The Hitman series has come a long way. Originally a PC title, the series has ended up on the PlayStation 2, Xbox, and even on the Gamecube (with Hitman 2). The last Hitman game to come out (Contracts) was a decent adventure, but did little to change the formula of the series and also reused some levels from the original game. Now, Agent 47 is returning in a new game, Hitman: Blood Money.

There haven’t been any major screenshots of the game yet, but so far based on the artwork Io Interactive has revealed, it seems as though Blood Money will certainly keep the dark atmosphere that the series is known for. This new Hitman game is powered by the newest version of Io’s Glacier engine, so there is no doubt that the game will look gorgeous.

Unlike Contracts, which was delved into the mind of 47 (and his past missions), Blood Money contains an all new storyline. His contract agency, the ICA, is being systematically taken out by a new and bigger agency. Fearing that he may be next, 47 heads over to America, and this is where the game will begin.

One of the major changes that Blood Money introduces is a new money system. Agent 47 now earns cash for each successful mission, and how the player spends this money will affect what weapons he has access to, and even what path he takes through the game. This will hopefully encourage replay value, and perhaps there are even multiple paths through the game (though this has not yet been confirmed).

So far, Hitman: Blood Money sounds like it is coming along quite nicely. Hopefully the new monetary system will improve the classic Hitman formula, and provide hours of stealth/action fun. With the new improvements to Io’s Glacier engine, hopefully the game will feel new, and not just like an expansion pack (which Contracts essentially was). The game will see worldwide release in the spring, so be sure to give it a look.

Chris Dahlberg