For those who pre-ordered Hitman: Absolution, you are among the many who can enjoy The Sniper Challenge. This is a great way to experience a small segment of Hitman: Absolution before it releases. As expected, you take on the role of Agent 47. In this mini-game, you compete against players locally and even globally on a worldwide Leaderboard.
There is a lot more to Hitman Sniper Challenge than a single sniper mission. There are a string of challenges rolled up into one big challenge. There are fourteen additional challenges (achievements) that you can access on top of the main sniper challenge that must be completed. These additional challenges do not have to be completed, but they do serve a purpose. If completed, these challenges will grant you permanent score bonuses that can help you achieve an overall higher score. This comes in handy since The Sniper Challenge has a time limit. Having a perfect score will not be enough without the extra score multipliers from the additional challenges.
The Sniper Challenge starts with an opening cinema that gives you a quick briefing about the mission. You cannot control Agent 47 during the course of these challenges. You are stationery and can only use a sniper rifle. While sniping, your enemies cannot harm you. There is one prime target and a dozen body guards to kill. Being stealthy with your shots will reward you with additional bonuses that can help with your overall score.
As you progress through the challenge, mods will unlock to improve your sniper rifle’s load time and increase its magazine clip size.
There’s plenty of incentive to keep you motivated during the challenge. One is competing against other players for a spot on the Leaderboards (which is no easy feat). While competing, you are constantly looking for faster ways to complete the challenge. And surprisingly, there are many different ways available. There are destructible items in the environment such as windows, lifts, elevators, etc. For being a mini game, it does a good job of holding your interest for a long time. I found myself playing Sniper Challenge for upwards of six hours my first time through.
Hitman Sniper Challenge has a stunning environment coupled with killer controls and a clean, simple GUI. It feels like a Hitman game. If you didn’t know this was a standalone challenge, you would swear it was a demo of the upcoming Absolution.
The Sniper Challenge is a great bonus for pre-ordering this year’s hottest new crime game.
Those who participate in the Sniper Challenge can win monthly prizes for reaching the top of the Leaderboards. And if that wasn’t enough, the top sniper at the time of Hitman: Absolution’s launch will be rewarded a trip for two to Copenhagen to meet with the Hitman development team. So polish your sniping skills and start winning those prizes.
Monthly prizes include:
August – sponsored by GameSpot
◆ Trip for four to Major League Gaming (MLG) Fall Championship in Dallas, TX Nov. 2 – 4, 2012, including travel, accommodations, tickets to the event and backstage VIP tour
September – sponsored by Military.com
◆ Winner and a friend travel to San Diego to spend a day at a gun range learning to shoot weapons with an ex-Navy Seal sniper instructor
October – sponsored by Machinima
◆ High-end Alienware gaming PC with accessories
Do you have what it takes to be an elite sniper? Pre-order your copy of Hitman: Absolution today and join the ranks of the professionals.
