FAQ And Walkthrough - Guide for Hitman: Absolution

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                               HITMAN: ABSOLUTION (PS3)
         FAQ/Walkthrough (C) 2012 Mike Penance ([email protected])
                                V E R S I O N   0.3
                     Last Updated:  November 22, 2012  12:01
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  The Latest Version of this document can ALWAYS be found at....

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  If this document is posted on an unlisted website - please let me know, so I
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  THE HAPPY LAWYER DEPARTMENT

  This document may not be reproduced under any circumstances, except for
  personal, private use.  It may not be placed on any website or otherwise
  distributed publicly without prior written permission.  Use of this document
  on any other website or as a part of any public display is strictly
  prohibited, and a violation of copyright.  The author of this guide cannot
  be held responsible for anything occurring from the misuse of this document.


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  TABLE OF CONTENTS

    1.....Introduction [01.00]
            - Instinct [01.01]
            - Trophies/Achievements [01.02]
    2.....Controls [02.00]
    3.....Tricks of the Trade [03.00]
    4.....Walkthrough [04.00]
            - A Personal Contract [04.01]
            - King of Chinatown [04.02]
            - Terminus [04.03]
            - Run For Your Life [4.04]
    5.....Weapons [05.00]
            - Melee/Close Combat [05.01]
            - Handguns [05.02]
            - Assault Rifles [05.03]
            - Shotguns [05.04]
            - Sniper Rifles [05.05]
            - Special Weapons and Equipment [05.06]
    6.....Cheats, Codes, and Easter Eggs [06.00]
    7.....Frequently Asked Questions [07.00]
    8.....Credits and Outro [08.00]

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 In this update: Updated 'Instinct,' updated 'Controls,' added 'Tricks of the
               Trade.'  Added walkthroughs for 'Run For Your Life,'
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------


 ==============================================================================
      Introduction                                                   01.00
 ==============================================================================

     It's been six or seven years since our lasting outing, and I'm
unbelievably glad that we get to do it all over again.  Times are hard and
friends are few, and Agent 47 finds himself alone in the world -- more so than
he's ever been -- and hunted, without the support of the Agency that he's so
thoroughly come to rely upon.  Come on, let's go.


 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Instinct                                                       01.01
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

     The amount of Instinct you have at your disposal is indicated by the
yellow semicircle in the lower-right corner of the screen.  On Normal
difficulty, Instinct can be replenished by performing stealthy actions, such as
interacting with the environment (like the valve wheel during 'A Personal
Contract'). On Hard and Expert difficulty, Instinct cannot be replenished.
On Purist difficulty, Instinct is disabled altogether.

When you hold the R1 button, 47 will enter Instinct mode.  In this mode, items
of interest and armed individuals are highlighted in yellow.  Those that are
actively looking for you will show up in orange.  Trails of fire on the ground
indicate the intended route that a patrol will take.  Walls prove no obstacle
to Instinct mode, and it can effectively be used as x-ray vision, allowing you
to get the drop on your targets.  While wearing a disguise, holding R1 will
allow you to blend in to a greater degree, avoiding suspicion from those
wearing the same costume.  If an enemy is already suspicious of you, Instinct
will be ineffective.

Instinct is not just limited to just passive feats.  Pressing the square button
while aiming will enter Point Shooting mode.  In this mode, time will slow down
significantly.  During this time, aim at an enemy and press R2 to tag them.
Once you're happy, press the square button a second time to resume time and
execute all your tagged shots.  Instinct depletes incredibly quickly in this
mode, so use it with caution.


 ==============================================================================
     Controls                                                        02.00
 ==============================================================================

                  L1/L2              | |                R1/R2
                _,.--.,_             | |              _,.--.,_
               |  _____ |            | |             | _____  |
               |-'     `'.___________|_|____________,'`     `-|
             ,'    __     `.                      ,'    .,.    `.
            /     |  |      \       SONY         /     (/_\)     \
           !   __  \/  __    |                  !  ,-.  `-'  ,-.  |
           |  |__ >  < __|   !__SELECT   START__| ([] )     ( O ) !
           !       /\        ___`-.        ,-'     `-'  ,-.  `-'  |
           |\     |__|     ,'   `. \ANALOG/ ,'   `.    ( X )     /|
           | `.           /  L3   \ |    | /   R3  \    `-'    ,' |
           |   `-.____,-. \       / |____| \       / ,-.____,-'   |
           |           ,'\ `.___,' /      \ `.___,' /`.           |
           |          /   `-.___,-'        `-.___,-'   \          |
           \         /                                  \         /
            \       /                                    \       /
             `.__,-'                                      `-.__,'

     L1: Run.

