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[Review] ‘Hitman’ Deconstruction of an Assassination
Agent 47 is back in the latest “Hitman” entry. This time around, Io-Interactive gives us a bit of a rebooted experience. No worries though, it keeps 47’s past intact and helps to build a richer history in the Hitman-verse by showing how he came to work with his handler, Diana Burnwood and his entry into the ICA.
I point that out, because “reboot” has the tendency to be a nasty word to fans of things that were already established. In fact, I was hesitant about this “Hitman” entry, when I heard that dreaded word, “Reboot.” Lucky for us fans of the franchise, I swallowed my hesitancy and expectation and it turns out, there is no reason to worry.
“Hitman” takes Agent 47 back 20 years, following his escape from the asylum in Romania (story from the first Hitman title). 47 is chosen by the ICA due to his particular skill set. While the head of the ICA has his doubts about 47 and his untraceable past , ICA handler, Diana Burnwood sees something special about 47 and demands he be given a fair chance at proving himself.
Agent 47 is given two simulation missions of past ICA operations. These act as a test to see if 47 is a capable silent assassin, while also reintroducing gamers to the stealth action they are used to from other “Hitman” titles.
The first location challenges you to assassinate a art thief named Kalvin “The Sparrow” Ritter. The Second location puts the crosshairs on a Soviet spy named Jasper Knight on who is located on a Cuban airfield.
If you have the skill and cunning to pass these tests, the ICA will send 47 on a mission to Paris.
The Showstopper mission takes place during a fashion show at Palais De Walewska. You are given instruction to take out spy organization IAGO operatives, Dahlia Margolis and Viktor Novikov. While ,Novikov is preoccupied with the fashion show downstairs, Margolis is holding an auction upstairs. The auction being held sells secrets to bidders from all over the world.
“Hitman” carefully deconstructs each location to give you freedom of choice as to how you dispatch your target. The magic and addictive nature of “Hitman” lies in how it focuses on allowing you to play through the same location, in order to incorporate different assassination techniques. It also allows for approaches that involve going in silent or loud.
For example, you might take the straight up-close and personal garrote kill, or perhaps, a knife across your targets throat, the first time around. You are then allowed to revisit using a different means of attack that could involve poisoning your target or causing a chandelier to drop on their unsuspecting heads. Different disguises will allow you to infiltrate certain areas, while others will gain suspicion. The choice is truly in your hands and that makes “Hitman” another fantastic entry to the series.
Your level of perfection, will dictate what rating you get when the mission is over. You are able to reach all the way up to a five-star silent assassin rating. In order to do that you will have to strategize your mission in great detail.
Escalation is a new mode in “Hitman,” it challenges you to go back into the location and to take out different targets in the Palais. Each time you attempt an Escalation mission challenges are added. For example, you have to take out two targets, hack a computer, assassinate a target with a certain outfit or weapon and overcome obstacles like laser triggered mines.
Time sensitive targets also become available for a limited amount of hours. Elusive Targets appear in-game for a certain amount of time and only give you one chance to take them out, before they escape. These targets will come with their own back story and are said to be released randomly between episode releases.
“Hitman” sticks to the same gameplay we have seen in previous entires ,while tightening up the controls and revamping the graphics to look as sleek as 47 himself. Io-Interactive gives gamers a reason to come back and revisit locations by creating a living sandbox that has a painstaking attention to detail.
The major thing that sets “Hitman” apart from previous titles is its episodic structure. In this “intro pack” we are given the prologue (two training missions) and the Paris Showstopper mission. Seven locations are set to release through the year, each will take us further into 47’s story while offering new locations and challenges to overcome as you see fit.
The episodic release model allows gamers to really take in and enjoy the levels, as opposed to finishing a level and moving onto the next without a second thought. For me, giving me the game in portions made me enjoy “Hitman” in a way I was unable to previously. I have been a fan of 47 since the beginning but I was guilty of taking out my target with one single method, moving on to the next level and rushing through the game. This entry lets you stop and smell the death flowers and give you a richer experience for doing so.
“Hitman” is out now on PS4, Xbox One and PC.
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Movies
Trailer for ‘The Exorcism’ Has Russell Crowe Possessed
The latest exorcism movie is about to drop this summer. It’s aptly titled The Exorcism and it stars Academy Award winner turned B-movie savant Russell Crowe. The trailer dropped today and by the looks of it, we are getting a possession movie that takes place on a movie set.
