New Hitman Details Stop IO Interactive From Getting “Silent Assassin” Rank

The good peeps at RipTen have poured through the newest issue of Edge Magazine with a comprehensive list of all the improvements (Instinct Mode), devolutions (New voice actor? What the hell!?) and general differences (New crowd… usage) to the series. The rundown of changes is rather long and contains quite a few advancements to, not just the series, but quite possibly the entire stealth genre itself.

If you’re new to the Hitman games, or just like watching people play dress up, you might like the view this YouTube Channel. It will give you a pleasant taste of a great series, but also help you to understand how the addition of a threat meter in the middle of the screen, or a series of checkpoints in levels, might be a big help.

So, if the thought of watching a uniformed Agent 47 gorge himself on donuts for hours on end gives you strange feelings in the undercarriage, check out the full list after the break.

• The game is set in Chicago.
• Tons of time has been spent making core movement and controls very responsive.
• IO’s Glacier 2 engine supposedly offers fantastic facial animations.
• Optional cover system allows the use of cover mechanics without actually being in cover.
• Instinct mode highlights enemies and patrols with a glowing red through walls, similar to Arkham Asylum’s detective mode. It also replaces the map screen from the previous Hitman titles.
• A mini map will highlight points of interest.
• The Threat meter is now a grey circle in the middle of the screen that flickers in directions where enemies may spot 47.
• The more eyes on you, the faster your threat meter will fill.
• Lots of environmental weapons, unique to each location such as a lamp cord being used as a garrote.
• Taking hostages return, but the AI is smarter and won’t just start shooting at you.
• Levels are divided into checkpoints for the first time in the Hitman series.
• Many levels will be as large and open-ended as the levels from previous Hitman games, but some others will be tighter, more focused sandboxes.
• IO’s goal is to build a greater variety of gameplay challenges around the core game, rather than changing it. Scripted action sequences will make an appearance.
• Some levels are very story driven and others are way more explorative.
• Having a disguise doesn’t mean you’ll be able to fool everybody or bluff your way past a group of NPCs.
• Instinct mode increases disguise effectiveness. Cops in the demo questioned 47′s movements while he’s disguised as a police man, then he enters instinct mode and uses his police radio walking straight past the cops and fools them.
• 47′s handler, Diana, is now played by Marsha Thomason.
• There will also be designated safe spots for use with certain disguises, such as walking up to a box of doughnuts disguised as a cop.
• Safe spots will keep you completely safe for as long as you want, even if the room is filled with enemies.
• Crowds will be used very differently.
• 47′s long time voice actor will not return. No name was given for a replacement.
• The Glacier 2 engine offers real-time AI editing.
• AI will react dynamically to your actions.

The game has the hazy release date of “2012,” and will be released for PC, Xbox 360 and the PS3.