Hitman: Blood Money

Hitman: Blood Money is the stealth game released in early 2006 and produced by IO Interactive and Eidos Interactive.

The story follows the bald clone assassin Agent 47 formerly seen in the earlier hitman Games (Hitman: Codename 47, Hitman 2: Silent Assassin and Hitman contracts.)

As the game starts you are greeted with a small cinematic and the menu screen with a haunting rendition of “Ave Maria” playing throughout. The game begins with a flashback at a Baltimore amusement park, where dozens die in an accident caused by negligent maintenance of a Ferris wheel. The father of one of the victims calls the Agency and orders a hit on the park owner, who was cleared of all charges. 47, on the run from competitors from Europe, carries out the hit; following that assignment, he receives a string of contracts from American clients eager to hire the legendary hitman.

The game minus the last level is set in a flashback sequences that occur leading up to the present day, in which a reporter and former head of the FBI, Leland “Jack” Alexander discuss 47’s career in the previous couple of years (2004-2005) The reporter arranged to interview Alexander concerning a recent attack on the White House (an important plot point). It quickly becomes clear that Alexander's real intent is to discuss 47. The game focuses on how the organization 47 works for “The Agency” is being targeted by a similar company simply named “The Franchise”

With The Agency’s employees systematically being eliminated by A mysterious Albino clone. Eventually 47’s handler Diana is forced to shut the agency down with her and 47 being the only remaining employees left. But that's not the end of the story, Don't look at me I'm not spoiling it.

The game had many more features that the previous games did not including;

• the ability to make the hit look accidental
• the ability to use an NPC as a human shield
• the ability to upgrade your certain weapons
• an all new “Notoriety” System making it easier for Guards to see through your disguise
• a newspaper article documenting the details in how you completed each level
• the ability to use improvised weapons e.g Hedge cutters, Nailgun

Hitman: Blood Money is well worth taking a look at with the almost endless ways each level can be completed. The game is available on PlayStation 2, Xbox, Xbox 360 and PC.