     L2: Aim gun/object.

     L3: Change what side of the screen the camera sits on.

     R1: Hold to enter Instinct mode.

     R2: Press to fire gun/throw object.  If you half-press it, it will focus
       your aim, allowing you to deal greater damage with higher accuracy.
       Also used to tag shots in Point Shooting mode.

     R3: Toggle sneak.

     S: Execute a melee attack from the front.  Perform a stealth attack from
      behind (while undetected).  Enter Point Shooting mode while aiming.  
      Execute all tagged shots in Point Shooting mode.

     T: Press and hold to pick up and drop items.  Perform context-sensitive
      commands, such as hiding bodies, sabotaging things, or picking locks.

     O: Enter/leave cover. Press and hold to drag a body. 

     X: Perform context-sensitive environmental commands, such as climbing and
      swapping cover.  Hold it to change clothes.

     D-Pad L/R: Select weapons.

     D-Pad U: Zoom in the sniper scope.
    
     D-Pad D: Holster/draw weapon.  Zoom out the sniper scope.

     Start: Once again summons an army of ninja,  Or maybe just a pause button.

     Select: Enter briefing/challenge menu.


 ==============================================================================
     Tricks of the Trade                                             03.00
 ==============================================================================

 === Costume Changes ===

     The vast majority of the people in the game offer up their clothes when
suitably incapacitated (like real life).  Different disguises allow access to
different areas of the level, but one disguise is seldom better than others.
People wearing the same clothes as you are capable of seeing through your
disguise without any prior invitation by yourself.  Quickly taking cover when
the attention arrows appear on screen or breaking out Instinct are the best
ways to avoid blowing your cover.

Depending on the disguise, you can brandish weapons openly without arousing
suspicion.  On top of that, you can make use of certain environmental items to
avoid suspicion.  For example, while dressed as a Janitor, you can interact
with a mop to make you less suspicious.  Police Officers can eat doughnuts,
Electricians can mess with fuseboxes, etcetera.


 === False Surrender ===

     When challenged to surrender, press and hold the X button to, well,
surrender.  When an enemy approaches to arrest you, you'll automatically
counter, taking their weapon and grabbing them as a human shield.


 === Focus Fire ===

     While aiming, rather than fully pressing the R2 button, squeeze it.
Squeeze it like you like it.  The crosshair will narrow, letting you know
you've achieved focus fire.  Your next shot will now be more accurate and deal
more damage.


 === Incapacitating ===

     While standing behind someone, pressing the square button while unarmed
will initiate a choke-hold.  Repeatedly tapping the square button will cause
the target to lose consciousness.  After someone has been weakened enough,
pressing the triangle button will snap their neck.


 === Melee ===

     If you stand in front of someone and press the square button, you'll
initiate a melee attack.  Attacking someone that is unarmed will result in an
instant knockout.  Attacking someone that's armed and capable of fighting back
will initiate a melee sequence, where you have to press two or three button
prompts that appear on-screen to initiate a knockout.

If you press the wrong button, the enemy will strike back and you'll have to
try again.  If an enemy initiates a melee attack first, you'll be prompted to
press the circle button to counter.  Performing a melee attack with a weapon
equipped will result in you performing that particular weapon's melee attack,
resulting in an instant kill.  The same is true from behind.


 === Throwing ===

     Hold L2 and press R2 to throw the item currently in your hand.
Guns, Books, etcetera all serve as rather nice distractions.  The better to 
lure guards from their posts, Little Red Riding Hood.  Knives and other pointed
instruments are much more fun  Move the cursor over your target and wait for a
red circle to appear over their head.  This means that when you throw the
weapon, it'll instantly kill the target.


