HITMAN 3 VR: Reloaded brings Agent 47’s world of stealth and high-stakes contracts into a fully immersive VR setting, offering a ‘built for VR’ twist on the series’ tried-and-true gameplay after Hitman 3 previously had VR support already. Published by XR Games, this VR adaptation is ambitious, pushing the Hitman experience onto the Meta Quest with new features like dual-wielding and refined movement options that attempt to capture the series’ trademark blend of strategy and improvisation. However, while HITMAN 3 VR: Reloaded introduces some intriguing concepts, the execution varies, and the game faces several challenges in translating a complex game world into VR.
The premise is classic Hitman fare, thrusting players into high-stakes scenarios where they must assassinate targets with finesse and/or creativity. Reloaded goes a step further by letting players interact physically with the environment – manually opening doors, climbing pipes, and dragging bodies add a more tactile element to the gameplay. This physicality is a significant step forward in making players feel part of Agent 47’s world. However, some of these interactions feel imprecise, which can disrupt immersion. For example, grabbing objects or bodies sometimes results in awkward animations, detracting from the sleek, professional feel of being the world’s top assassin that we’re used to from the flat screen version.
One of the major draws of Reloaded is the introduction of dual-wielding, letting players handle two items simultaneously—whether it’s silenced pistols for a quick takedown or creatively pairing a wrench and banana to baffle enemies. While fun, dual-wielding highlights the limitations of the control system, which can feel unresponsive during complex actions. The game’s revamped movement options are an improvement, though some maneuvers, like vaulting and crouching, can feel jarring and awkward in the heat of the moment. These mechanics make Reloaded a mixed experience; when everything aligns, the game achieves a sense of immersion, but technical hiccups can quickly and too often snap players out of the moment.
Visually, HITMAN 3 VR: Reloaded adopts a stylized art approach rather than a direct port of the original game’s graphics. This choice makes sense on the Meta Quest hardware, allowing for smoother performance in exchange for realism. However, while this aesthetic helps maintain performance, it can detract from the intricate world detail that Hitman fans are accustomed to, leaving environments feeling somewhat flat compared to their console or PC counterparts. At the same time, the game makes good use of ambient sounds and subtle cues to create tension, even if the visual impact feels diminished.
The game’s overhauled user interface is another feature worth mentioning, and it’s been redesigned specifically for VR to streamline interactions and enhance control intuitiveness. For the most part, this new UI simplifies navigating Hitman’s complex environments, although occasional bugs can disrupt gameplay flow. For example, interacting with items in crowded spaces can lead to accidental item swaps or misfires, which is a frustrating setback when aiming for precision as a pro hitman. This interface design is promising, but clearly lacking in terms of the series’ usual polish.
Ultimately, HITMAN 3 VR: Reloaded is an innovative but imperfect VR rendition of the franchise, offering new gameplay elements and an immersive look into Agent 47’s world. While the physical interactions and VR-exclusive features are engaging, the experience is undercut by technical issues and design compromises. Fans willing to overlook these hurdles may find an enjoyable VR adventure, especially with further updates. However, for players seeking a flawless stealth experience, HITMAN 3 VR: Reloaded might struggle to meet expectations in its current form.
Score: 6.2/10
Press Play Media 