So for a long time I been thinking about Hitmans future post the Providence Trilogy (the current storyline), where I think the franchise should go and what It should execute. Things I want added and things I think I should let go off.

With H16 and H2 IO brought the franchise back loser to the model that many think IO perfected with Blood Money. A more open approach then the more linear Absolution, however not forgetting the things Absolution got right.

Music

Even though I love the current two games and their approach to the world and characters, there is still something I find lacking, something essential. Like a Big Mac without the Big Mac Sauce. In this regard the Big Mac Sauce is the music.

With Absolution IO tried something new, instead of a more traditional soundtrack, they chose a dynamic soundtrack. A soundtrack tailored to your actions. This idea carried over to the current version of the games, but in my eyes or rather ears. Something is missing, something that use to a pillar within the series pre Absolution. A real soundtrack.

Jesper Kyd brought us of the most memorable videogame music, not just with Hitman but with other big franchises like Assassin’s Creed. With each Hitman game he scored, he tried something different, sometimes playing with genres. The current soundtracks I don’t consider memorable, the most memorable piece of ingame music I can recall from Hitman post BM is the Inception horns from Absolution and that doesn’t say much.

Hitman: The Composer Strikes Back

It doesn’t have to be Jesper Kyd, even if he is my preferred choice. But With the H16 and Legacy trailer IO proved they where able to still create memorable music that fits the series and I’m left wondering if the Dynmaic soundtrack got more pros then cons.

I have come to a point while playing the games, where I turn the ingames music off and plays past Hitman soundtracks in the background. I have come to the conclusion that it enhances and enriches my experience, something the current soundtrack havn’t been able to do.

In my eyes IO have forgotten how important a prober soundtrack is, I can only applaud them for trying the dynamic soundtrack, it’s an interesting idea. However the current soundtracks havn’t really created a lot of buzz inside or outside the community and that is a shame, because it use to be something that got a lot of attention in the past.

Rubber Allergy

I have developed a digital rubber allergy in the last few years, this might just be my nitpick. But I’m extremely tired of the fucking rubber ducks that seems to have come with a tsunamie and washed over 47 arsenal.

With the current presence of Rubber Ducks I’m left wondering if 47 have developed a fetish for the small ducks and why we have yet to see a Rubber Duck tie? I understand why they are there, it’s a bit of dark humor. Turning something innocent into something sinister. However it seems to me that IO have forgotten the rubber ducks role and overplayed their part.

The Rubber Duck was first introduced with Codename 47. It was actually a fetch quest in the second last level. A trade for information to gain access to the lower levels of Ort-meyers Asylum front. Onward the ducks showed both ingame and in marketing campaigns





Back then it wasn’t 47 who loved the little duck and left them all over the place like a signature sign. It was a little dark humor in a ridiculous dark world centered around killing for money. However right now 47 got countless of rubber ducks in his arsenal. It’s now more or less become more of a signature weapon for 47 then the Sliverballers. That is certainly the impression i’m left with since they are now so present in everything Hitman. All from Collectors edition items, to marketing. Hell even the Hitman Critical Collection LP got a rubber duck as it’s cover

It’s almost become an expression of 47’s dark humor and not the world around him. This is here where I ultimately think IO have misunderstod it’s role and overplayed their hand. It use to be a fun nod towards the past, but now it developed into something different.

I hope that going forward from the Providence Trilogy, that their role and presence becomes a lot more downplayed.

Old man 47

47 is 55 years old in the current storyline, I kinda want to see a more old man 47. I don’t think it robs 47 character of anything as portraying him at his current age, it would even add to the character. Absolution did this, he looked more grizzled. His body showed sign of trauma, his body reflected his job. He looked like a experienced man, a man who learned from his mistakes. 47 looks a lot better in H2 then he did at the start of H16. But I still think putting him closer to his actually age would enrich the character.

This is just on the top of my mind, something that have been bording me for the last few years. Things I hope IO adresses in future titles when they are done with this current storyline.

I’m a bit on the fence if they should go under General discussion or wish list, it can serve as both.