 ==============================================================================
     Walkthrough                                                     04.00
 ==============================================================================

     At the moment, the walkthrough covers only Enhanced Normal, the default
difficulty setting.  Once I've covered it fully, I'll cover Hard Mode and
Purist Mode, as well as the Challenges.  Not everything will be perfect at this
time, but that'll change soon enough.


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      A Personal Contract                                            04.01
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

     [ ] Access mansion grounds
     [ ] Infiltrate Greenhouse
     [ ] Get Keycard from Head of Security
     [ ] Locate second floor entrance
     [ ] Locate Diana
     [ ] Get to Victoria

 === Garden ===

     Make your way towards the main gate.  You can't get through that way, so
cut down the path to the left.  The solitary Mansion Exterior Guard here can
either be subdued silently or distracted.  To distract him, take the Wrench
sitting atop the rock and throw it towards the buckets.  This will give you
time enough to sneak past him.

Because of the tutorial nature of this opening mission, you won't be able to
continue over the fallen tree until you take cover against it and aim your
Silenced Silverballer at the Exterior Guard.  Subdue him and hide his
unconscious form in the hopper in front of you.  Head onto the tennis court,
ignoring the Exterior Guard on the phone, and exit via the path to the left.

Follow the path towards the stairs, keeping an eye on the nearby Exterior
Guard, as he's apt to spot you if you're not quick enough.  Make your way up
the stairs and follow the path around to that very Guard.  Either subdue him or
distract him by grabbing the nearby Book and giving it a good throw past his
line-of-sight.  If you subdued him, do be sure to drag the body back around the
corner.  It's unsightly where it is.

Head left and place yourself behind the wall overlooking the bridge.  The two
Exterior Guards here will be having a chitchat, so bide your time.  During a
point in their conversation, the older Guard will lead the younger one away
from the bridge he was guarding.  Use this opportunity to sneak over it and
enter the Greenhouse.

 === Greenhouse ===

     There are a couple of Exterior Guards here, but despite the confined
space, there are plenty of counters to hide behind.  Hug the first counter and
wait for one of the Guards to come over and admire the view.  While he's there,
you can either sneak past him or you can just sidle up to him and push him over
the edge.  The second Guard, at the back of the area, can be given the same
treatment.

To get into the Greenhouse proper, which is round to the right, by the way,
you're going to need a suitable disguise.  Over on the table near the hopper is
a Gardener disguise.  This will, wait for it, allow you to enter the
Greenhouse.  Walk on over to the Guard and Gardener on the bridge.  The
Gardener will be able to see through your disguise, so use Instinct until
you're safely beyond the range of his suspicion.

Make your way through the Greenhouse, breaking out Instinct whenever a Gardener
should get too interested in you.  That shouldn't happen more than once if you
stick to the right side of the area, though.  At the back of the Greenhouse,
you'll see a valve on the wall.  Turning this valve will disperse the Guards
hovering around the exit to the left.  The Guards will head through the door.
Follow behind them, but make sure you're sneaking, as you're not supposed to be
there.  They're busy talking, so you're free to simply ignore them and continue
your business - and your business is to head up those stairs.  At the top,
sneak over to the wall of the building and hop over to that ledge.

 === Cliffside ===

     The ledge only goes so far along the building, so you'll have to drop down
to the one below once you run out of foot room.  As you make your way along
this ledge, you'll have to head past two windows.  There's a Mansion Interior
Guard inside, so wait for him to leave before continuing.  After which, pull
yourself up to the ledge above and continue along.

There's another window here, and it's occupied by a rather animated Interior
Guard taking a call.  If you wait long enough, he'll wander off, allowing you
to climb inside.  There's another one inside, so snuggle the counter until he's
finished chastising the first one and moved out of the way.  Head into the
building via the double doors over to the right, then make your way around to
the right.  Grab the Evidence [1/2] over on the bookcase, then don the Mansion
Interior Guard disguise found over on the table to the right.  You can also
disable the security system here, so do it and save yourself some trouble,
before exiting via the only other door here.