Just like this year’s recent demon-in-media-space film Late Night With the Devil, The Exorcism happens during a production. Although the former takes place on a live network talk show, the latter is on an active sound stage. Hopefully, it won’t be entirely serious and we’ll get some meta chuckles out of it.
The film will open in theaters on June 7, but since Shudder also acquired it, it probably won’t be long after that until it finds a home on the streaming service.
Crowe plays, “Anthony Miller, a troubled actor who begins to unravel while shooting a supernatural horror film. His estranged daughter, Lee (Ryan Simpkins), wonders if he’s slipping back into his past addictions or if there’s something more sinister at play. The film also stars Sam Worthington, Chloe Bailey, Adam Goldberg and David Hyde Pierce.”
Crowe did see some success in last year’s The Pope’s Exorcist mostly because his character was so over-the-top and infused with such comical hubris it bordered on parody. We will see if that is the route actor-turned-director Joshua John Miller takes with The Exorcism.
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News
Win a Stay at The Lizzie Borden House From Spirit Halloween
Spirit Halloween has declared that this week marks the start of spooky season and to celebrate they are offering fans a chance to stay at the Lizzie Borden House with so many perks Lizzie herself would approve.
The Lizzie Borden House in Fall River, MA is claimed to be one of the most haunted houses in America. Of course one lucky winner and up to 12 of their friends will find out if the rumors are true if they win the grand prize: A private stay in the notorious house.
“We are delighted to work with Spirit Halloween to roll out the red carpet and offer the public a chance to win a one-of-a-kind experience at the infamous Lizzie Borden House, which also includes additional haunted experiences and merchandise,” said Lance Zaal, President & Founder of US Ghost Adventures.
Fans can enter to win by following Spirit Halloween‘s Instagram and leaving a comment on the contest post from now through April 28.
The prize also includes:
An exclusive guided house tour, including insider insight around the murder, the trial, and commonly reported hauntings
A late-night ghost tour, complete with professional ghost-hunting gear
A private breakfast in the Borden family dining room
A ghost hunting starter kit with two pieces of Ghost Daddy Ghost Hunting Gear and a lesson for two at US Ghost Adventures Ghost Hunting Course
The ultimate Lizzie Borden gift package, featuring an official hatchet, the Lizzie Borden board game, Lily the Haunted Doll, and America’s Most Haunted Volume II
Winner’s choice of a Ghost Tour experience in Salem or a True Crime experience in Boston for two
“Our Halfway to Halloween celebration provides fans an exhilarating taste of what’s to come this fall and empowers them to start planning for their favorite season as early as they please,” said Steven Silverstein, CEO of Spirit Halloween. “We have cultivated an incredible following of enthusiasts who embody the Halloween lifestyle, and we’re thrilled to bring the fun back to life.”
Spirit Halloween is also preparing for their retail haunted houses. On Thursday, August 1 their flagship store in Egg Harbor Township, NJ. will officially open to start off the season. That event usually draws in hordes of people eager to see what new merch, animatronics, and exclusive IP goods will be trending this year.
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Movies
’28 Years Later’ Trilogy Taking Shape With Serious Star Power
Danny Boyle is revisiting his 28 Days Later universe with three new films. He will direct the first, 28 Years Later, with two more to follow. Deadline is reporting that sources say Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Ralph Fiennes have been cast for the first entry, a sequel to the original. Details are being kept under wraps so we don’t know how or if the first original sequel 28 Weeks Later fits into the project.
Boyle will direct the first movie but it’s unclear which role he will take on in the subsequent films. What is known is Candyman (2021) director Nia DaCosta is scheduled to direct the second film in this trilogy and that the third will be filmed immediately afterward. Whether DaCosta will direct both is still unclear.
Alex Garland is writing the scripts. Garland is having a successful time at the box office right now. He wrote and directed the current action/thriller Civil War which was just knocked out of the theatrical top spot by Radio Silence’s Abigail.
There is no word yet on when, or where, 28 Years Later will start production.
The original film followed Jim (Cillian Murphy) who wakes from a coma to find that London is currently dealing with a zombie outbreak.
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