Our guess is that IO is utilizing a somewhat old-school but expensive technique: render-to-texture. The reflections look phenomenal, but how are they achieved? Multiple reflective surfaces can provide several views on the scene, while mirrors are everywhere and can be very useful in the stealth gameplay. The show-stopper, though, is the introduction of full reflections across many surfaces in the environment, well demonstrated by the huge glass windows of the house in the opening level which provide a fully animated reflection of the world outside, 47 included, as well as a view on the interior. Advanced lens flares add additional vibrance to Hitman 2's look. Picture-in-picture is a neat new feature that shows security camera footage and other useful perspectives on the scene. There's now thick foliage too, which is nicely animated and shaded as well as providing Agent 47 with cover for the first time. Returning from the previous game is extensive use of parallax occlusion maps, which add a lot of depth to surface textures - especially noticeable on the sand in the game's opening scene. There's a lot to discuss, but a couple of features are particularly worth highlighting here. In the video below, I walk through a couple of levels to give a detailed breakdown of Hitman 2's tech - and detail is an appropriate word to use, as this game boasts huge areas packed with intricate detail and dynamic elements. IO has spent years perfecting its engine technology to support this type of game and a few of the new features introduced in Hitman 2 are quite eye-catching. Hitman 2, released last week, is a continuation of the work IO started on the 2016 game, with six new environments and new gameplay features and options.įrom our perspective, however, the most exciting improvements stem from changes made to IO Interactive's in-house Glacier 2 engine. That game has been widely recognised for its remarkably complex, systematic world, engaging design and highly replayable missions - it's a remarkable achievement. 18 years after the release of the original Hitman: Codename 47, the series lives on - yet it was arguably only with the release of the 2016 game that Danish studio IO Interactive perfected the formula.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |