This self-awareness (at another moment an NPC waxes poetic about his gun) lends a very subtle lightness to the level that keeps it from being overwhelmingly. It isn’t quite as personality-filled as NPC dialogue in previous episodes, but these NPCs are here to serve less as characters and more as obstacles to keep the level tense.

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The episode culminates by pushing the Hitman plot forward (yes: there are photos attached with string). This happened in a sudden rush that left me a little cold. The plot’s been more hinted at than present in the series to date, and I won’t lie that some of the reveals were lost on me, or just didn’t register. Mostly I was frustrated that, given the more narrative nature of the level’s end, there was only one exit point, since cool escapes are one of my favorite Hitman features. I’m curious to see how the plot ends out, and given that there’s only one more level to go, I can understand this set-up, but it was still slightly disappointing.

Episode 5 feels tough in an engaging, interesting way. It shares some similarities with Marrakesh, but it seems to have added and refined features. It’s hostile but not too stressful, straightforward stealth but not unforgiving. It’s tough as nails. I can’t imagine what a suit only/silent assassin run would look like, but I’m excited to try to find out.