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Hitman GO was the first title in Square Enix Montreal’s GO trilogy, and what a great IP to start off this series of puzzle games! The patience and methodical approach that Hitman games require complement GO’s chess-like game mechanics perfectly. Although the GO format could not replicate the tension and occasional need for improvisation from the mainline Hitman games, it put its own spin on the strategizing gameplay. Thus, Hitman GO is more like an extension of the Hitman franchise, an entry that is unique and familiar at the same time.
I used to play the Microsoft App Store version of Hitman GO on my Surface tablet often. It was the closest thing to a full-fledged Hitman game on a mobile device at the time. Although it has long since been delisted, I can still play it on my Windows desktop. Playing it recently made me realize how poorly the original graphics scale up on a desktop monitor. Hence, I decided to pick up Hitman GO: Definitive Edition.
The “Definitive Edition” moniker signifies the game having improved graphics and all the bonus content that the mobile versions have. Are the visual improvements noticeable! The high-end board game aesthetics – sharp, clean and bright – are more appealing than ever. Agent 47 and the enemies are in the forms of molded game pieces; and each game piece type being visually distinctive contributes to Hitman GO’s chess or high-end board game art design.
The eight types of enemies (e.g., single standing guards, patrolling guards, dogs, snipers) add variety and challenge to the 91 levels that spread across 7 episodes. Each level has its own set of mission objectives (e.g., no kills, X turns or fewer, collect briefcase), which when completed will earn players objective points for unlocking episodes of higher difficulty. At 7 episodes, 91 levels and over 200 objectives, Hitman GO is a challenging game with high replayability. There is certainly a lot of content for a game at its current price point.
While I rave about Hitman GO’s simplistic but stimulating gameplay as well as its art direction, I find it somewhat annoying that the Definitive Edition adopted the mouse-click-and-drag control scheme that would eventually make its way to Lara Croft GO. This control scheme is slightly awkward, but not a deal breaker. It just irks me that the Microsoft App Store version supports touchscreen and keyboard controls, but the “Definitive Edition” doesn’t.
Despite that one shortcoming, Hitman GO: Definitive Edition is a must-play for casual puzzle game fans and Hitman enthusiasts. Even if you have the original version like I, the fact that Definitive Edition is worth re-purchasing. After all, it’s essentially the mobile game but with improved graphics that look gorgeous on a desktop monitor and modern mobile PC gaming devices. So, whether it is on sale or sold at regular price, you should add this game to your collection.