Hitman Absolution -- The Living Breathing World

[Frag Maniac]

I've yet to even see what the game looks like without SSAO, but I value anything that adds to the light and shadow in a game like this that makes such good use of them for stealth, even if if means a slightly blurrier looking AA with FXAA vs MSAA.

[raptori]

Hitman Absolution CTD with "nvidia driver stopped working and recovered successfully " with 310.61 beta driver and previous beta any help ??

[newtekie1]

The display driver crashing is generally a sign of hardware instability.

[CounterZeus]

Try a system restore for the driver problem

[RCoon]

Originally Posted by raptori

Hitman Absolution CTD with "nvidia driver stopped working and recovered successfully " with 310.61 beta driver and previous beta any help ??

Lower you overclock/voltage

[Techtu]

Anyone here running a 7950 or close to?

I think I'm getting low benchmarks with my card:

min fps:24.00
max fps:38.00
average fps:30.45

EDIT: Settings are on high - 1080p

[Guitarrassdeamor]

Depends on what settings and res you're playing at...



Not playing the point system = me playing this as a TPS. :shrug:

[Frag Maniac]

Well, just finished the game last night. Uh, I think I spoke too soon with my previous raves. Turns out I was only 20% through the game at that point, and then it started getting pretty crazy. Seems most of the characters in the game are like psychos from a comic book. Whether it be Blake Dexter, his son Lenny, Wade, Birdie, or those whacko "Saints", it appears they were intent on giving the game a whimsical tongue in cheek nature that doesn't seem to fit a Hitman game. Even a lot of the thugs sound overly dense, as if from a Batman game. Just when I'm thinking they're portraying 47 himself as being off put by it, evidenced by the oft smirking expressions he's rendered with, he's donning a short silk robe that has him looking far too effeminate.

I'm sorry, as much as I like some of the graphics and gameplay elements, there's just too much about this game that is odd or annoying. The hand to hand is ridiculous, you have to hope you never have to use it, and the disguises I find even on Normal can be too easily detected. Now I know why the developer commentary of the gameplay demo videos had them laughing a lot. It seems they put whatever twisted ideas they thought would be amusing to themselves in this game, without any concern for traditional Hitman fans. Rather than keeping with Hman's serious tone, they went off on a fantastical joyride that at times looks like the kind of bizarre comedy Remedy put in the original Max Payne games, except here it clearly doesn't fit.

In short, Hitman Absolution is candy coated graphics in a dysfunctional, redneck amusement park world that just shows how much the series has lost it's way. It's "Instinct" blending is too contrived and flawed, it's detection system either too forgiving or too restrictive, and it's save system is a joke. I've had times where some cops while wearing a cop disguise will completely ignore me or pester the fuck out of me, and AI at times can spot you doing something suspicious from far away, while at others you can get out of a closet right in front of them. The checkpoints when you load them bring back literally ALL of the enemies you'd killed in that area up to that point, which negates any reward of struggling to get to them without detection locking them out.

[WhiteLotus]

Originally Posted by Frag Maniac

Well, just finished the game last night. Uh, I think I spoke too soon with my previous raves. Turns out I was only 20% through the game at that point, and then it started getting pretty crazy. Seems most of the characters in the game are like psychos from a comic book. Whether it be Blake Dexter, his son Lenny, Wade, Birdie, or those whacko "Saints", it appears they were intent on giving the game a whimsical tongue in cheek nature that doesn't seem to fit a Hitman game. Even a lot of the thugs sound overly dense, as if from a Batman game. Just when I'm thinking they're portraying 47 himself as being off put by it, evidenced by the oft smirking expressions he's rendered with, he's donning a short silk robe that has him looking far too effeminate.

I'm sorry, as much as I like some of the graphics and gameplay elements, there's just too much about this game that is odd or annoying. The hand to hand is ridiculous, you have to hope you never have to use it, and the disguises I find even on Normal can be too easily detected. Now I know why the developer commentary of the gameplay demo videos had them laughing a lot. It seems they put whatever twisted ideas they thought would be amusing to themselves in this game, without any concern for traditional Hitman fans. Rather than keeping with Hman's serious tone, they went off on a fantastical joyride that at times looks like the kind of bizarre comedy Remedy put in the original Max Payne games, except here it clearly doesn't fit.

