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A Co-Op Hitman Game Just Never Felt Right says Absolution Director

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I have a secret.  For many years now I've secretly desired a game like Hitman that allowed multiple players to plan and execute a kill.  In fact, almost 3 years ago I thought about starting a column here on Co-Optimus with the premise of having the community contribute to co-op game design ideas, with the first column being about the very topic.  Sadly, it looks like a true Hitm​an game with co-op isn't coming anytime soon - mostly due to the fact that Agent 47 as a character is a bit of loner.

Of course we have been discussing co-op for many Hitman games but it never felt right," Blystad confessed to OXM in a recent interview, extracts from which you'll find in issue 81, on sale now. "Agent 47 is a loner and we have never found a way to give him a partner, because to be honest, he doesn't need one.

This means the new Hitman game, Hitman: Absolution, won't be featuring any kind of cooperative multiplayer.

As a bonus, here's a bit of the original text from the idea I had many years back.

 I'd like to see a co-op game where two people work together as hit men or assassins.  Players could work together by doing things like running distractions, drawing away body guards, etc. 

The hits could involve characters of multiple sexes, for instance a player as a female character could seduce the target while the other character poisoned a drink to serve while the target was destracted.  The game wouldn't necesarily be about sniping targets, but it would be almost like a puzzle game with how it played out.

I absolutely think there's room for this type of game in the realm of cooperative video games.  If the Agent 47 character won't support those sort of elements, perhaps an extension of the series could be created.

Source: Oxm.co.uk

 
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Author
Nick Puleo
Owner and Managing Editor

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pofigster
9:07 AM
1/6/2012

I could dig your idea, but only if it wasn't just multiplayer run and gun - it would require a strong suite of in-game actions to make it possible rather than just having 4 people with guns.


CoopBob
9:30 AM
1/6/2012

This is a rare moment where I agree with the developer that Agent 47 himself should be a solo act. However, a spin-off that does what you're talking about would be awesome.

I think the main problem would be that designing the game would be incredibly complicated in terms of level design, etc. And following that path simply is not the popular route that gaming is taking. Today it's all about gimmicks, flash, "streamlining", and following the same old recipe. (for the most part)


txshurricane
10:00 AM
1/6/2012

Splinter Cell never felt like it would support co-op, either, and look how successful that series has become with its co-op campaigns on the side.

I just hope that iO Interactive doesn't feel this way about Freedom Fighters, too...


CoopBob
10:15 AM
1/6/2012

Yeah, Splinter Cell does some great co-op. The difference in my head is that while not run and gun, Splinter Cell is still pretty much a straight ahead corridor action first stealth game - or at least the last one was. From what Bap is describing, I'm picturing Ocean's Eleven: Hitmen.

Something where the hit is kinda like a puzzle that the team has to figure out with planning and teamwork. Someone has to run distraction, another has to take out the camera's - all that jazz.


smurphster
10:23 AM
1/6/2012

i definitely think there's room for this. it's a very cool idea. the same general game mechanics can be used to make sure it doesn't turn into a run & gun. if you start tripping alarms, you'll get overrun.

why not agent 47? they could force him to do a few missions with a partner. he could be openly reluctant and it could make for some interesting dialog. they could also take a few pointers from kain and lynch. if you complete the mission together, you split the reward, or you can cross your partner and take a bigger reward (but the other assassin would come back as a spec-op type agent). Of course the missions would have to be done so you NEED both people for certain parts, so your first objective can't be to kill the other assassin.


CoopBob
10:36 AM
1/6/2012

I suppose I say no Agent 47 simply because he's been established through the whole franchise. That means one person gets the resident bad***, and the other player(s) would have to be some noob.

I suppose it wouldn't wreck the storyline if 47 had to begrudgingly work with someone else but I just feel it would be best to have everyone start fresh and create their own attachment to a new hitman. Also, if we aim big and go for 4 player co-op, then having 47 in the mix just breaks down his MO even more.


PrinceCola
5:44 PM
1/6/2012

I love the idea of Male/Female partner. One draws the attention, the other one does the job.


Raines
6:51 PM
1/6/2012

I could see it if they'd do it like RE: Operation Raccoon City. You and your team of assassins are hunting down rogue agents like 47 and have to do it covertly.


Bakken Hood
1:16 PM
1/7/2012

All this talk of Splinter Cell is reminding me of the first mission in Double Agent. Menial spoilers, I guess: Sam gets paired with an AI-controlled rookie against his will and you hear his thoughts on the issue. Giving Sam a partner doesn't make much sense, and the singleplayer is made for exactly one person, so they made co-op into a separate mode. Same with Red Dead Redemption, and fingers crossed that it works for Mass Effect 3. Alas, I only know Hitman by reputation, but I can imagine separate co-op missions would work. Sounds like a textbook case for co-op exclusive content.


rafoca
4:24 PM
1/7/2012

There is always room for co-op, even on boxing games lol


Errant Paradigm
4:17 PM
1/8/2012

Someone just needs to rethink co-op in regards to the game style. In this case co-op could be you and someone else playing together, by which I mean playing the same game at the same time, however you are not on the same team.

Why has there not been a game where you and the co-op player are indeed playing the same game, but from opposite sides? You could race to get to a hit contract first, continue to keep coming into contact with each other at many areas of the playthrough, and in the end fight each other or have a choice to team up.

A simple idea that, when fleshed out beyond a quick brain fart of typing, could be a fresh and fun ride with a friend.

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