Hands On: Hitman: World of Assassination Is a Must-Play on PSVR2

Hitman in VR is a match seemingly made in heaven, but whether it was on PSVR, PCVR or Meta Quest, IO Interactive has never seemed to get it quite right.

The ill-fated PSVR release with Hitman 3 in 2021 was an admirable attempt, although shocking motion tracking through the DualShock 4 (?!) meant it felt like a half measure. However, IO is giving it yet another go with Sony’s flashier PSVR2, and y’know what? We think it’s finally got it right.

Hitman: World of Assassination is a collection of the entire IO Hitman reboot trilogy, including all 21 mainline missions, bonus missions and challenges, and the Freelancer mode. That’s a whole package that has been out for quite some time, but now with a small upgrade fee, most of it is playable on PSVR2 - DLC and Freelancer mode aren't supported at this time.

Regardless though, that still makes it one of the most expansive PSVR2 offerings out there, with dozens if not hundreds of hours of content, depending on how committed you are to killing your targets in a myriad of inventive ways.

But what exactly does the PSVR2 version of Hitman offer over previous VR attempts? The biggest inclusion is easily ambidextrous controls, meaning you now have individual control of both the left and right hands using the PSVR2 Sense Controllers. It might seem like an obvious starting point for some, but it was bafflingly missing from the PSVR version of the game.

This inclusion really opens up Hitman: World of Assassination, as you can now drag a body with a pistol at the ready, dual-wield knives, and generally you just have a freer sense of movement. It is a little at odds with the amount of interactable objects in the game, as we were always reaching for things we couldn’t actually pick up.

However, it’s a night and day difference from what came before, especially when concerning guns and shootouts. Hitman has never been a shooter — it’s kind of against the point — but now in VR, shootouts can be a ton of fun. The weapons feel weighty and responsive, they have manual reloading (a must for VR in our opinion), and with a half squeeze of R2 you can see a red bullet pathway for aim assist.

In flat screen, shootouts felt like you’d failed in some way, but we loved messing around with a full-on chaos run on PSVR2. And now that the weapon wheel is easily accessible, it made bringing out our various tools in the heat of combat much more viable. Our main annoyance is that the holster slots by your hips make a noise every time your hand swipes past them, which is all of the time.

It’s not all perfect, however, as there is some VR jank to be found. It can be awkward at times interacting with tools like the screwdriver or breaking open doors with the crowbar. Depending on how an NPC is situated, strangling them with the fibre wire can be finicky. Most of our issues are things that we eventually settled into, but you will encounter a handful of interactions that will bring you out of the game a little.

An interesting choice that could contribute to that is the perspective switching to third-person when using ladders and ledges, and when blending into the environment. We actually think this was a smart play.

Ladders have been done right before, but we imagine the ledges would have just been too weird to interact with, considering they weren’t originally made with VR in mind. And when blending in it still gives you that opportunity to scout out your surroundings like in the base game. It might not be as immersive, but ultimately we think it streamlines the whole VR process.

Visually, Hitman on PSVR2 is a delight. The sense of scale was captured in the PSVR version of the game, and it still hits here, but the visual clarity has been amped tenfold on PSVR2. Even under more intense scrutiny, the PSVR2 version lacks the anti-aliasing that was prominent in the last-gen headset, and it plays around with lighting in a really impressive way, helped by Sony’s OLED panels. That being said it does struggle a little in lower light, never quite reaching the true black featured in a game like Metro: Awakening.

Putting both its visual and control achievements together, you’ve got a supremely fun VR offering. We’ve sunk a lot of time into some of Hitman’s levels, and switching to that VR perspective made it feel like an entirely different game.

Physically peering around corners, lining up shots, and waiting patiently for your target to walk into your murder trap is much more immersive here. It certainly loses some of that sleekness found in the flat screen version, but it replaces it with a more chaotic experience overall.

Hitman: World of Assassination in VR is a massive step up from previous VR attempts, utilising the sharp display and pinpoint motion tracking of the PSVR2. If you’ve already played through IO’s incredible trilogy, then donning the VR perspective will feel like a brand new game.

It could do with a little smoothing out in some areas, but this VR update has essentially unlocked one of the most densely packed experiences the PSVR2 has to offer. If you have access to Sony’s headset, then this is a must-play.

Have you tried Hitman in VR yet? Are you impressed with IO Interactive's effort here? Brand yourself with a barcode in the comments section below.