Arkane Studios copied from IOI’s Hitman, the rogue-like elements into a “Dishonored” type stealth/action game within their DLC, Prey: Mooncrash, and then refined this rogue-like approach in Deathloop.
Now IOI’s Freelancer mode is resembling the rogue-like Deathloop, with an overarching storyline connecting different targets in different, repeatable mission locations, a currency system of available weapons which can be lost and gained, and a loadout screen where you have a choice of mission location and targets, and weapons.
I’m intrigued by this in-game currency. Whenever I see those strange, fictional currency symbols, a little alarm bell starts ringing and my mind jumps to… “microtransactions!”
Thinking back to games in the early 2000s, such as Codename 47, you would often see real world currencies featured in games. But with the advent of microtransactions, there became a need for fictional in-game currencies. Soon every game invented its own little currency symbol.
Now I’m not suggesting that Freelancer will contain microtransactions. But neither do I think it’s beyond the realm of possibility. At the very least, I think it gives a strong indication of a model we could see in future Hitman titles. Namely, an in-game economy which incentivises “grind” gameplay and offers microtransactions as a means to skip the grind.
Perhaps you think this is outlandish speculation. In which case, I would draw your attention to the job advert on IOI’s website for a ‘Business Performance Manager’, which gives an insight into the future strategy IOI intends to pursue with regard to microtransactions. See my post here for more details.
This mode is even better than I expected.
The announced “new ways to play” wasn’t simply a new mode (as the Elusive Arcade is), but this one manages to be a whole new take on Hitman’ing. An entirely new career mode alongside with the existing story mode.
I just noticed that we can buy a burner phone for meetings aswell. This means that after getting certain information we can lure a target into a secluded spot? Because that would be awesome to use as a common strategy! Or at least save the trouble of collecting it from an NPC like with Kurt Donovan in Paris.
One way they could incorporate saves is based on difficulty, like older games. Easy = Infinite, to learn how this mode works. Hard = one save ala Master difficulty, you’re expected to know how this works.
Also hoping we don’t get docked points for taking out NPC assassins. I always did this in older games where they were added.
i assume this wouldn’t make any sense narratively (like it matters), but i’m secretly hoping there is a rare and random mini-event between missions where the hideout gets attacked by waves of baddies a la wrath. of course, instead of that dlc’s limited loadout, you could just use whatever you had in the house, john wick stylee.
This is something I’m looking forward to. Having inventory and unlocks persist and tied to the mode gives a good balance to those of us who already have everything. Heck, you may even have to exfiltrate with your suit if you want to keep it.
I guess if this ties to any canon then it likely takes place in the year gap between Untouchable and the last cutscene? (Much like the Dartmoor Garden Show if you think that counts too) Though seeing regular mission targets in the mix probably throws that out the window.
One thing I think would be neat if possible, is to include the ‘other’ times of day for Sapienza (The Icon; nighttime) and Marrakesh (A House Built on Sand; nighttime) randomly when going to their locations in Freelancer. Would help a little bit more with variety and the location feeling ever so slightly different with each visit. More time of day options for the other maps would be welcome as well! What do you guys think?
There is plenty of recorded dialogue for 47 to tell his needs to the player as well. If 47 doesn’t get to the bathroom in time you lose that suit till you next play Chongqing and pick up the suit from the laundromat.
Aw man, I am really excited for this mode already! I saw the reveal video again and it just looks so smart for the Hitman formula!
It’s assassination with a limited supply of items, plus a money system to help build up your arsenal (I wonder if weapons and safehouse funds are shared), and unique complications to challenge you to earn more (there’s “No Damage” which is something brand new, plus another I saw where you have to hide only the target bodies)
Plus, there’s the added special NPCs like an Assassin (whether he’s out to kill you or the target, idk, it’s still cool) an NPC that can panic or “alert” the Target to evacuate, and there’s apparently some mechanics to find intel that helps you narrow down where the NPC is? It’s vague in the video but it sounds like there’s something like that, maybe just bonus objectives to collect specific items)
While yes, it looks like it’s just generic NPCs that you’re hunting, might not be new dialogue added, I’m totally fine with that because I’ve been doing that for years. It’s like a procedural campaign version of the PMET thread and that’s awesome to me.
We’ll get it “in a couple months”, so I’m gonna hope that it’s Late March to Mid April. I can’t wait!
If we don’t get a Contracts Mode update, this could be the thing to usurp that for me. No need to browse hundreds of contracts looking for the perfect difficulty, just let the game decide and throw in some unique modifiers too.
Yes, this is really where people should set their expectations. It won’t be fleshed out missions with dialogue and overarching plots. More like playing Contracts, but in a more role playing-esque way with a monetary system and hideout. Can’t wait!
and would be some funny C47 Easter Egg 