Buy Hitman 2 There are few franchises still in existence that tickle my nostalgia itch quite like the Hitman games. The series is so firmly rooted in exploring, exploiting and experimenting with its gameplay mechanics that even its shortcomings were an integral part of the experience.

Hitman 2 doesn't reinvent the garrote but instead delivers a killer, exceptionally fun yet familiar experience...

A few months after the release of Hitman ‘s final episode in 2016, publisher Square Enix unexpectedly dropped the IP , putting IO Interactive's plans for a sequel in serious doubt.

In today's ruthless industry, few franchises get to enjoy the longevity that Hitman has. First releasing eighteen years ago, the series has gradually struggled to balance everything just right. The first two games are incredibly unforgiving. Blood Money was great, but too easy.

Hitman 2 is a story of perseverance. A game that doesn't have any right to exist, but thanks to a dedicated and passionate fan base and a developer that won't take defeat lying down, its legacy gets to live on and in spectacular fashion as well.

Plethora of content and replayability; Gorgeous and varied locations; Way to kill are extremely creative; Continued support and future content; Streamlined mechanics make for a smooth gameplay experience

Story is only there to set up missions and isn't entirely engaging; Performance hiccups

Hitman 2 is an utterly sublime improvement over the previous outing. It's everything we know and love about Hitman, but with less episodic misery. The time it takes to complete is entirely up to you, based on the way you play and how much time you spend on all the challenges and story missions.

A more complete release than the previous games; Hours of replayability; Polished design; Beautiful maps to explore; Plenty of humour to mask the murderous undertones

Lacks some of the flexibility of previous games on first play through; Storyline feels a bit contrived at times

Agent 47 is ready to kill again. Are you

Agent 47 continues the 2016 reboot's good work, but by bringing judicious tweaks rather than any radical reinvention.

Gloriously intricate new levels and picture-in-picture is a neat addition; Surprisingly humorous and lots of replayability; Ability to import Hitman 1 levels is great

No major new ideas; Still too rigorous for those who aren't dedicated stealth-lovers; Reused tutorial feels a bit shoddy

Business is good

Endlessly creative; Tons of replayability; Shamelessly fun

Actual story is a bit po-faced; Smattering of minor bugs

There aren't many games that let you recall the time you knocked an old woman unconscious with a freshly baked blueberry muffin while s...

Beautifully crafted sandbox levels; Costumes and stories can still be hilarious; Lovely nods to Hitman history

Still very much Hitman; Feels like an expansion; rather than a full release; Story feels lacklustre