Official PCPP#208 Feedback Thread - Hitman: Absolution!

[ThePhotoshop]

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Agent 47's return back in PCPP#194 first had us seeing red - what were these scripted helicopter encounters doing in a Hitman game? Now, in PCPP#208, we've played the first five hours and spent hands-on time with Hitman: Absolution's all-new asynchronous multiplayer Contracts mode. Is this actually the Hitman game we've been wanting to see? Find out, inside!

Elsewhere, we drop-pod into PlanetSide 2's true global multiplayer warfare, and chat to SOE about what modern FPS means for this reimagining of the world's only MMOFPS.

Then, it's HYPER vs PCPP in XCOM's all-new tactical multiplayer mode. Who will win? Who will lose? Who will jump at the chance to play as the aliens? And who left their heavy assault soldier sitting idle because the turn timer ran out? This is a battle report that will go down in magazine history.

Continuing the multiplayer mayhem, we spend quality hands-on time with the beta of ShootMania: Storm. Just how well does TrackMania turn into an FPS? Our impressions, and chat with Nadeo, have the answer.

Want some reviews? Sure you do. How about 18 of them? They're here! I bet you even want one of Borderlands 2. It's here! There's a gazillion guns! And just as many points out of ten! Plus, Guild Wars 2, Dark Souls, Darksiders II, Sleeping Dogs, Another Counter-Strike Game, the return of Death Rally, and a whole host of indies that you shouldn't miss! (Plus some you should.)

Is your lap feeling empty? Get the right gaming laptop for it with Tech's definitive roundup. Is a gaming laptop even possible? You'll be surprised! Plus, a field report on our expert overclocking workshop, a 1000W pro gaming PSU, and Gigabyte's new cutting-edge mobo.

On the disc is the full free version of Team Fortress 2 - with its all new Mann vs Machine co-op mode ready to play! Plus, Heroes of Newerth's new free-to-play client, and the demo version of GTA-in-space simulator, Skyjacker!

Want more from PCPP? We've also got massive previews of Tomb Raider and Hotline Miami; a roundup of the scariest indie games to watch for; a conversation with the developer of an old-school hardcore RPG that includes the phrase 'spreadsheet porn'; four pages on DayZ; and the diary of a games journalist playing Deus Ex for the first time today.

PCPP#208. Hair today, gone tomorrow.

[Arkayn]

I had written off the new Hitman till I read this article.
The review on Sleeping Dogs though caught me by surprise, rather critical of its little faults I thought.

[wokeye27]

Enjoying the edition! Can't wait for that XCOM remake.

I found the Age of Decadence article interesting, but I'm an old-school RPG kinda guy. Plus, anyone who quotes Joe Abercrombie gets my vote (my fave fantasy writer ATM, easily).

I posted elsewhere, but that the score given to GW2 left me a bit perplexed. Seemed somewhat at odds with the text, which seemed at odds with my personal playing experience. As an MMO effort, I would have thought it worthy of another point than that, but hey.

No Secret World review? Did I miss it in a past edition or something?

[]{ing Nothing]

Hey Wokeye, yes you missed TSW in PCPP #206. If you don't have the mag, the review is actually up on the site too. http://www.pcpowerplay.com.au/2012/07/the-secret-world/

Regarding Guild Wars 2, did you think the score should have been lower according to the body of the review, or higher? For me the game does everything very well, but that "everything" is still beholden to fairly standard MMO design. Events don't change the world as much as ArenaNet seemed to imply, and reset pretty quickly. Quest hubs aren't really gone, just displaced. You still get stupid rewards for things that you can't use with your class. You're still grinding repetitive quests to satisfy NPCs.

It's the best implementation of the classic MMO formulae, but it's still classic MMO formulae, which makes all the "if you don't like MMOs you'll really want to play GW2" type spiel a bit misleading, and overall the game is a little disappointing because I think ArenaNet promised more than it delivered. I don't think people who dislike MMOs will enjoy it at all, so it's still a game for those who like the genre to start with.

But again, despite this GW2 still a fantastic game, and I'm still playing it and trying to 100% every map.

[Valar Morghulis]

And I was hoping for a Guild Wars 2 special cover and feature for this remarkable title which is only going to get even better.

[wokeye27]

Ah - for some reason I'd forgotten the SW review had come earlier. Cheers for the link.

I guess as a GW2 player I'd have thought it deserves more of a 9 than an 8. I tend to ignore most pre-release hype nowadays, so am not one to use promised vs delivered to judge games. I do agree that most of GW2 features are another iterative set of improvements on traditional MMOS, but for me there are a couple of key differences that combine to put it up there - the subs-free format (at launch), the server vs server persistent warfare and the more movement/action-based (interesting) combat. I'm not that worried about it though... the test for MMOs is of course how many people are still playing 6 months later. *goes back into IoJ planning session about how to stomp SoS when the next oceanic grudge-match happens*

[Grey G]

Another interesting issue. I enjoyed the interview with Vince Weller, certainly made me interested in trying the demo, has anyone at PCPP tried it yet? Can't wait for X-COM either. I think the 8 for GW2 was fair, and I am a big fan of the game, but the more you play it, the more you realise the changes aren't quite as earth shattering as you'd hoped. The quality of the game is excellent though and I am a bi fan of the no subs model - it removes the chore like feeling I experienced when playing WoW or SWTOR or even WAR.

I enjoyed Bennett's rundown on gaming laptops, as the underwhelmed owner of the bank-breaking, power-hungry, thermally-challenged Razer Blade, many of his observations rang true. These systems do have their place, but they'll never replace the desktop for me.

James' article on Windows 8 was slightly worrying, I had hoped MS had learned their lesson from the Vista debacle and have found Windows 7 to be pretty good overall.

Overall, still enjoying the mag immensely - the opinion sections and state of play columns remain monthly highlights for me, please keep them going!

G

[Valar Morghulis]

And I was hoping for a Guild Wars 2 special cover and feature for this remarkable title which is only going to get even better.

I take my words back. The game is bugged to the seven hells. I've quit game and might come back in a few months.

[ravingham91]

yeah that age of decadence looks really interesting, I hadn't known of It's existence until I read the mag

[Kondrakin]

Loving the new layout and I especially enjoy the state of play. I miss seeing the results/winners of the subscription prizes published in the mag as well as the ever quirky and out there "Yellow Boots" section.
One query about this issue though - there's mention in the menagerie section about including in the performance build "this issues patriot memory" - it seems that the review of said memory has gone AWOL from my issue :}