 === Mansion Ground Floor ===

     Unlockable Skill: Weapon Handling I

     Make your way around to the left and into the kitchen.  Hide behind the
counter and wait for the Interior Guard to leave, then subdue the Chef and
relieve him of his clothes.  There's a chest freezer over on the left side of
the kitchen where you can hide him.  Head out of the kitchen the way you came
in, then make your way right and sneak up the stairs.  Quickly enter the
bathroom and grab the Sleeping Pills off the counter.  There's a checkpoint
here if you wish to activate it.  Wait with your back to the door wall until
the Guard leaves his posts and enters, then subdue him and stash his body in
the hamper.

Head back down the stairs and into the main area.  Head over to the bar, and
when no-one is looking, dump the Sleeping Pills into the coffee.  Wait around
in the kitchen until the Head of Security comes to take a sip of coffee.
Follow him as he staggers off, then relieve him of the Keycard once he's lost
consciousness.  Drag him over to the closest and stash him inside.  Head back
into the main area and take the Evidence [2/2] from the table below the
painting. Head up to the second floor and use the Keycard on the door over on
the right of the floor

 === Mansion Second Floor ===

     You can't sneak here, so don't bother.  Head up the stairs and follow the
path around to the door at the end - to Diana.  Once the cut-scene is over,
make your way around into the lounge.  Head through the door and hug the wall
for cover.  The area is swarming with Interior Guards, so once you're at the
end of the cover, point shoot all four of them in the head.  Once they're down,
head down the stairs and pick the locked door.  Once the cut-scene is finished,
the mission is over.


 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      King of Chinatown                                              04.02
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

     [ ] Locate the King of Chinatown
     [ ] Eliminate the King of Chinatown

 === Chinatown Square ===

     Unlockable Skill: Chameleon

     Make your way down the alley and through the gate at the end.
Keep pushing forward until you reach the central area, where upon arriving,
you'll be informed that you've successfully found your mark.  Well, that was
easy.  Let's all go home.  No?  Oh, alright, then.

Ignore him for now and make your way right.  There's an alley just to the right
of the tattoo parlour, but it's guarded by a Chicago Police Officer (CPO).
Sabotage the fusebox and sneak past him while he's investigating it.  Head up
the stairs and wait with your back to the wall so that you can see anyone
coming out of the door.  When the Dealer comes down the stairs, jump him and
drag him back up the stairs.  Drag him into the room and drop him next to the
hopper.

Take the Kazo TRG off the table, and walk to the window, where you'll see that
you're quite nicely overlooking the pagoda.  When the King of Chinatown comes
back, put a bullet between his eyes and holster the rifle.  Change into the
Dealer's clothes and hide the body, then saunter casually downstairs as the
Chicago SWAT Officers come rushing up.

Make your way back into the main area.  The Evidence [1/1] can be found on a
table in the pagoda, so swing by on your way to the exit.  The exit is marked
by a large rubber duck with a chef's hat.  The SWAT near the door may caution
you as you walk past, but it's more to the effect of telling you to go home,
which you are.


 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Terminus                                                       04.03
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

     [ ] Gain access to the upper floors
     [ ] Get to the eighth floor
     [ ] Get to room 899

 === Terminus Hotel ===

     Unlockable Skill: Instinctive Shot I

     The hotel is situated at the far end of the alley.  To the right of the
entrance is a maintenance van.  Head over to it and appropriate the Wrench,
then throw it at the van door and back off.  The Electrician will cut short his
conversation and investigate.  Subdue him and take his clothes when he does,
then drag his body to the dumpster across the street, keeping the van between
you and the Hope Goon.

Head into the building via the main entrance and head right.  Enter the 'Staff
Only' area on your left and head around into the office, where you'll find some
Evidence [1/2].  Head back out the way you came and make your way right, into
the second 'Staff Only' area at the end.  Climb out of the window and head
through the door at the other side of the alley.  This little excursion is
purely because we didn't want to walk past an Electrician in the narrow
hallway.  Head through the door in front of you and into the laundry room.

