- Control
Firstly, make sure you've got your controls sorted. Obvious you'll
think, but well worth checking. For example, change from the standard
Keypad control settings to the WSAD settings, since this gives you easier
access to all the controls (except for screenshots :). Also, make sure
that you know what the controls actually DO! More on this later.
- Scout the Environment
It may well be worth spending the first run through just going round
the level and seeing what happens. Some events are vital to the workings
of the mission, so it's worth knowing where and when they might happen,
or what triggers them. There are a number of questions you should
think about answering before you finally do a mission.
Where are the Objectives?
Where are the Guards?
Where do the Guards Patrol?
How long do I have?
If you can answer those, you'll almost definitely complete the mission.
- Movement
Don't run. Walk. Running draws attention to yourself, especially if
you're seen running away from the scene of a recent killing. You're
only likely to draw attention to yourself, and get the guards hunting you
down.
Sneaking is also vital. When in sneak mode, the Hitman is completely
silent, allowing him to sneak up on people and kill them, or sneak through
areas without being heard - an extremely useful function.
Make sure that your weapons are holstered at all times. If a guard
sees you pulling a weapon, then he's gonna shout for help, and draw his
weapon on you. Civilians also aren't that fond of drawn weapons, so
avoid that as well. However, there is an interesting flip side to this.
If in disguise (see next section), you may carry a weapon openly, as
long as it is a weapon that your character would be seen carrying. So you
can wonder round dressed as a Triad member, carrying an Uzi, or AK-47.
However, if they see you with a novel weapon, such as a non-standard
pistol (most of them), or a Sniper Rifle, they will most likely get
suspicious, and shoot before asking questions.
- Disguise
You will start most levels dressed as the Hitman. This is fine to
start with, but you'll soon find yourself either unable to get through
security areas, or being hunted down by others. At this point, you'll need a
disguise. These can be obtained from any standard male character
(Guard or Civilian), once he has been killed. Disguises will open up
entire new areas of some levels, and are half the fun of the game.
However, there are times when they become useless (see Killing Techniques).
- Talk
There are actually quite a few people you can talk to in the missions.
Do this, since they will often give you more information about your
goals than your briefing did, or will provide you with openings to
performs your tasks.
