EIDOS SETS SCOPE ON HITMAN 2
Copyright 2001 Eidos Press Release

[ October 5th 2001 ]

Eidos Interactive, a leading developer and publisher of interactive entertainment for the PC and console gaming systems, today announced that Hitman 2: Silent Assassin, the follow-up to the worldwide best-seller Hitman: Codename 47, is currently in development for the PC.

Created by Io Interactive, Hitman 2: Silent Assassin is currently slated to arrive on store shelves in Spring 2002. "The Hitman series continues to be groundbreaking in the thinking shooter genre," said Chip Blundell, Marketing Director of Eidos Interactive. "Hitman 2 expands on the adventures of the original game by placing gamers in the role of a hired gun and gives them more of the exploits, advanced features and thrilling missions that raised Hitman to the top of its genre."

Hitman 2’s storyline begins in a Sicilian monastery. His attempt to distance himself from his violent past is detoured as he is discovered by a Russian crime lord and tricked into returning to his trade. Caught in the middle of a ring of deception, Hitman soon discovers that he has been manipulated and is now a target himself - of a highly trained ex-Spetsnaz assassin.

Hitman 2 has an outstanding list of new features, including: a choice of 1st and 3rd person viewpoints; mid-mission save options; a revised and enhanced inventory system allowing gamers to acquire and carry weapons and equipment from mission to mission and ending pre-game "shopping"; a new ranking system; multiple play styles allowing missions to be accomplished with the primary target as the only casualty or "blast-your-way-through," and variations in-between; and finally, an advanced level design and engine dynamics providing gamers with open levels and no set path.

Playing the role of a for-hire assassin, Hitman is armed with a massive weapons arsenal such as knives, handguns, sniper rifles, various explosives and grenades. Hitman is also given new non-lethal weapons and pacifying gear including chloroform, poison darts and stun guns as well as laser-aiming devices, night vision goggles, lock picks, and remote cameras. Gamers will acquire more hidden bonuses throughout the game.

"The Hitman 2 team is building on the original Hitman in order to develop the most stylish game within its genre," says Janos Flosser, Managing Director of Io Interactive. "We optimised all technologies to provide for incredibly intensive gameplay and in-depth character interaction, making for the best possible gaming experience."