Assassin in Hardcore are scary… Even alt+f4 can’t help. 47 just can die out of nowhere during combat.
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So if there’s a power or internet disruption you lose everything?
Personally, I feel like the real problem of Hardcore mode, beyond making Prestige objectives mandatory, is the ridiculous amount of enforcers.
I played a lot of Master mode during the campaign, and I always thought it was pretty well balanced. But in Hardcore mode they really pushed all the buttons to the max, especially in Showdowns. There are lookouts in every room, targets are enforcers, new guards added to the maps too… and you find yourself having to constantly run around npcs, looking everywhere like a maniac, to avoid being spotted. And if you are spotted you’re basically done. Even analyzing the Suspects is a chore.
I had exactly the same feeling on Absolution in Purist mode, I think it’s artificial difficulty without much interest. Of course you’re going to get spotted at some point, but there’s no room for progression, it’s all based on the luck of not running into the wrong enforcer at the corner of a corridor, and I really don’t find it very fun.
Yet I appreciate the difficulty in games, but it has to directly impact the core mechanics. Like in Master mode, with the footsteps, the damaged disguises or the single save. Not just adding enemies everywhere to prevent the player from moving.
So for now I’ll stay in Normal mode. 
By the way Freelancer is so cool !
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As long as 47 didn’t die or exit the mission, the power & internet connection problems can’t make you lose anything. You can always restart from safehouse.
I’m surprised insta-fail wasn’t used in Hardcore Mode to prevent people from using Alt-F4.
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I nearly started Hardcore mode today but I backed out at last minute 
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My very first mission in my latest Hardcore campaign attempt was a successful failure. Not even going to try again.
What map were you playing?
They should patch the game to make it mandatory that once you start Hardcore mode you can’t leave it to play a normal difficulty Freelancer campaign or even play any other game modes in the WoA until you’ve completed the entire Hardcore campaign.
(Just checking, that is how we do a Patrick_McColloch post, right? I’ve never had to type one out before and I want to make sure I’m hitting all the key points.)
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Poetic justice - maybe the bug fix should never apply to me
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WOW! Imagine if that ever actually became a thing!! 
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Might as well take a chance on Hardcore cause we’re about to lose everything anyways when that patch comes in.
I think I’m actually never going to complete hardcore freelancer just because of those damn mandatory prestige objectives I just want my suit man i have had more fun grinding Siberia than doing this
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I hate artificial difficulty too.I think 2016 professional difficulty is very good.Bring some mechanics from there to hardcore mode will be very interesting:suspicious items ,broken camera checking .
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I think Hardcore mode is best played when you have played a lot of normal mode first:
(1) Completely fill your wall with gear to reach the Prestige I,II,III,IV or V.
(2) Make sure that you have excess mercs > 50,000 so that you don’t need the mercs from playing Hardcore mode;
(3) Just complete the mandatory Prestige Objective, and choose the easy Prestige Objectives outside of Syndicate Leader missions which lack a failure state: pacify baseball bat; hide and seek; legendary weapon kill (of any kind); specific epic weapon kill (eg. katana; burial dagger; shuriken) kill.
(4) Never choose silent assassin or timed objectives in Hardcore mode outside of Hide & Seek; Hide & Seek is however not always the best option for some maps like Santa Fortuna, where closets and containers are spread far apart.
(5) For Syndicate Leader missions, choose, neutralize assassin, neutralize lookout or kill syndicate leader during escape, or legendary weapon / melee kill.
(6) If you choose Big Pharma, all you need to do is to get a guard disguise and remote emetic the target, and then panic the syndicate leader in the bathroom before killing the syndicate leader. I usually carry two Siekers to test a possible target as the syndicate leader if I know that I can dart gun a target without being spotted. If it is not the syndicate leader, but the target has the right meeting, then you can arrange a meeting to isolate the target.
(7) In some maps, like Berlin, Ambrose Island and Dubai, you can carry a sniper rifle without alerting guards with the elite guard outfit. If a target is not easy to get up close, find an isolated location and single out a target from a distance with a sniper rifle, especially in these maps, plus Colorado, Bangkok and Marrakesh, where a lot of targets are in congested areas better taken down from a distant, often vertical location. Some maps like Isle of Sgail, Whittleton Creek, New York, you never really need a sniper rifle, because distant shooting with a pistol is good enough.
Take your time and isolate each of your targets, ensuring that you have an escape route after the target kill. The best escapes are vertical escapes (poles, ladders) and hidden containers, or just run in the opposite direction. If you are spotted, wait it out and then get a different disguise.
If you are patient and choose wisely, it is possible to never be in position to die in Hardcore mode.