Pros: More ways to complete a mission, not as hard to finish.
Cons: Easy to screw up, a little confusing.
The bottom line: Hitman Contracts is challenging and fun, but can be a pain if you don't have the patience to play it.
Game: Hitman: Contracts
Makers: Eidos, Io

My Reviews Are Rated as Follows:

100 total points are possible. There are ten categories, ten points available for each.
(Categories may change depending on the style of the game.)

1. Introduction/Opening
2. Storyline
3. Graphics
4. Originality
5. Soundtrack
6. Individualistic Characters
7. Replay Values
8. Difficulty
9. Excitement Factor
10. Controls

The Scale:
100-85 – Excellent, worth a pre-order.
84-70 – Average, worth it once the price goes down.
69-55 – Below average, buy it Used
54 and Under – Rent it or avoid it.

Agent 47 is back once again, but in a prequel, well, sort of. Between Codename 47 and Silent Assassin, anyway. It seems our friendliest Hitman is having a bad day. He's been shot, and suffering flashbacks. That's where you come in, completing the missions in these flashbacks.

Introduction/Opening
This one can be confusing, especially if you've never played a Hitman title. You start off watching a television program on the handgun. But just as the gun on the T.V. discharges, so does a real one, right into Agent 47. Or is it one of the other Agent clones? You're left wondering what is going on, which makes you want to play. So, even though it's strange, it does what it's supposed to.
The Introduction receives an 8 out of 10.

Storyline
As you progress in the game, you see snippets of Agent 47 dealing with being shot, phasing into a flashback. It's very strange, but unique as well. Most of the missions have nothing to do with each other until the last handful, keeping it fresh. While it is mysterious, it doesn't go very deep, and there isn't much of a mystery to solve in the end.
The Storyline receives a 6 out of 10.

Graphics
The graphics haven’t improved much since Silent Assassin. While the guns still look realistic, the character models and environments still have problems. The enemies and NPCs are mostly the same character, and some have even been recycled from Silent Assassin. While some things have been made smoother, it feels the same as its predecessor.
Graphics receives a 4 out of 10.

Originality
Originality can be a very fluid term. While Contracts can be considered a stealth action clone, it does have its unique points. Killing with fiber wire, weed killer, and using things like laxative and a poison sword can help you accomplish a mission. But a game in a genre like this can only try so hard and do so much.
Originality receives a 6 out of 10.

Soundtrack
Once again, intriguing music by Jesper Kyd is what we're treated to, and this time it blends in a little better. The guns usually sound like what they're supposed to, and the voice acting is pretty good. Also, if a stray bullet strikes a window, or steel, or wood, it sounds realistic. But, the bad guys and NPCs once again have the same few lines of dialogue, so if you're not that good at sneaking around, you'll hear the same screams and shouts over, and over, and over again.
Soundtrack receives a 7 out of 10.

Individualistic Characters
There aren't too many chances for individual characters in this game, other than your targets, and Agent 47. While he is definitely a unique man, not many other characters are. As previously stated, most of the NPCs look alike, as do the enemies, police units, and most everyone else.
Individualistic Characters receives a 2 out of 10.

Replay Values
Almost every mission has two or more ways to be completed, bringing a certain amount of replay value to the game. Some missions even have 3 or 4 ways. Say the first time through, you want to unlock all the secret weapons by achieving silent assassin. Well, on the second time through, blast your way through with Sniper Rifles and collect all the other weapons you want. Or say you did what the Agency suggested the first time, but you've found something that may benefit you and send you in another direction. Go for it. While this is possible, the storyline still only has one way to go.
Replay Values receives a 7 out of 10.

Difficulty
While the game presents many ways to finish a level, it's still very easy to be caught, and once you're spotted, if you don't find another disguise or find a place to hide, you're dead. Enemies won't think twice about firing on anyone they're suspicious of. You do get in-level saves, though, so you'll be able to load from a trouble spot, if you save in time. The hints help you out a great deal though, making it a little more humane.
Difficulty receives a 7 out of 10.

Excitement Factor
Like its predecessor, you're going to be holding your breath through a level. The suspense of wondering if you're going to be caught or if you're even wearing the right disguise, carrying the right weapon. You'll never know when you'll be asked to stand still for a frisking, or if a detail you've forgotten will give you away and blow you're entire mission out of the water.
Excitement Factor receives a 10 out of 10.

Controls
The controls still feel a bit uneven, but they have been improved. The aiming is a little smoother, and the map is more easily accessible. However, this time, there is no pop-down menu. If you want to change your weapon or item, you HAVE to pause the game and select if from a list. For gamers new to the genre, it'll take a while to get used to how things handle.
Controls receive a 6 out of 10.

Total Score for Hitman: Contracts - 63

While Contracts is a definite improvement from Silent Assassin, a lot could still be done to improve it.