Watch this week's Zero Punctuation episode on The Medium - www.escapistmagazine.com/v2/the-medium-zero-punctuation/ - Watch it early on KZfaq and support our content via KZfaq Memberships.

wait, there's actual story in this game? i was too busy admiring the dedication of an irishman and his journey to stuff the entire population of a small town into a single meat cooler

I love how popular the mansion level was that many people wanted a detective game based of it

You know it's a fun review when the outro skit is Agent 47 killing John F Kennedy with a giant swordfish and it makes perfect sense.

Hearing all those sit com oneliners i think there may be something here for IO if they want to bring the franchise into the sitcom business. Here is Agent 47 with his trusty sidekicks the lethal banana peel and the target seeking briefcase.

Hitman always had a sense of humor. The fact this game can be serious one moment and then seconds later lets you dress as a clown slapping everyone with a fish is one of my favorite things about the game. Blood money had silly moments too.

"one unhorrifying toilet cubicle at a BART station" as a Bay Area Native I can say with confidence that doesn't exist.

Hey at least the guards check you for concealed arms about as enthusiastically as Yahtzee reviewing a new AAA game.

So he liked it enough to replay it multiple times to explore varied missions then did challenge runs? Its probably got a challenge down pat.

The part of Hitman that I liked so much is finding out the mission story for yourself, and solving the puzzle using your knowledge of the game’s mechanics.

It´s nice to see Yatzhee actually somewhat enjoyed this one. And, yeah, I do agree that the game tends to only really come alive after you do the opportunities. I personally tend to enjoy them if only because they tend to reveal a lot about the victim and learning about them is half of the fun for me, but they do tend to be a bit less satisfying than killing the victim using your own strategy. I hope they add more stuff like the suit only challenges in the next sequel. Since that is where the game tends to be at its most interesting in my opinion. Also, the Hitman games actually make a lot more sense if you ignore the story and assume you are not actually playing as Agent 47 killing people. But are actually a demon in hell forcing your victims to relive the day of their death in increasingly more convoluted manners.

The Poirot throwing someone off a balcony killed me

Who's willing to bet that guy who kept hassling for the Huniepop review will be back to hassle for Huniepop 2?

Well now I want a Hitman game where Yahtzee is the voice of Agent 47.

It's just more of Hitman 1 and 2? Great, that's exactly what I want.

As a man who frequented BART toilets, I would like to know which magical toilet 9 3/4 Yahtzee found.

Everytime I hear a zero punctuation intro I'm head banging doesn't matter what time it is haha.

I remember playing the Paris level and giggling with joy after pushing one target onto the other from the roof of the damn palace. Series has come a long way.

After watching Dunkey cheese his way through the game with nothing but a wet floor sign, I will never look at this series the same way again lmao.

This trilogy of Hitman games are the only games I can think of that I enjoy both playing myself and watching other people play,

I would actually LOVE a Freedom Fighters sequel or at least remaster. Sure, it IS something of a power fantasy about America fighting evil similar to another Call of Duty, but it's not my fault the gameplay was so fun

2:07 7 times if you count the movies.

"Hitman3." Man named 3: *nervous sweating*

Here's an idea IOI, what about a Hitman game around Agent 47 having to masquerade as a target to act as a counter-assassin for multiple missions - sneakily luring your would-be killers into situations where you can quietly dispose of them without compromising your cover. For an added challenge, throw in a couple of missions where you also have to kill the target you need to pretend to be.

That BART reference. I got it since I’ve lived in the area my whole life, but I’m curious how many people’s heads that went over.

But the most important question still remains unanswered: how does the fucking briefcase work

I always go for at least silent assassin in my first playthrough of each level and I generally do avoid mission stories and I have a blast. Then I go for suit only silent assassin and then I try to do it on master where you only have 1 save. I do agree that the mission stories make it too easy though. It’s like it gives you the assassination on a fancy platter.

The dog shitting on the carpet bit made me actually laugh out loud. A rare accomplishment during solo viewings, well done sir.

At least Toffee got some chocolate raisins I guess. 🤷‍♂️

I have been watching these for almost 9 years and they haven't gotten old yet

Mission stories are like level-specific tutorials that let you explore before SASO/kill-em-all runs

I came to this after watching another of Outside Xbox's great "three ways to play" videos. Andy does the stealthy ghost kills, Jane does some creative but typically a bit more chaotic runs, and Mike just stumbles through the entire thing running from guards and killing random bystanders as the case may be.

Yahtzee’s template of Agent 47 may be my favourite character template.

Usually not an achievement hunter, but completing all challenges of a level is very fun in the modern Hitman trilogy and adds a ton of replayability. It really encourages you to do some stuff you would never do otherwise because it might seem too impractical to you.

Really digging that Folsom Prison Blues reference at the end.

I feel like Yahtzee would enjoy these games way more if he just turned off mission stories. Personally, I find the game way more fun and puzzle-like that way

That whole taking a shit on the carpet bit had me in tears haha 😂

Still remember the 2016 Hitman, where Yahtzee gave Agent 47's avatar a mouth. That was a surreal experience.

Love this series. It's used the same story multiple times but the gameplay and missions absolutely make it

The credits animation with JFK being assassinated via swordfish is the best

I'm surprised Yahtz didn't mention the Berlin episode, which has no Mission Stories. It's my favourite in the series.

I love that Hitman Caricature!

suprised there was no mention of "always online" in a singleplayer game. just like how the servers went down for Absolution a few years back, the same could happen to this, and then all mastery progression would be locked out to players.

Haven’t played Hitman 3 yet, but one of my favourite things in this series was pulling off “silent assassin”, “suit only” and “sniper assassin” all in one go in the Miami level. It took hours and lots of thrown briefcases, but it was worth it.

