News
Hitman 2: Silent Assassin Sneaks Its Way Onto GameCube
Producer Clayton Palma goes over the game’s most exciting features.
Sneaking around the back alley, across the park and through the abandoned pub on 2nd street, we move closer to our target. Relaxed, unaware of our presence, our target stays in position. With silent movements so quiet that even a dog couldn't hear us, we spread out and surround the area, ensuring that no matter what our target will not escape.
Inching closer and closer, things nearly go awry when someone steps on a twig, breaking it in two. Hardly noticeable to us, the broken twig made a sound that alerted the enemy.
Within a second of making that careless move, our target attempted to make a run for it. Cutting him off, we surrounded him, blocking off all exits. It was time to go in for the kill.
SQUASH!
"One ant down, 999,999,999,999,999 to go..."
Ever since the economy dropped, the GameZone staff has been forced to pursue additional career options. We knew a guy who had a brother whose friend desperately needed a hitman to take out some termites that had infiltrated his garage. Performing as well as we did, people from all around started giving us calls, asking us to rub out whoever stood in their way. Ants, roaches, wasps, you name it – we'll take care of it.
Looking for pointers on our newfound career, GameZone Online decided to speak with a professional in the field: Hitman 2 producer Clayton Palma.
Other than it being a fun profession, what made the game's lead character become a hitman? What's his story?
Clayton Palma: Without giving too much away, Hitman was born to kill. Actually, he was genetically engineered to be the ultimate assassin. In the first game, we learn about his origins and how his creator betrayed him. In Hitman 2, Hitman tries to live a peaceful life as a gardener in a Sicilian monastery, but he is eventually lured back into the business when some very bad guys kidnap the only person he considers a friend, the local priest.
Hitman 2 is going to have new audience on the 'Cube. What can GameCube owners (who are used to playing titles like Zelda and Luigi's Mansion) expect from this darker, grittier game?
CP: They can expect sophisticated stealth gameplay, intense action, and a memorable character doing what he does best.
Does Hitman 2 emphasize stealth, action, patience, or...?
CP: You pretty much have to use all these to accomplish your missions. I think we have an ideal balance of these elements.
Snipping weeds wasn’t very exciting, so ___ went back to sniping enemies.
Have any improvements been made or has any new content been added to the GameCube version?
CP: No new content, but the GC version does have a higher resolution than the PS2 version.
Most games have either a third or first-person view. What made the developers decide to give Hitman 2 both views?
CP: A first-person view was highly requested when the first Hitman game came out. Giving the player a choice of both views was the logical next step.
Aside from a shot to the head, what options do players have when taking out an enemy?
CP: Too numerous to really get in detail, but my favorite ones are the up-close and personal takedowns with the fiber wire or melee weapons like the katana and fireman's axe.
In what ways will the enemy attempt to stop the player from completing the mission? What battle tactics do enemies use?
CP: Our AI will give players a challenge. Alerting guards is an almost certain way of getting yourself killed, as they will radio for backup and take defensive positions.
Ahhhhh, a nice quiet dinner with family, friends,
and a hitman that wants to assassinate us.
This being a non-linear game, what consequences will result from making a bad decision?
CP: In most cases, bad decisions result in alerting your target or the guards. It doesn't necessarily mean that the game is over, but it does become much tougher and your overall rating will be lower.
How are the levels dispersed in the game – through missions, stages, or something else?
CP: The levels are broken down by missions and specific objectives within a certain region of the world. For instance, the levels set in St. Petersburg require the player to eliminate four generals in four memorable missions.
Beyond target elimination, what else will players do in the game? What tasks and objectives will be placed before them?
CP: Making the "hit" is always the foremost objective, but the Hitman will also need to rescue certain individuals. For example, you will need to lead an informant safely away from a high-security military base.
What are some of the environments that players will explore in Hitman 2? Does all of the game take place indoors?
CP: The game takes place both indoors and outdoors. We feature exotic locations around the globe: Sicily, St. Petersburg, Japan, Malaysia, and India.
Whether using a handgun or a crossbow, Hitman 2 is one deadly game.
Are there multiple story paths and/or multiple endings in Hitman 2?
CP: We have a single ending to Hitman 2, but how you get there is up to you.
Compared to the Xbox, PC and PS2 versions, where does Hitman 2 stand graphically?
CP: The game is basically the same on all platforms, though we did address a few minor gameplay issues. We are taking advantage of some of the special rendering hardware in the GameCube.
Was GameCube a difficult platform to work with?
CP: Absolutely not.
Did Nintendo request that you censor any of the game's violent content?
CP: Not at all. This title is definitely a mature title, but there is definitely a place for it in the GameCube lineup.
Thank you for your time.
For more information on Hitman 2: Silent Assassin, check out GameZone Online’s interview with the game’s composer, Jesper Kyd. Also be sure to check out our reviews of the game:
del.icio.us
Digg This
Glink It