In short, Hitman Absolution is candy coated graphics in a dysfunctional, redneck amusement park world that just shows how much the series has lost it's way. It's "Instinct" blending is too contrived and flawed, it's detection system either too forgiving or too restrictive, and it's save system is a joke. I've had times where some cops while wearing a cop disguise will completely ignore me or pester the fuck out of me, and AI at times can spot you doing something suspicious from far away, while at others you can get out of a closet right in front of them. The checkpoints when you load them bring back literally ALL of the enemies you'd killed in that area up to that point, which negates any reward of struggling to get to them without detection locking them out.

I really thought that would be the case. It's like they just didn't take it seriously.

[Frag Maniac]

Well I've been playing it some more, this time on Hard. I'm nearly 40% through and have yet to kill any non target enemies or be detected. Stealth is seeming easier than my Normal run just due to finding routes I wasn't aware of. Not sure about the scoring system though. Is it impossible to get Silent Assassin on levels that don't have a kill target? A lot of sub levels I'm scoring Specialist on and one level I scored Shadow overall.

I'm at the Orphanage now though, so it's going to be tougher to evade all the goons. Just going to keep looking for unknown routes and things to toss. I'm noticing a lot more environment hazards to use, but some I had to leave for another run through. A couple of them at the New Year's festival seem like they might be interesting, especially one involving what appears to be intimate shock treatment. LOL

[rickss69]

My first run-through of this game has been like this...Kill all the bad guys first, then stay in the level until I have exterminated every living soul. Not even trying to be stealthy lol.







I don't think run and gun is going to work on this final level haha...

[jboydgolfer]

@ Rickss69 , I was running setting's @ almost that Exact Level , Then @ the Hotel mission ,where you Have your First run in with that Ridiculous Dwarf legged , Giant torso'd Mexican Guy. I Maxed them ALL out Just to See what would happen. I noticed there was Close to NO performance hit from changing to the Max setting's for me, and My GPU is a Bit older. You May wanna give it a try. I was happy with the change, and just thought I'd mention it.

Have Fun
F.Y.I. That's My H.M. tactic also, Run 'n' Gun

[jboydgolfer]

Also for those who May like to know. (SPOILER ALERT)
I found the Chipmunk Secret location on Dexter Industries II in the Tool Shed outside the factory ,by the Dog cage with the barking Mutt.I don't know how many there are, but I know there is also one in China Town as well.

For those of you who Care

[rickss69]

It probably aint gonna work on this level lol...

[rickss69]

Originally Posted by jboydgolfer

Also for those who May like to know. (SPOILER ALERT)
I found the Chipmunk Secret location on Dexter Industries II in the Tool Shed outside the factory ,by the Dog cage with the barking Mutt.I don't know how many there are, but I know there is also one in China Town as well.

For those of you who Care

Yeah, I found it too...looked goofy as hell sliding along a ledge haha! Works pretty good as a disquise tho.

[rickss69]

Just managed to kill every Agency member from this vantage point except for one...could not coax him into range no matter what I tried lol. Unorthodox method I know, but geez what fun! Going to try this level again to see if I can down 100%...I may try to record it this time.

[Frag Maniac]

Yeah I played some levels with the kill em all method my first run. On Normal that spot wasn't so difficult going loud, but on Hard I'm going for the stealth score, which should be a bit harder. If I were you I'd up the settings though. You don't need 60 FPS average in this game for smooth gameplay. You can get by on 40 or less. What is your GPU btw? I only see 5800 series listed and your sys spec doesn't show the GPU. Can't wait to crank this game up with the 7970 I just ordered.

[rickss69]

Originally Posted by Frag Maniac

Yeah I played some levels with the kill em all method my first run. On Normal that spot wasn't so difficult going loud, but on Hard I'm going for the stealth score, which should be a bit harder. If I were you I'd up the settings though. You don't need 60 FPS average in this game for smooth gameplay. You can get by on 40 or less. What is your GPU btw? I only see 5800 series listed and your sys spec doesn't show the GPU. Can't wait to crank this game up with the 7970 I just ordered.