Drop down the laundry chute, and upon exiting the room you land in, take a
right and follow the path around to the room at the end.  Change into the
Janitor disguise and trigger the checkpoint, then head back out the way you
came and take a right.  Take the second left and call the elevator.
While you're waiting for it to arrive, hide around the corner.

 === Upper Floors ===

     Unlockable Skill: Pain Suppression I

     You can relax a little now, as the Janitor has almost free access to the
floor and there isn't anyone here that can blow your cover.  Cut a sharp left
and enter the 'Staff Only' area on the right.  Grab the Movie Reel, then head
back out and  make your way around to the right, noting the Keycard door.
When you see the candles on the floor, that's your cue to turn right.  To the
left of the window is a vent - climb into it.

The guy in the room at the end will be far too busy with his phone, the maid,
or the one trillion boxes of shoes to notice you sneak over to the dresser and
take the Keycard.  While there may be a guard on the locked door, he won't
actually stop you from entering the restricted area.  Make your way upstairs,
activating the checkpoint as you go.  After the bear, have a little peak around
the corner.  When the Goon goes to the window, take the opportunity to sneak
into the room opposite you and grab the Hope Goon disguise off the table.

Exit via the other door and enter the projection room.  If there are two Goons
in there, hide against the shelving to the right until one leaves.  When he
does, incapacitate the remaining one and stash him in the closet.  If there's
just one of them, you'll probably be best off waiting for him to come and go.
Start the projector and head out into the main area, which is now clear.
In the top-left corner of the area is a corridor marked by a red light.
Sneak over to it and pick the lock on the door at the end.  Inside, you'll find
the door to be locked, so climb into the vent on the right of it and crawl all
the way to the end to end the level.


 ==============================================================================
      Frequently Asked Questions                                     07.00
 ==============================================================================

 === General Questions ===

 Q: Why can't I get a Silent Assassin rating?

 A: Sometimes there quite simply aren't enough points for you to collect,
    and that's mostly down to a mission having no target.  In order to get a
    Silent Assassin rating on some missions, you'll need to play the game on
    Purist difficulty, where the score multiplier is far more generous.


 === Questions About This Guide ===

 Q: Can I use your guide on my site?

 A: As of this moment, no you cannot host my guide.  Why?  Because I believe
    that the number of sites that I'm allowing to host this guide is enough,
    enough to keep track of and enough to provide adequate distribution to you,
    the wonderful FAQ-reading public.


 Q: I have this guide, would it be okay if I used a part of yours?

 A: *Chokes* part of mine?  What would be the point of that?  You can use my
    guide as reference for all the things that I can't own (i.e. facts), but
    you can't go lifting entire paragraphs, even if you credit me for it.
    Just read the copyright notice at the top of this guide, and then think
    twice before 'borrowing' anything from me.


 Q: If I've found something that you were too stupid to include, or something
    that you've missed, what should I do?

 A: You could take it, turn it sideways and shove it... *ahem* just drop me
    a line and tell me in exact detail as to what it was that I screwed up on
    or missed out.  If you can help me to make this guide more accurate, youll
    win a cookie, a kudos cookie (great on calories, lousy on taste).


 ==============================================================================
      Credits and Outro                                              08.00
 ==============================================================================

     We're getting there, but we're not quite there.  Not yet.  There are
things still to be done, events still to unfold, and people still left to
inhume.  That's means that we can hang out a bit longer, which is groovy, I
guess.  Righty right - back to work.


 === Special Mentions and Thanks ===

  The layout of this guide is based upon the layout used by Dalez in his Breath
    of Fire IV guide [http://www.gamefaqs.com/features/recognition/2741.html].

     If for some strange reason, you would actually like to thank me, feel free
to pay me a visit and leave a comment [http://mikepenance.tumblr.com] and
pledge to serve as my vassal - too far?  Well, just sign it and leave out the
"serving me for all eternity" bit (if you like).


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No, Mr. President, they have no idea of my true identity.  Yes, Mr. President,
it all went according to plan.  Shall I continue with the second phase of the
operation?  Yes, sir, understood.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

===============================================================================
     Hitman: Absolution (C) 2012 IO Interactive
          Hitman: Absolution - FAQ/Walkthrough (C) 2012 Mike Penance
===============================================================================