One thing needs to be established right now: Hitman 2 ? Silent Assassin, is not a game for everyone. You can?t just pick it up and play. Those of you with short-term memory issues or a lack of patience need not apply. However, if you?re clever, quick on your feet, and have the drive necessary to spend tireless hours trying to figure out just how to smuggle your Hardballers into a mansion, we might make a hitman out of you yet.

Silent Assassin isn?t the prettiest game on Xbox. Suffering from a PS2 disease that the Xbox community likes to call ?portitis?, many of Hitman 2?s textures and models aren?t what they could be if Eidos had taken the time to make this an Xbox exclusive game. Regardless of this fact, Mr. 47 and company still have their moments. Each and every weapon is gorgeously rendered, from the W2000 Collector?s Edition Sniper Rifle, to the SP12 combat shotgun. And there were moments, particularly when I noticed the spiffy gold cufflinks on 47?s shirt, that I did stop and say ?Wow?. The character models and weapons are by far the games graphical high points, as most of the vehicles and textures are pretty bland.

When it comes to sound, Silent Assassin gets my passing grade. With a beautiful orchestral score (love the choir in the menu music) and a great calm-to-tense sound system to ensure you won?t freak out just walking down a hall way, Hitman 2 keeps the mood from the first pistol shot to the final showdown. But if that wasn?t enough, Hitman 2 goes a step further, making sure that with each environment you enter, the music will fit the scene. So don?t expect to hear something Hungarian when you?re in Afghanistan. It?s a great music system that a lot of other games could benefit from.

One thing that I particularly loved about the sound was the voice acting in the game. Not only is 47?s voice absolutely perfect, but it?s also done in a believable way. You won?t think that the people they hired were just doing it for a paycheck. The real beauty of it, though, is the different languages you?ll hear throughout the game. Again, everything is based on the region culture, so you won?t hear English in Saint Petersburg, and you won?t hear Arabic in Japan. It really adds a realistic feel and element to the game.

When it comes to gameplay, Hitman 2 delivers. While most third person shooter games feature issues with the camera, Silent Assassin, thankfully, has it locked into place with the option of controlling how far away your view is from the bald anti-hero. As an added bonus, you can press the white button at any time to switch to a first person perspective, for either aiming purposes, or just if you like to play from 47?s vantage point. Of course, good gameplay isn?t just having a successful camera. One of the most appealing aspects of Silent Assassin?s gameplay is the sheer number of ways you can kill a target. Everything from poison, to Fiber Wire, to slashing a throat, to taking a shotgun and barging in guns-a-blazing is at your disposal. There really isn?t a limit to the methods you can use to finish your job, and you can even play dress up, donning the disguise of a knocked out security guard or pizza delivery boy. You even have multiple ways to escape from the area after completing your mission. It really makes you feel in control as the player. No, it isn?t as open ended as Grand Theft Auto, but you shouldn?t expect it to be, since you?re playing the role of a Hitman with an objective.

Speaking of objectives, Hitman 2 does a gorgeous job of making you feel like a professional assassin. Before each mission you?ll receive not only a briefing on your target, but in many instances a video, photo, and personal information as well. By the third mission you?ll be answering your phone with ?This is 47 speaking. Put me through to Diana.?

The pre-mission briefing alone is enough motivation to keep you playing, but probably the most rewarding aspect of the game is when you finish a job and receive your ranking. Titles anywhere from ?Mass Murderer? to the coveted ?Silent Assassin? ranking are available, and add to the game?s replayability. You?ll be able to see if you were too aggressive, or if maybe you hurt one innocent too many. You can even find out how you?ve ranked overall. And, to increase the incentive to gain the title of ?Silent Assassin? is the ability earn better, hidden weapons, such as the Silver Suppressed Hardballers.

The storyline is very involving at some points, and although it doesn?t take a vast knowledge of the original Eidos game, Hitman: Codename 47, to understand the plot in general, the references to the original will put a grin on the faces of those familiar with the first game. With loads of characters from the original making a second appearance, and some favorite weapons making a return as well, you?ll be searching the software shelves for the original game just to get the backstory on a promising new series.

With real world locations like Japan, Malaysia, Russia, and Italy, and regional music and dialect, Silent Assassin soars on artistic quality alone. Add that to loads of weapons to collect, branching objective paths, countless ways to do your job, and a uniqueness that sets it apart from any other game in the genre, and Hitman 2 ? Silent Assassin is a must have title for any Xbox owner looking for a solid challenge.

Pro - Lots of hours if you try for the Silent Assassin ranking. Pro - Great musical score, especially that choir. Pro - Each mission is loaded with information on your target beforehand, giving the game a very realistic and professional feel.

Con - Graphics aren't what we should expect from an Xbox title. Con - A strict port from the PS2 and PC version, no extra Xbox goodies that are all that noticeable.