Spoiler: This One Ended up Being about Hitman 2
I’m sitting at the keyboard pretty late tonight. About 10:30pm now as I start to write this. I’ve been seated since 10pm though staring at, or at least thinking about, this blank page here. There is no title. There is no plan. And unfortunately for me, I’ve already used the ‘I Don’t Know‘ theme for such a post just the other night. Miiight be a little bit soon to do it again.
It IS Topic Brainstorming week for Blapril though and I did find a few posts on the art of finding something to write about. I also discovered that something might be in the air. Or the water. Something anyway — as I’m not alone in struggling to find a topic tonight. Although that isn’t an entirely accurate description. I’ve thought of plenty of ideas. Just none of them really appealed right now.
So as you might’ve gathered — I’ve gone with a stream-of-consciousness style approach to beat back the tyranny of the blank page tonight. I actually really quite enjoy reading this style of post from others, yet it’s something I only ever really dabble in myself when I’m up against a time pressure with no clear idea how to beat it. I had started a post on Mount & Blade 2: Bannerlord — heck, I even created a new category for it, because I know, know that eventually it will be a game I post a fair amount about.
I’d uploaded my initial batch of screenshots for this post a few days ago even. I was ready! Except… Not. Ori and the Will of the Wisps is in a similar position. Might be an unconscious reaction to having done the Animal Crossing impressions post not all that long ago — and right or wrong; I have an expectation for these impressions style posts to be a little higher in quality than the average throw-away post. When up against a time pressure, I suppose that might be a little daunting! (It’s 10:47pm now — I’m also watching YouTube on the side. I probably shouldn’t if I want to focus… but I’m most certainly not going to stop. ;))
What has sort of been dancing in the back of my mind to perhaps write a little about instead is my first time loading up and playing a wee bit of Hitman 2 the other day.
You know what I didn’t realise until waaay later than I really should have? That screenshot above — it’s of the first mission in Hitman 2 — it takes place in New Zealand. Hawke’s Bay more specifically. That’s only about a 5 hour drive from where I sit right now!
I didn’t actually notice until I’d died a few times on the actual assassination attempt portion of the mission. Hoo boy did I blow that. Several times. I managed to work my way into a disguise easily enough, but there is an officer.. or.. boss… man… guy… who somewhat recognises his team and calls you out as as a silly-head if you venture too close to where your target is.
I realised the error of my ways on my approach and started to put into action my back-up plan: about-face and walk away like nothing happened.
But it was too late. He demanded I turn around and show him my face.
I saw no advantage to that course of action, so I carried out my walk-away plan. Onto the deck, where he followed me. Here I learnt that Agent 47 had another trick up his sleeve. The false surrender.
Now here was a plan I could get behind.
I put my hands up — still facing away from this guy, who by now had every right to be highly suspicious. I thought he might just shoot me where I stood, but no. He made a mistake. He walked close enough for me to lay hands on his gun with a bit of an acrobatic twist and then knock him out.
Except… I didn’t. You see; there was a bit of a quicktime sequence for the unarmed combat. That’s no problem. But then you were supposed to use the opening it provides to get a proper choke hold for a nighty-night move. I… did not know this. So when this guy shook off the effects of the initial knockin’ around I’d given him, he started to yell.
Skilled assassin Agent 47 may be — but unfortunately, bullet proof he is not. The reactions of the rest of the guard were swift and sure.
Plenty of other attempts ended with plenty of new ways to fail being discovered; but you know what? I actually had a lot of fun. One thing Hitman 2 (and Hitman 1 before it) does incredibly well is offer so many paths to success that something happens that almost never happens for me: I have quite a strong desire to replay levels and meet all the challenges.
I am not a completionist. Not even a little. Not normally. But these games? Somehow? They draw this out of me like crazy. Hitman 2 is still going to have to slot into gaming time that doesn’t clash with multiplayer-with-friends time; but I certainly hope to get in there again and revisit Hawke’s Bay a few more times to meet a few more challenges and achievements. :) (If you’re curious, it’s now 11:15pm — and over the course of writing this post I’ve also put some fresh cans of drink into the fridge, and one into the freezer because I’d like to drink it tonight! Ooh- Oooh; also! Final Fantasy VII remake unlocks in 45 minutes!!)
This was a post for Blapril 2020, the annual blogging event (albeit usually as Blaugust), brought forward to help bring a sense of community during the challenging time of COVID-19. Blaugust is an event aiming to welcome new blogger blood into the fold and revitalise those who’ve been at it a little longer.
The Blaugust Discord is still available to join in, year round!
