Review: Hitman World Of Assassination
It’s time for IO Interactive to make another attempt at bringing Hitman into the realm of Virtual Reality. While past efforts have struggled to captivate the VR audience, the excitement surrounding this new release, particularly with the impressive hybrid game performance on the PSVR2, is palpable. I’ve been busy eliminating my targets in this latest version—does it choke out the earlier iterations?
Release Date: March 27th 2025
Developer: IO Interactive
Publisher: IO Interactive
Price: Base Game: £57.99 / VR add-on: £7.99
Reviewed On: PlayStation VR2
* Access Provided For Review *
Become Agent 47
To begin with, World of Assassination grants you access to Hitman, Hitman 2, and Hitman 3, allowing you to immerse yourself in the entire trilogy through virtual reality. This offers exceptional value for your investment, making it one of the most content-rich VR games on the market. When you factor in the downloadable content and special timed events, you’ll discover numerous incentives to keep coming back for more.
Previous iterations of the game have been released, but each one was plagued by its own set of problems that hindered an immersive experience—ranging from awkward controls to versions that were nearly unplayable. However, I’m pleased to share that the PlayStation VR2 edition has finally delivered the VR experience the series has long deserved. Players now have complete control and can utilise both hands right from the start, which is crucial for immersion and for embodying a formidable assassin like Agent 47. While it’s not without its flaws, this is a significant advancement that the game truly needed.
If you haven’t experienced a Hitman game yet, prepare to be transported to various global locations and diverse environments where you’ll need to eliminate specific targets and fulfil your missions. The method you choose for your assassinations, along with the equipment you select, can significantly alter your gameplay. During your initial playthrough, it’s crucial to observe your target’s movements and assess the level of support and security they have at their disposal before making your move. As you progress through missions and complete objectives, you’ll be rewarded with a progression system that unlocks new tools and weapons. This means that your strategy for tackling each level can evolve dramatically with each attempt.
While working on this, it’s crucial to keep your cover intact, as some foes can see through your disguise. If you’re discovered in a restricted area, if you are caught incapacitate someone who isn’t your target, or eliminating your target, your cover will be compromised. At that point, your choices are to flee, find a hiding spot, or acquire a new disguise to blend in with the staff or the crowd. Once the search for you concludes, you can resume your mission in your new guise. However, as previously mentioned, there are alternative approaches to completing your objectives. If you’re feeling adventurous, you might choose to forgo a disguise and attempt to stealthily reach your target—ultimately, the choice is yours.
Now that you have both hands available, the assassinations and take-downs feel much more intimate. You can reach out to subdue targets, use your garrote wire, shoot them, or even grab items like fire extinguishers, tools, and knives to throw at their heads. This new method also introduces the crucial manual reload feature, which I find essential for a game like Hitman. However, there are still some aspects of the game that aren’t fully optimised for VR, such as certain button-press interactions for opening doors, vaulting over obstacles, and climbing. The climbing feature transitions to a third-person perspective, and I would really appreciate the option to climb or edge along ledges in VR. It’s essential to keep in mind that this is a hybrid game with VR being added, so certain limitations are
Stunning Locations
The PS5 and PSVR2 bring Hitman to life in VR like never before. Each location you explore is as visually stunning in virtual reality as it is on a flat screen, but the experience of being immersed in these diverse countries and environments elevates the game to a whole new level. The attention to detail is remarkable, with NPCs populating each area more richly than ever seen in VR. The vibrant atmosphere of the nightclub, navigating through the dance floor, attending the fashion show, or enjoying the racecourse truly showcases the game’s brilliance.
Every setting I encountered on the PSVR2 was visually impressive on the OLED displays, which deliver deep blacks and vibrant colors. The neon-lit streets of Chongqing were particularly breathtaking. Having never felt such immersion in previous attempts to bring Hitman to virtual reality, the combination of stunning visuals, lively crowds, and enhanced controls makes this the ultimate way to experience the game, whether in VR or not.
The audio quality in this hybrid version of the flatscreen game meets all expectations for the series. I have no issues to report. The voice acting is strong across all characters, the environmental sounds are immersive for each location, and the weapon sounds are exactly as they should be.
Comfort
The Verdict
Hitman World of Assassination on PSVR2 finally delivers the VR experience the series has long awaited. This version takes full advantage of all the features that enhance virtual reality gameplay. The ability to perform actions with both hands, combined with the stunning visuals on Sony’s hardware and the precise tracking of the controllers, significantly enriches the gameplay experience. Players can enjoy the campaigns from Hitman, Hitman 2, and Hitman 3, along with DLC, timed events, and various approaches to complete each mission, providing an abundance of content for your investment and making it one of the most content-rich experiences in VR. While there are some minor shortcomings in the virtual reality implementation, this remains the ultimate way to step into the shoes of Agent 47, not just in VR but in general. If you have a PSVR2, make sure to add this to your library without delay.