IO Interactive, the studio behind theHitmanrevival trilogy, has been chipping away at an as-of-yet unrevealedJames Bondgame, currently referred to as simplyProject 007. As audiencesawait more updates about theBondproject, the strongest evidence for its forthcoming success is IOI’s stellar modern track record.
TheHitman World of Assassination Trilogy, though often classified as stealth, adheres more closely to the tenets of the puzzle and immersive sim genres. Each level is a veritable playground for Agent 47 and his murderous deeds, with every NPC, interactive environmental element, and item, regardless of inherent lethality, having the potential for serious (or not so serious) utility. This combination of methodical and improvisational gameplay buttresses the elite assassin fantasy, which has obvious crossover with the most essential characteristics of James Bond. In fact, it can be argued that the experience offered by IOI’sHitmangames is closer to a “James Bond simulator” than the likes ofGoldeneye, which is more like a stereotypical FPS of its era. With so much promise, hopes are high for IOI’s crack atJames Bond, but there are still a few roadblocks in the way.
IO Interactive’s Take On James Bond Could Make for a Tricky Trilogy
IOI Is “Hopeful” That Project 007 Will Be a Trilogy
Of all the potentialsimilarities between modernHitmanandProject Bond, one of the most intriguing is the possibility of the latter becoming a trilogy akin toWorld of Assassination. After all, while Agent 47 undergoes a personal journey in his games, Bond is a character that necessitates a more intimate and progressive narrative in some ways. Additionally, and perhaps even more importantly, Bond is a relatively grounded protagonist who doesn’t “scale” his abilities in the way that a typical gaming lead would.
It’s quite possible that IOI will directly translateits overarching progression system from theWorld of Assassinationtrilogy, linking eachJames Bondrelease so that all three effectively form a single whole, but this might be a little too predictable. A lot ofHitmanelements would carry over well to aJames Bondtitle, but this approach runs the risk of makingProject 007feel too “game-y,” in the sense that it would undermine its storytelling potential. Assuming that IOI wants to take a mature angle with its version of Bond, a more traditional style of cross-entry progression and power scaling may be in order.
Hitman’s Leveling System Could Be Adapted to Project 007
IfProject 007assumes a quasi-RPG design philosophysimilar to that ofWorld of Assassination, then a progression model built around gadgets, rather than physical abilities, makes a lot of sense. Virtually nothing is known about IOI’s plans for a three-gameJames Bondstory, but such a structure lends itself well to one major threat that escalates over each release. The games' progression could be linked to this long-term plot element.
As the “big bad” ofProject 007gets progressively stronger or more intimidating by way of their resources, so could Bond and his team at MI6. Essentially, while theWorld of Assassinationtrilogy grants players access to new itemsas they level up,Project 007could tie its espionage and combat tools to its narrative, with Q (or his equivalent) devising new gadgets and other implements for Bond, specifically designed to counter certain threats. If the game leans into the more high-techBondmovies, like those of the 80s and 90s, then this could work even better.
AJames Bondseries designed around gear would be aperfect follow-up to theWorld of Assassinationtrilogy, which does such a great job of making each interactive item interesting and useful. If IO Interactive can recreate this strength inProject Bond, it could set the stage for an exciting and progressively engaging trilogy.
Hitman World of Assassination
WHERE TO PLAY
Enter the world of the ultimate assassin.BECOME AGENT 47-Suit up for a spy-thriller adventure where all your deadly abilities are put to the test across more than 20 locations.FREEDOM OF APPROACH-Your deadliest weapon is creativity. Unlock new gear and up your game on highly replayable missions.WORLD OF ASSASSINATION -Travel a living, breathing world, filled with intriguing characters and lethal opportunities.HITMAN FREELANCER -A new way to play on your own terms, that combines rogue-like elements and deep strategic planning with a persistent and infinitely replayable gameplay experience.HITMAN World of Assassination brings together the best of HITMAN, HITMAN 2 and HITMAN 3 including the main campaign, contracts mode, escalations, elusive target arcades and featured live content.