They call him Ben "I swear i'm not an EGS shill" Crosshaw

I recently played through all of hitman 2 and my favourite mission ended up being the island resort one because I ran through it headshotting targets and escaped in 10 minutes with no guards spotting me.

Wow, I completely forgot to call the service guy about my pit of rotating knives. Thanks Yahtz!

IOI? Are you listening? I want another Freedom Fighters game!

I played Freedom Fighters a few times back on GameCube. I really liked it and the multi-player base control/deathmatch mode was fun!

That lee Harvey Oswald bit killed me

Oh man i would love a new Freedom Fighters, or at least a remake!

I like to play mission stories but without the markers. Not playing them often involves following the target for minutes before you see the glass of wine they drink from or the neon sign the walk under.

On the nose with the Mission Stories!

Elusive targets are exactly what fills that itch for "one shot, no retrying" gameplay, however their fomo was a double edged sword, since it's a lot of content with new dialogues and NPCs going down the drain once the contract expires.

The mission stories are by far the best parts of the levels actually. Just turn the hints off so that you actually have to explore the level to discover them. It makes the whole experience so much more rewarding rather than following sign posts to the next part of the objective.

This is a really solid review. Lots of good gags and jokes in this one.

The best way to play the newest Hitman trilogy is turn off all the assists! You actually have to think to solve the giant puzzles set for you and fully explore the maps to find all the pieces. Sure it takes waaaaaaaay longer but it’s so satisfying when you figure it out!

Makes me think that maybe IOI should release a counter-narrative game where you actually play as the famous detective from the Dartmoor level and you have to try and work out how the target was killed and by whom then investigate the ICA. The difficulty modes would be reflected by the star rating system at the end of the Hitman missions and if you seed your game with a friends gamer tag you get to play against their 47.

Omg. I just realized I want a James Bond RPG (a JRPG if you will). I want classic FF-esc sprites and power ups like martinis. You can build a party of Bond girls and drive a chocoBond car.

1:17 "TELL ME MORE ABOUT AUDIBLE SOUND."

I’ve heard that melody b4 on the early access portion. Anyone know what song that is

"Getting caught removing a waiter's trousers in a laundry room" is much more of a Murder She Wrote storyline.

Solid Johnny Cash reference right at the end

This one was a really good episode man keep it up

Chocolate .... raisins? *Visible disgust*

The BART station reference will miss a lot of people who are not from around or have ever been to SFO.

I remember playing Freedom Fighters on my original Xbox when I was younger.

The Hitman games of late have spent a long time perfecting the assassination mechanics that they've given up on story. The question then becomes which is more important, which is why we play the games and if the absence of the story is enough to condemn the games.

I’m sad that I won’t be able to see Funhaus play this one

Hit man 3 in a nutshell. Full game priced hit man 2 dlc that is extremely inconvenient to own.

I'll admit, I initially had to check to make sure this wasn't a repost after seeing the title

Please freedom fighters 2. The game had the best squad mechanics.

And now I have XTC singing 'The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead' in my brain.

There was a bart toilet reference in there - Does Yahtzee live in the bay?

How the hell does the trilogy not have morr content that two Blood Moneys honestly. The newer ones feel and play a lot more sandboxy with way more options than any of the levels in Blood Money

Lee Harvey Oswald in A Hitman Joke. That was gold.

The fun experience in hitman is turning those hints off and figure things out yourself.

If you haven't played Hitman 3 in VR you haven't played Hitman 3. It is fucking game changing.

That was one of the best credit animations lol

Just now realized one of the guys from Red Letter Media is in the intro commercial as a creator. Probably cus of Space Cop

A sandbox game is more fun as a sandbox? Who knew

This is honestly the only website / guy i contribute money to. Own all your books YC keep it up!

At a BART station? It's been a while since Australia, eh?

3:40 Yahtzee's impression of 47 is 100% accurate.

Wait... He said "BART Station"... This guy's in the bay area, like me! That's awesome!

I’d actually spunk on a frog, for a freedom fighters revive!

2:56 Couldn’t help but imagine Agent 47’s VA reading from Murder on the Orient Express for a moment.

gotta get this one day

My favorite way to play the new Hitman trilogy is with just one save. You gotta take out the first targets all in one go, save, and then go for the final one.

I think the Escalations are the best bit of these new Hitman games. They keep ramping up the tension & force you to be increasingly creative, whilst testing your knowledge of the maps. Sadly, I just found out that they don't have any VR support, so fingers crossed that changes along with the arrival for a PC VR version.

The absolute best way to play Hitman is to try to get silent assassin suit only on your first run through each level. It totally changes the way you play the game. I started doing it with the Hitman 2 levels and it's great. You have to focus on paying attention to routines, and you explore way more of the map than you normally would.

For this game, I tried something new. The first time I play a mission, no reloads. I either succeed or die. This led to a much more organic (and satisfying) playthrough.

that last joke was brutal

as soon as i saw the two bullet dodges at the end, my brain just said "Fish" and sure enough...

Missed opportunity to have Agent 47 on the grassy knoll.

I would not be mad, if they would make an sequel to Freedom Fighters :3

that's.. quite the BART reference

honestly i would rather play a James Bond Hitman clone. EA and Activision had the rights to make James Bond video games and all they did were FPS game

Is no one going to mention the return of the cocktail-party going bang&oluffsson speaker dude at 1:17? "TELL ME MORE ABOUT YOUR HOME ENTERNAINMENT SYSTEM"

My favorite part of the newer hitman games is just bringing all the explosives I can and blowing everyone sky high