Hitman Go
A turn-based puzzle game adapting Hitman to a board game.
Hitman Go is a turn-based puzzle video game developed by Square Enix Montréal and published by Square Enix. It was the first game produced by the studio, which was founded in 2011. The game adapts the Hitman franchise into a grid-based board game format for mobile and other platforms.
Quick Facts
- Developer
- Square Enix Montreal
- Publisher
- Square Enix
- Director
- Daniel Lutz
- Series
- Hitman
- Engine
- Unity
- Platforms
- Android
- iOS
- Apple TV Windows
- Windows Phone
- Linux
- PlayStation 4
- PlayStation Vita
- Genre
- Puzzle
- Modes
- Single-player
Facts from the source article.
Gameplay
Hitman Go is a turn-based puzzle game set on grid-based boards composed of interconnected nodes and lines. Players control Agent 47, moving him by swiping along a line on touchscreen devices; in the Definitive Edition on PC, a click, hold, and drag interaction replaces the swipe. After the player completes a turn, all enemies move simultaneously. The main objective of each level is either guiding Agent 47 to an end node or assassinating a specific target. Enemies are killed when the player moves onto their node, and the player is killed if an enemy moves onto the player's node. As levels progress, new enemy types and mechanics appear. Enemy types are distinguished by colour, with some remaining static or rotating on a single node, while others patrol along set routes. Later levels may require collecting keys to unlock doors, using trapdoors to move between board locations, hiding in potted plant nodes to avoid detection, equipping coloured disguises to bypass enemies of that colour, throwing objects to disrupt enemy behaviour, or using firearms to shoot targets from a distance. Bonus objectives, such as collecting a briefcase or finishing without killing anyone, reward stars that unlock the next chapter. The game launched with five chapters, one inspired by a level from Hitman: Blood Money, and later added two more chapters, one based on a level from Hitman 2: Silent Assassin. In-app purchases provide hints or unlock chapters immediately.
Development and release
Hitman Go was developed by Square Enix Montréal, a Canadian studio founded in late 2011 by employees of existing Square Enix Europe studios. The studio initially aimed to create triple-A console games in the Hitman series with a team of 150, but after a year the console project was cancelled and the focus shifted to mobile games, leading to about one third of the staff leaving. During concept, four people worked on the game, with prototypes built on paper using printed characters. The project was greenlit in mid 2013, with Daniel Lutz as creative director and a peak team of eleven. Unity was chosen as the engine due to its low barrier of entry, support for mobile platforms, and prior team experience. A working prototype and basic level editor were created in a few days, and the first version was presented to the studio after two weeks.
Reception
Hitman Go received generally favorable reviews on Metacritic. Critics expressed initial skepticism about adapting the third-person stealth series into a mobile puzzle game, but found the result a pleasant and creative take on the franchise. The visual presentation and board game aesthetic were widely praised, with Joystiq's Anthony John Agnello finding the colouring and motif more appealing than Hitman: Absolution's design, and highlighting the level selection screen and board game box menus. Destructoid's Brittany Vincent approved of the clean menus and user interface icons, comparing levels to dollhouses. Eurogamer and IGN writers likened the character design to miniature board game pieces. Polygon's Arthur Gies praised the simple gameplay mechanics and minimalistic approach, stating the game captured elements of the series through a sophisticated board game. Joystiq's Agnello called it an impressive debut for Square Enix Montréal, noting the play style suited touch devices. Reviewers also complimented the replay value and challenge of bonus objectives.
Successors
At E3 2015, Square Enix Montréal announced Lara Croft Go, a successor set in the Tomb Raider universe, released on August 27, 2015. It uses similar core mechanics of moving a character on nodes and lines, but emphasizes puzzle-driven exploration to avoid feeling like a re-skin. The following year, the studio announced Deus Ex Go, based on the Deus Ex series.
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