- Two Hitman the developers discussed how the team chose some of the locations featured in the franchise
- Each location will “usually host a special event”
- The developers also wanted to reflect different types of spy fantasies.
In a recent interview with TechRadar Gaming, two Hitman the developers explained how they chose some of the world locations that appeared as levels in the series.
“It always starts with ‘wouldn’t it be cool if 47 went somewhere?’ If you step back and look at the different places and what’s happening, […] we usually have a special event there,” explained Jacob Mikkelsen, legendary level designer at series developer IO Interactive.
He then identified the first major level of 2016. Hitman as an example. “In the case of Paris, the writer Michael had this setup where we have this Russian oligarch who owns a fashion company, and then his accomplice sells these spy secrets at a secret auction that takes place at the same time, under the cover of the fashion show.”
“I was talking with Martin, the artistic director at the time, about where all this should take place, and then he said, ‘I think it should be a palace in Paris,’ and I was like, ‘okay, cool, but they’re pretty big, right?’ and it was like, ‘I need a yard for the fashion show,’ so I went scouting in Paris on Google Maps,” he continued.
“I found the different palaces in Paris, and I ended up with the Palais du Luxembourg and I chose [to base the map on] this one, due to the shape of the building, allows for ledges around it, so this would work great for agility all around the building on the exterior.
According to Christian Elverdam, creative director and director of several Hitman titles, the central question is always “what is the most complex social event we can imagine at this moment?” »
The next question then is “How can 47 have a disguise that fits him into this? You know, being on stage.” Then, of course, it’s “what’s the biggest chandelier you’ve crushed someone on?”
Jack of all trades
Elverdam also explained that very special attention was paid to realizing different types of spy fantasies in each level.
“In Paris, Diana was contacted by MI6 to get a list of NOC agents and stop this auction of secrets. It’s basically what James Bond would do if he were in-universe,” he said.
“We were flirting with agent fantasy. Then we wanted to make Sapienza a little bit more like a Mission Impossible plot, with this DNA-specific virus. I will say it’s funny that later that became the plot of No Time to Die. […] but it was actually something we thought could be in a Mission Impossible movie. We wanted Marrakech to have some of these new vibes, like Jason Bourne. »
These ideas associated with the different locations that the developers wanted to include as “a wedding”, he argued. “It’s quite organic.”
Hitman: World of Assassinationa compilation of the three recent Hitman games, is available now on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X and Series S, Xbox One and PC, or as a Hitman World of Assassination – Signature Edition for Nintendo Switch 2.
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