8 Video Game Trilogies That Went From Bad To GREAT
3. Hitman
The original Hitman: Codename 47 categorically failed to make the most of its promising Assassin Simulator setup, and even when it released back in 2000, it was criticised for its annoyingly janky controls, risible enemy AI, and the unforgiving difficulty level caused by a lack of checkpoints.
Even at the time it was a chore to play, but an entire quarter-century later, where checkpoints and saves are a most basic quality-of-life feature? Fuhgeddaboudit.
Hitman 2: Silent Assassin marked a major step up, however, with its more refined stealth mechanics and iconic, all-timer levels, most notably St. Petersburg.
It had its stiff aspects, but it felt like the game that Codename 47 should've been, and Eidos outdid themselves again with the third game, Hitman: Contracts.
Contracts feels better to play, has more nuanced takedown mechanics, a grittier story, and more interesting assassination targets, marking the point at which Hitman truly found its feet as a franchise.
Seriously, go back and try to play the original Hitman today - it's a gruelling experience.