Here’s an interesting speedrun, for anyone who’s a fan of Hitman. Runners have figured out a way to glitch save files in Hitman 2: Silent Assassin 2, which has led to an assault on the 2002 game’s any-percent category, which can now be breached in less than 3 minutes and 30 seconds. Two records have been set on it in the past day.
To be fair, most speedrunners look to the PRO/SA leaderboard for the truest Hitman 2: Silent Assassin record. That means running each of the game’s 20 missions on professional difficulty, under the strictest stealth circumstances (variable, but usually involving firing just one shot).
But with this glitch in any% (the glitch loads every mission into the save file), inkblowout runs the game in 3 minutes, 22 seconds, and decides that busting the 3:20 threshold is up to someone else. Apparently this glitch works in 2004’s Hitman: Contracts, too, so expect any% runs on that (although Speedrun.com does not list any recent ones as of now).
Inkblowout isn’t a pure opportunist, he’s No. 2 on the PRO/SA leaderboard (49:45, which is mind-blowing to me). Buruk47, who is number one, is also onto the gamesave glitch and pursuing the No. 1 time on Any%.
But for anyone who has spent a ton of time time crouching in the sushi kitchen or outside the Sicilian gangster’s estate in Hitman 2, whether the PlayStation 2/Xbox original or the high-definition remasters since then, the fact this game is even speedrun at all is somewhat remarkable.
