was on sale, so I checked it out. Very glad I did! When did we play, on what platform- played in 2020 after playing Hitman 2, played in the hitman 2 engine. Replayed most of the levels to prep for this in the hitman 3 engine. Play time- around 10-15 hours all told. Not super long games, especially when you know how to play. Basics of how the game works, key mechanics, what makes this game stand out? Agent 47- you play as agent 47, an extremely bald contract killer for a secret agency with a barcode tattoo on the back of his head. Key traits for 47- dry, subtle humor, lots of fun wordplay in his dialogue, extremely competent at anything he does. Because of this, these games are almost like comedies in a way. 47 is an extremely charming character even though he seems extremely dry at first glance. Scott? “Immersive stealth”- something that makes this series special- interlocking systems Extremely hard for me to get used to this type of game at first. I was really frustrated for a while because it seemed like everything I tried was punished severely. So I got some advice to try a different level (this was in hitman 2 but they are basically the same game). For this reason I push back on labeling these games immersive sims, because you can’t really play the way you want. You really have to follow the flow that the game wants you to follow, which is extremely good once you get your head around it. Not immersive sim- immersive stealth. Scott? Not hiding in shadows all the time. Spend more time hiding in plain sight by swapping disguises that kind of act like passes for certain areas. For example, if you steal a soldier’s outfit, you can go wherever soldiers can feasibly go. Can go into the soldiers area, not really into the hotel kitchen, for example. Not foolproof because some enemies will see through your disguise- supervisors will know that you’re not one of their staff, for example. Scott? Several different ways to assassinate your targets Opportunities (hitman 1)/mission stories (other engines). Love the feeling you get when you see a bald white guy. Create your own Scott do you tend to follow mission stories or freestyle? NPCs respond to what you do. Interlocking systems give the immersive quality. If you have an idea, you can probably make it happen. Throw a coin, they’ll go pick it up Shoot your pistol, they’ll investigate where the bullet hit Poison someone’s drink, they’ll run to the bathroom Anything else I missed? Gunfighting? This is a competent 3rd person cover shooter if you want to play that way, but 47 can’t take very many hits so this is imo a bad way to play Typical level flow Start in 47’s default outfit Overhear a mission story Find a new disguise to help you access a new area Distract/incapacitate npcs, hide bodies, swap disguises Try to figure out how to get an opportunity to strike at the target Repeat for other targets Escape Levels- star of the show. very pretty, usually full of NPCs and their routines, attention to detail very good. Levels are big but not massive, allowing the devs to really set up these clockwork playgrounds. Paris (fashion show) Sapienza (small town and research lab) Marrakesh (streets/market, embassy and run-down school building) Bangkok (giant hotel) Denver (militia compound) Hokkaido (ultra-elite medical facility) This series has some of the most intricate, well-oiled level designs and NPC routine setups ever.We’ll share our specific experiences with the levels in the spoiler section. Scott without spoilers what are your thoughts on the levels? Story- In 1999, an unnamed man is initiated into the International Contract Agency (ICA) and demonstrates exceptional aptitude as an assassin. The ICA is unable to verify his background or uncover any information about him, which disturbs Erich Soders, the ICA's Training Director. With the help of his handler, Diana Burnwood, the initiate passes a final test that Soders had rigged against him. The man tells Diana to call him "47" and leaves to await further instructions. Twenty years later, 47 completes a series of contracts provided by Diana, who has risen to a senior position in the ICA. At first, the contracts appear to be unrelated, but Diana gradually uncovers information that an unknown individual referred to as the "Shadow Client" has covertly coordinated these contracts to attack a secretive organization called "Providence", whose existence and total control over world affairs were thought to be a myth. Lots of proper nouns, names, organizations, places, codenames, etc, extremely hard to follow for me but I don’t really care, the story serves its purpose to put 47 in these situations. It’s difficult to even consider anything a spoiler for me because it’s such a utilitarian story. Scott? Final thoughts, Do we recommend? At what price point? It was a rough adjustment when I first started playing, but I’m so glad I stuck