Hitman 3

A great way to top off the Hitman series. Really these games are all about the levels. My favorite are Dubai, a level made of a giant many-floored mega tower full of the rich and elite, Chongqing, a rainy neon style Chinese city with a secret base hidden underneath, and Mendoza, a sprawling winery with a mansion in the center.
Dubiously these center around the overarching story which is fine. Ok we finally kill off the Constant, that guy with the name from that one organization we've been killing because they're...bad or whatever. 47 decides to keep killing at the end because he's The Hitman. Great.

But really those levels are fantastic. The detail. They're just absurdly gorgeous. Just typing this out I want to go back and marvel at all the different rooms. The different types of staff and their activities. I mean I didn't even really engage with half the systems or little stories in the game. The first time I play a level I invevitably get a little impatient and want to see the whole level. So what do I do? I start shooting. Because I'm on a PC and have reasonably good aim you can easily wipe out the 50 or so guards in the level pretty quickly and in the process you can traipse around wherever you like. In the process it is truly amazing to see the number of options available to you. Do you go in the front door. Or maybe the back door. Or the 80 other back doors. Or dress as a guard or a waiter or a cook or doctor? They all have advantages and disadvantages. Of course, if get a high level guard that usually means you basically "win".

Ah I do love these games. I'm excited to dive back and in and play the older levels in the newer engine. Because god damn it looks gorgeous.