Hitman 3

Pros

• Some of the most creative level design around
• Solid mix of puzzle solving, improvisation, and action
• Dizzying number of game modes

Cons

• Basic content can be beat fairly quickly

Hitman 3 is the latest in the reboot of the venerable puzzle-driven sandbox assassination series. As with the earlier games in the series, the real reward comes from setting up a diabolical chain of events that dispatches your targets without you ever being noticed. Hitman 3 may ostensibly be an action game, but its real rewards come from improvisation and exploration.

What really makes it work is the fact that each level is a delicately crafted dollhouse. While practically any weapon you find can be used to dispatch your targets - and everyone can be killed - a run-and-gun approach will usually lead to your death or a sloppy score at the very least. Success at Hitman 3 requires a creative mind, a full understanding of the map, and a willingness to explore the logic of the characters and environment.

These densely packed environments with their complex chains of interrelated environments are as much the star of the show as assassin Agent 47, and there's a whole lot of diversity in the settings the developers have chosen. From a stately English manor to the crowded streets of Dubai, each environment is distinct. And each of these environments is designed to be played again and again, as discovering the different signature assassinations is half the fun of playing Hitman 3.

Six maps are available in the initial release, with more likely to come. The story mode puts you through each of these maps with one or more distinct assassination targets, and there's plenty of opportunities to replay the game thanks to the smart scoring system. But online play and ongoing support bring a whole wealth of new options to play. Escalation missions really test your understanding of maps and mechanics. While they start as easy assassinations, later rounds stack on increasingly confining parameters for success.

In fact, it's unlikely that you'll ever run out of content. The story mode and escalation modes provide a staggering amount of content in their own right, but they're further complemented by missions that have been created by other users. And you can also count on continued support in the game, with special events that are only available for a limited time and offer unique and special rewards for completion.

Pros

• Some of the most creative level design around
• Solid mix of puzzle solving, improvisation, and action
• Dizzying number of game modes

Cons

• Basic content can be beat fairly quickly