Being a hitman ain't easy. Obviously I have no way of knowing that (unless you call my throwing of pencils at staffers then disappearing around the corner before they see me a hitman-like action), but, boy, they have it tough. Think about the equipment they have to maintain, their need to keep out of the spotlight to complete new jobs in the future, and the way they have to plan everything out. And that's before they even concentrate on the target they have to take out. Eidos and Io Interactive have tried to give us examples of this profession in their Hitman games for various consoles, some scoring a big hit (the much-enjoyed Hitman 2) and some completely missing the mark (the disappointing Contracts). But with a leap to next-gen, would the collaborators be able to give us an experience worthy of Agent 47's skill?

Well, kinda. While some may look at the game while they're playing it and wonder where exactly the next-gen is at, Hitman: Blood Money is still a wonderful return to formula, making up for the muddiness of Contracts by going right back to the stone-cold killing style of our bald, bad-ass hitman. Agent 47 is once again at your command as he finds himself given a new list to targets to take out, but this time around it surprisingly ties into a story that involves a rival agency that wants to take him and his agency off the market. As you proceed through each of the missions, a new piece of the puzzle unfolds, leading to an eventual showdown with this shadowed company that wants to put you six feet under.

Your missions will take place across a number of locales, from the casino scene in Las Vegas to a crowded Mardi Gras scene in New Orleans, where you have to maneuver your way through the party scene in order to reach your acquired target. The cool thing about these levels is that they're large in scope, and you actually have a number of options available getting from point A to point B. It's not a straight line, but one that you can take a number of ways in getting to, and some work better than others. As you proceed, you'll not only turn to your GPS-styled heads-up display to see forthcoming guards and other targets, but you'll also use other tools of the trade, like the uniform of a person you've managed to take out, so you can gain access to areas that you'd otherwise have to find a way around.

The AI system is a little hiccupy in this part, though. Sometimes, you'll get recognized right off the bat from a distance, and then sometimes you can find yourself roaming right in without even as much as a second glance. Maybe it's something in the randomness but that's just part of the presentation, I guess. The game relies heavily on its difficulty and requires the greatest of patience, so those who approach the game expecting to gun down everyone and get out clean are in for a sore disappointment. Timing is everything here, even if it means waiting in a particular spot for a few minutes until the coast is absolutely clear, or hiding a body so that its discovery won't trigger awareness, keeping you that much further away from your target.

But those who are patient and persistent will find plenty of pay-offs here. Over the course of the game, you can not only take out your targets with enough planning, but sometimes you can actually rely on an accidental death system, setting up an explosion with a BBQ grill or knocking someone into a shark tank when they don't even see it. It's sort of like the Final Destination flicks, where someone doesn't expect death, it hits them, and then it's gruesome fun to watch them meet their fate. Squashing someone with a chandelier can actually be rather delightful. (Should I go ahead and call my therapist now?)

Another cool aspect introduced to the game is the Notoriety system. With this system, you can actually use funds obtained from your kills to cover up your tracks, whether it be building yourself a new identity or bribing police and witnesses to make sure they don't talk if they've accidentally seen you. It does usurp some of your funds, which can also be used for powerful new weapons and other items of the trade, but it also motivates you to work a little bit more carefully, and kinda works as a safeguard just in case you don't. This is a great feature, especially those new to the series, as it'll give them a taste of the Hitman life without being a fantastic struggle. But again, patience goes hand in hand with this, so don't expect a clean getaway unless you put some effort into the missions.

The graphics may not look that next-gen, as it just seems like a polished bump up from the Xbox and PS2 ports, but they do look very good, especially in terms of the level design. Like I said, the multiple paths and the way you can go about them is real nice, and some details, especially in the Vegas and New Orleans levels, look excellent. There is slight justification for the $20 price bump, I suppose, between what's offered in slighter details and the ability to unlock Achievements to boost your Xbox profile score.

The gameplay's tricky at first, but veterans will feel right at home with it, allowing themselves to sit right in and begin their planning for each mission. Newcomers will be able to get a hang of the controls pretty easily, moving Agent 47 through the motions. It's a nice system set-up that allows you easy access to your tools and locations of the target and his or her guardians. I just wish something was utilized further with Xbox Live to put warring hitmen against each other. I suppose that's asking a bit much for the franchise, huh? Besides, things work better solo here.

As for audio, Jesper Kyd provides some more great composures that add to the experience, with deep music and some nice electronica tunes that are a fine mix for the series. The voicework is superb also, with a nice serious overtone that keeps up with the game's storyline. Sound effects are good as well, right down to the use of some keen weaponry. Love that knife. SHENK!

Let's face it, Hitman: Blood Money is a wonderful return to form for the series after the letdown that was Contracts, and should make a formidable challenge for those who like to sneak around for their killing rewards. And it made me the specalized, uncaught hitman that I am today...hey, who the hell just hit me with a pencil?!