Here are the settings I'm using atm...this is with a single HD 5850. Going to try that level again on Purist.

[newtekie1]

I've been playing through my first run using stealth as much as possible. However, once my cover is blown I'll run through the level killing anything that moves exploring so I can get the layout. Then I'll reload the checkpoint.

My next playthrough I'll be less cautious.

[rickss69]

Here is the Cemetery level played on Purist setting...lots of fun! (Video finally uploaded)


http://youtu.be/ZSuCmO_41Lw

One small confession...I went nearly through the entire game not knowing what "Intuition" was lol. Only used it in one level (Dexter) because I found it impossible to get past the Agency fellows. If anyone was able to sneak past them without it please tell how you did it.

[Frag Maniac]

Does anyone else hate using the player activated checkpoints in this game? The Rosewood orphanage is a prime example of how poorly it's implemented. I cleared a couple sections of thugs and took time pacifying them and hiding the bodies, only to find after reloading the checkpoint they're not only all there again, they're patrolling differently so I kept getting walked in on!

I had to retry it several times from the start of the elevator shaft just to get to know the proper methods and finally finished it with no activated checkpoints. Geez, if they're going to put those in, at least make some sense to having them.

Got Silent Assassin on Shaving Lenny this time. I hadn't even noticed the barber shop last time and kinda screwed up a lot of it. I DID however use a player checkpoint in that level because thankfully it's one that has one placed well where you can use it as a linear continuation point without worrying about respawning thugs. Then again, it's a level that can be played via no pacifying or disguises in the first part. I found it ridiculous that you can

Spoiler

get away with pacifying Lenny via a rather clumsy punch to the side of the head right in front of a cop sitting behind the barber chairs as he falls to the floor, so I tossed a bottle in front of the cop from behind him and pacified and hid him just to make it feel more realistic.

I also found it rather disappointing that the 3rd one in the first part of that level walks near the car repair lift, but won't walk under it when you toss something under the car to try and get an accident kill.

I also found the way to kill Wade via Silent Assassin and get past all the thugs with no pacifying or killing. Man, it's too easy, at least on Hard anyway. I guess that means it will be too hard on Purist. LOL

There's a lot of little frustrations that weigh either on the too easy or too hard side in this game regarding AI. I kinda had mixed emotions watching the Burning Hope making of documentary, because while they can say it's a rather complex game with a lot to it, it also needs some serious polishing in some regards.

[RevengE]

This game is great Minus the few hits that are cutscenes. I never read reviews because it seems everyone has something to bitch about no matter what the game is. its worth it if you're a Hitman series fan. Contracts mode online is fun as well.

[rickss69]

Have been unable to complete this one on Purist setting yet...still great fun with no stealth and shotgun only. (Video just uploaded and still processing)

http://youtu.be/iLusXKv75vs

[FordGT90Concept]

Just beat it one normal difficulty getting "Suit Only" on all levels, Infiltrator (do not be spotted) on most, and Silent Assassin on almost every mission that involved killing someone. My "Absolution Score" on that run through was over 3.2 million.


It's the best Hitman game to date. I think it is likely to get many GotY awards.


I probably wasted the most time on Shaving Lenny. In the end, I finally just started throwing stuff to lure them up to the second floor balcony where I subdued them. I cleared out the entire first floor that way (including Lenny himself) without being spotted. Only the one guy that paces between TV, oven, and BBQ was left and without anyone down there to see me, I dispatched him easily.

That mission would have been easy to get Silent Assassin on using disguises (use barbor outfit).

[INSTG8R]

Well I tried to play it as sneaky and by the book as I could through out the whole thing UNTIL I got to that Cemetery level Could not find a way to clean it up enough to sneak thru it unseen. That one and the level after it was just guns blazing get it done and get out.

I am waiting to see what IO does with the disguises. They have officially acknowledged their ineffectiveness so I suspect they will get a bit of a buff. Once they sort that out I will start another play though.