Hitman: Absolution – A Flawed But Interesting Detour on Switch
Feral interactive’s recent Switch eShop release of Hitman: Absolution arrives with a reputation as โฃthe outlier in the Hitman series. Originally released in 2012, it wasโฃ often criticized for prioritizing โaโค cinematic narrative over the series’ hallmark of open-ended player freedom. Tho, with the success of IO Interactive’s World of Assassination trilogy, a โretrospective look at Absolution reveals aโข unique entry with its โown โmerits, much like a re-evaluation of Resident โขEvil 6.
While notโ a perfect experience,Hitman: Absolution offers a compelling,if diffrent,take on the Agent 47 formula.It serves as a fascinating step โin the evolution of the series, laying groundwork for future titles, including the upcoming 007 First Light.
Gameplay revolves around identifying and eliminating targets with aโ focus on stealth.โค Players are โฃencouraged toโ achieve a high stealth rating, though direct confrontation is also viable. Utilizing environmental “accidents” remains โa key tactic, and the game features โฃInstinct Mode – activated by holding ‘R’ – which highlightsโข enemies, items, and potential traps to aidโ in planning.
Disguises allow โคaccess โคto restricted areas, butโ guards are adept at recognizing imposters. Instinct โMode can definitely help bypass suspicion, but its use is limited by a finite resource that isโค replenished by eliminating โฃguards and completing challenges.The game encourages โขplayers to relyโข on their own observation skills โrather than overusing Instinct Mode for a more engaging experience.
Compared to later Hitman games, Absolution features โคsmaller, moreโ focused levels. This reflects the increased emphasis โฃon storytelling. Players โคwill find themselves relying more on coverโ and close-quarters maneuvering than the open-world blending seen in other entries. This linearity was a point of contention upon the game’s initial release, but the game still provides multiple approaches to target elimination.
The โSwitch version โof hitman: Absolution runs at 30fps with occasional performance dips, notablyโ inโ crowded areas.Visuals have been scaledโ back, but the game โคremains aesthetically pleasing, complemented by a consistently strong musical score.
Feral โฃInteractive has announced a free upgrade for theโ upcoming Switch 2 console in 2026, which will include an additional Contracts Mode. However,โ Hitman: Absolution โข onโ the current Switch is a solid, if โขimperfect, addition to the Hitman library.