through the initial struggles because this game is fantastic. It’s not going to be for everyone, like i said, you have to be willing to play the game on its terms, but it’s hard to think of a game that rewards you with your own little stories from playing the game as well as anything else I’ve ever played. Housekeeping - Thank you for listening! If you want to support the show, please subscribe on your platform of choice, leave us a rating and review if your platform allows it, and spread the good word! I also do a podcast called A Top 3 Podcast, where each week we pick a topic, pick our top 3s in that topic, and discuss. It’s a good time, so check that out if you want to hear us talk about other subjects. Scott was a guest on episode 15 where we talked about our top 3 video games of the past decade. SPOILER WALL Story? I do not have any special opinions about the story, it washes over me and I take in the vibe of secret society dealings, but I can’t bring myself to really care. Scott? Specific level experiences Paris First run Viktor- Mission story where Viktor has an interview in front of the building with an interviewer after I helped her find a camera lens. While he was doing the interview I shot him from a balcony. Dalia- Helmut Kruger mission. Don the disguise of the famous model and secure a 1 on 1 with Dalia after WALKING THE RUNWAY 47 so fabulous. Killed dalia during the 1 on 1 meeting. Unfortunately while escaping through the upper floors I ditched the Kruger disguise for the vampire magician disguise which makes everyone hostile to you, so I had a really hard time sneaking out of the level. Second run Viktor- did the mission story involving mixing his favorite drink. Hilarious that 47 just gets behind bar and starts slingin cocktails. Poisoned the drink with rat poison and drowned Viktor in the toilet Dalia- Overheard her assistant talking on the phone freaking out. I had picked up a laptop dongle earlier so I was looking for her laptop. Messing with the laptop causes the assistant to freak out and flee with a guard. I stuck a remote explosive under the desk and detonated it as I calmly walked out the back door and stole a helicopter. Sapienza- First run- don’t remember how I killed the woman. I think I impersonated a family friend and we went into an alley alone, where I killed her and dumped her body in a dumpster Silvio- impersonated the flower delivery man and used an explosive rubber duck when he visited the grave. Typing it out that way is pretty monstrous. Destroy the virus by going inside the quarantine area Second run Silvio- disguised as the therapist Dr Lafayette. 47 competently does a therapy session, then smothers him with a pillow while he’s lying on the couch. Francesca- found some evidence in a safe to show her. When she stepped out to make phone calls, she always stood next to an exposed wire, so turning on a nearby hose electrocuted her Destroy the virus by finding the doctor with the laptop dongle. Unfortunately I couldn’t isolate her so I just threw a wrench from the upper level where the laptop is, she wasn’t unconscious long but she dropped the dongle. Escape via seaplane. Marrakesh- First run- Reza- Prisoner being interrogated, impersonated the prisoner and killed him while he was gloating. Claus- Impersonated the masseuse inside the embassy. He says some pretty fucked up shit while he’s getting the massage, so it felt pretty good. Second run Reza- didn’t find any cool new mission stories so I did the print crew mission story to get into the school, then threw a screwdriver through a hole in the floor while he inspected the printing press Claus- impersonated the cameraman coming to do an interview. As soon as I saw a moose statue hanging over the spot he was sitting in, I knew that was the way to go. Bangkok- First run- Ken Morgan- sabotaged the tuk tuk to explode when he came to check on it Jordan Cross- The intervention where you play the tape of the girl he killed(?). Pretty satisfying conclusion. Second run- Ken- showed him up to his suite disguised as a housekeeper, where he belittles you. Then he does an EXTREMELY thorough toilet inspection- drowned Jordan- had to do the session drummer story. Pushed him off the roof. Very funny how he says 47 is “robotic” Denver- not my favorite level First run- really doesn’t stand out, can’t remember. No repeat Hokkaido- back to form First run- Yuki- Yoga class (47, to no surprise, is an excellent yoga instructor). Kick Yuki off the ledge into a hot spring Erich- sabotaged the robot surgeon Second run- Yuki- overheard her asking for fugu, so disguised myself as a sushi chef, made some fugu (poorly?) and killed her with it Erich- did the plastic surgery mission story, with the guy who wants to look like Helmut Kruger, to get into the surgery ward. Then sabotaged the defibrillator so it electrocuted him when I messed with the surgery AI.