8 Life Lessons I learnt from the World of Hitman 3
It's been quite a while since I played Hitman. So at the start of this year, when I was looking for something to get back into gaming, I found my favorite sandbox stealth game, Hitman. I took my sweet time with the levels this time around. But, you know how it goes, once you start a level, you just get sucked into its depth.
I had stepped away from the series last year when I found myself getting addicted to its world and the freedom it provided in how I could take down my target. One of the key aspects of the game was it's Mission Stories, which was the games way of holding your hand when playing a mission.
The Mission Stories were exactly what I thought was wrong with the new Hitman series, and one of the reasons I stayed away from the series for quite a while. It is only later that I came to realize that they were a suggestive means on how to approach a level, the developers way of introducing you to the level by curating the experience and the game's inbuilt easy mode (apart from the actual easy mode).
You can totally choose to ignore them and play the game your way and discover the level's secrets at your own pace. Though my journeys across the levels of Hitman 3, I found a number of essential lessons that I could apply not only to the world of assassination, but to my life as well.
1. The World is your sandbox
Hitman provides you the freedom to approach your target and take them down however you wish. Each chapter is based in a unique location and you are free to do whatever you please and I mean whatever!
Do you want to take down every enemy in the level to reach your target? You can. Do you want to approach the whole situation with stealth? You can. There are of course consequences for each and every approach. There is so much around the world that you leverage and make use of to your advantage to reach your goal. The world truly is your sandbox to approach and take down your target however you wish.
That holds true to our world too as you can go out and make your way through the world as you wish. Certain actions hold dire consequences, but you are free to do them. There is so much that is accessible to us that we can choose to make use of.
2. Choose your weapon wisely
Your weapon of choice determines your story. Before you begin your mission, you have the opportunity to prepare. You can choose to have a weapon on you to help you in your approach. Your weapon of choice determines your story. In Hitman, selecting a sniper rifle versus a poison vial can dramatically alter how your mission unfolds.
Similarly, in life, we have ample chance to choose our tools. These tools that we choose to tackle our challenges, be it education, skills, or even our attitudes, shape our journey and outcomes. Each tool changes the way we approach a situation and sometimes, it is good to combine a few to acheive the outcome we hope for.
3. Look out for opportunities
The narrative is for you to exploit. Storytelling in the world of Hitman is not just about following a preset path, but about recognizing and seizing opportunities as they present themselves. A casual conversation overheard or a misplaced keycard can be the key to your success.
This teaches us to be vigilant in our daily lives, always on the lookout for chances to grow, learn, or advance ourselves. There is always an opportunity to exploit and move forward. All we need to do is look.
4. Observe the routine
Everyone follows a routine in Hitman. This observation is crucial for planning your approach. The target follows a loop that we can observe and make use of when architecting our kills.
Understanding the patterns and routines of the people around us (and ourselves) can provide valuable insights. It can help us anticipate challenges, find the best times to act, and even identify areas for personal improvement.
5. Find the right disguise
Play as anyone. There's always a disguise that allows us to access areas that are restricted. We just have to find the right attire, sometimes, it will be a lowly servant, at others, it will be a security personnel with access, and many-a-time, it will be a guest of the target. While disguises allow us to roam freely in the game, there are people who can see through the Hitman's guise and will likely report us. So, tread with awareness.
Just as the right disguise can grant access to restricted areas in Hitman, adopting the right persona or skillset can open doors in our professional and personal lives. However, it's important to remember that while we may wear many hats, staying true to our core self is crucial.
6. Speed or Elegance
Be a true assassin. Hitman offers the choice between quick, efficient eliminations and elaborate, stylish takedowns. While you can be bombastic in your assassinations, you lose the fun of the finesse as you take your time and plan elaborately.
This reflects life's constant balance between getting things done quickly and doing them with finesse. Sometimes efficiency is key, while other situations call for a more nuanced, careful approach.
7. Patience is key
In Hitman, rushing often leads to failure. Your disguise is blown and everyone is out to get you and the whole plan goes up in flames.
The same applies to life. Great achievements and personal growth usually require time and patience. Learning to wait for the right moment, to plan carefully, and to execute with precision are skills that serve well both in the game and in real life.
8. Enjoy
Finally, it is a game, after all, with its many possibilities laid out to us. So have fun and enjoy as you go about the World of Assassination. While achieving the objective is important, the journey, exploring the level, trying different approaches, even failing and learning from mistakes, is what makes the game truly enjoyable.
Life, too, is not just about reaching goals but about enjoying the experiences along the way.
Closing Thoughts
Hitman is quite a fun game, but beyond that it is a sandbox that mirrors life in many ways, teaching us valuable lessons about adaptability, observation, patience, and the importance of enjoying the journey.
Whether you're planning a virtual assassination or tackling real-life challenges, these lessons from Hitman can guide you to approach situations with creativity, patience, and a sense of adventure.
So, while you are at it, have fun and play the game of Life with this tricks up your sleeve.
Originally to be published on 27th April 2023.