Hitman: Episode 4 - Bangkok

Though I wish it explored more of Bangkok itself, the hotel that makes up this mission is really beautiful, and offers a nice mix of lush vegetation and the luxury of the Paris episode. Seeing the scenery has always been a highlight of these games, and this is no different. I do wish it felt a tad more distinct in some places, and there's far fewer crowds overall, making this episode feel a bit smaller than usual, but IO's artistry is top-notch.

The sound design remains excellent, and the music recorded for the fictional band in this episode is a terrific touch, to say nothing of the consistently excellent original score heard throughout the game. It's still a shame though, that the game has been reusing as many voice actors as it has for so many NPCs. The same American voices have cropped up throughout the whole game so far, and it does feel like the only aspect of this that feels a tad slapdash and inauthentic. Still, it ultimately feels like a minor issue, and all of the actors playing the more important characters put in terrific performances.

While it's a bit of a comedown in some respects, 'Hitman' remains an excellent game in its fourth episode, and I have no qualms with recommending the overall package at this point. Bangkok really shines on replay though, so the first run through ends up feeling like more of a warmup than anything else. The hotel does feel a bit too similar to the first mission in some respects, but IO still crams the episode with enough charm and fun that it ends up feeling worthwhile in spite of its faults.