Suit for Hire Review (PC)

There can only be one John Wick, Keanu Reeves himself. But through virtual gaming, you, too, can embody the legendary hitman. Even though there are plenty of game adaptations out there, none of them quite capture the adrenaline thrill of the franchise. That non-ending bullet spree, sending anyone who dares stand in your way into the abyss. Whether it’s your trusty sidearm that blasts off enemies into oblivion, your fists ramming into flimsy body parts, or whatever melee weapon you pick up around you, John Wick remains the baddest assassin. And all in the name of his murdered puppy. 

Though Suit for Hire doesn’t outright label itself a John Wick adaptation, the inspirations are vivid and clear. Many of the levels are straight-up pulled from the action films, notably John Wick Chapter 4’s unforgettable top-down scene. Alternatively, this indie third-person and top-down perspective game can be a fix for Sifu fans looking to throw guns into the equation. There are lots of parallels you can draw between Suit for Hire and Hotline Miami, Hitman, Max Payne, etc. What’s clear, however, is that upon reaching the credits roll, you’ll have come out of an experience boldly, fast, brutal, and stylish. 

Still on the fence? Let’s iron out any questions you may have via our Suit for Hire review below. 

Just Because

If you’re hellbent on playing through games with a compelling story, you’ll come out of Suit for Hire disappointed. I will caution you, though, that it’s exactly the design the game aims for. After all, there’s very little reason hitmen have needed to come out of retirement –looking at you, Jason Statham. You don’t need an ironclad story to launch a full-on assault on enemies. No unexpected twists and turns. If anything, shoving convoluted mysteries in the middle of bashing heads in can be distracting from the momentous flow of combat. Thus, I’m not entirely mad at Suit for Hire for barely having any semblance of a story. All you get as far as the plot is concerned is in the descriptions of the missions you go on. 

These are dangerous contracts issued to you globally. And they all entail killing streams of enemies, occasionally bosses, that’s it. 

Skilled Assassin

Not all missions are the same, even if the goals overlap. You’re often thrown into varying types of stunning locations. A bad guy’s mansion here, a fictional city of Toronno there. Nothing out of this world, I’ll say. But definitely varied. You can switch between the top-down arcade and the third-person shooter perspective. Each has its advantages, though I’d argue the former is the better option. From a top-down view, you can appreciate the creativity of the level design. Different rooms incorporate interwoven pathways. Some have makeshift walls and doors you can kick down. Others have explosive barrels you can use to take out groups of enemies. 

By visualizing all of the advantageous points of a map as it corresponds to enemy locations and patrols, you can chain your attacks and movements to maximize the level design. And that’ll enhance the flow of combat, cementing a fast-paced shootout sequence against waves of enemies. Third-person shooting, on the other hand, has been a prominently requested feature during the Early Access period. And gamers do seem to enjoy its addition in the 1.0 version of the game. It certainly enables a more hands-on approach to combat, alternating between gunplay, blunt weapon attacks, and hand-to-hand combat.  

Whatever perspective you prefer, you’ll still enjoy the sheer brutal and fast pace of combat. You’re always on the move, killing every enemy on sight. While you can run into groups of enemies, Suit for Hire’s aim-assist helps to still take precise headshots. And as the heads splatter in a bloody mess, it truly is satisfying. You can also use the slow-down time mechanic, which can make easy prey of groups of enemies. 

Switch It Up

Weapons aren’t as varied as I might have hoped. You have your usual pistols, shotguns, assault rifles, and more. However, I appreciate the differences between them, where some weapons allow for dual-wielding, others allow you to mark several enemies before taking shots, while others can pierce armor. Keep in mind, also, that you can always pick up weapons enemies drop, including katanas. Or make use of the blunt melee weapons found in the environment, like baseball bats. 

Weapons have limited ammo, precisely only seven bullets. There’s also a maximum of one magazine you can carry. Otherwise, you have to take out an enemy per shot to replenish ammo. If you miss a shot, you can perform melee takedowns to gain ammo. This is where stealth comes in handy, by sneaking up on an enemy to perform a slick finishing move. Otherwise, you have to choose your battles wisely and always be on the move to pick up ammo from enemy drops. I find this a perfect balance between risk and reward. Running out of ammo doesn’t happen too frequently to feel punishing. But it’s also a pesky thought to be kept in the back of your mind. 

Meanwhile, Suit for Hire affords you different moves, including dodges, dashes, and rolls. And by combining these with the different guns and their nuances, as well as blunt weapon attacks, melee takedowns, and occasional stealth, you enjoy a pretty self-sustaining moment-to-moment combat flow. 

Look Around You

Suit for Hire has done a good job of also including environmental variety. I mentioned the explosive barrels you can tactfully shoot to take out groups of enemies. But there are other destructible areas you can take advantage of. Glass surfaces can, for instance, be shattered to serve as an opening or escape routes when you’re overwhelmed. There are also storage crates, which provide essential cover. Alternatively, you can shatter them to distract enemies. There’s no set rule on maximizing the items and objects you can interact with (or destroy). 

And these tiny nuggets are what add to the overall dynamic gameplay of Suit for Hire. It may take a while for all to come together. But when all the combat systems and mechanics click, the resulting endless flow of combat is exhilarating.

A Few Cons

While Suit for Hire is likely the adrenaline fix you’ve been looking for, it does come with a few caveats. Nothing too major, like the graphics, which can come off as minimalistic and bland to some. Particularly in third-person view, the flaws in graphics are more vivid, showing how basic some details and environments look. It’s perhaps because the game was initially made for a top-down view, which remains the best way to play the game.

After a while, the enemy AI can grow on you. The same archetypes keep showing up, with hardly varied attack patterns. Yet, this doesn’t get too annoying, thanks largely to the overall brutal and fast-paced flow of combat. 

Also, you might take issue with the unnamed protagonist. Save for some cosmetics you can throw on them to make them stand out, they don’t have a solid backstory or unique personality. But then again, I highly doubt Suit for Hire was made to include all of the “fluff” action-adventures tend to add to their campaigns. 

Otherwise, Suit for Hire runs without a hitch. And even though it doesn’t particularly innovate on similar games that have come before, it retains the core aspect that makes these types of games addictive, and that’s an unapologetic adrenaline-fueled feel for an assassin whose puppy was prematurely taken from them. 

Verdict

Games like Suit for Hire easily slip under the radar. But don’t let this one get away from you, at least if you’re looking to star in your own assassination thriller movie. Provided also that you don’t expect a high-budget game with slick visuals and profound storytelling. Suit for Hire sticks to its guns, figuratively and literally. It gives you several shoot-to-kill contracts and sends you off on different missions, riddled with mafia guys. And all you have to do is shoot them in the head, nonstop, until the contract is complete.

Every so often, a few bosses will show up, though a bit sparser than I would have liked. And newbies don’t have to worry about them being tough nuts to crack. In fact, the entire game employs a manageable difficulty that any average gamer should easily navigate. 

Tough combat isn’t Suit for Hire’s goal; rather, it’s to make you feel like a true assassin, John Wick style. And in that regard, it succeeds, perhaps far more than any of the John Wick adaptations you might have played before. The level designs feel plucked out of the films, truly immersing you in scenarios the famed assassin has found himself in. The action never stops coming, challenging you to always be on the move, and shooting, bashing, and slashing every enemy on sight. And for your reward, you’re given more ammo to kill even more enemies.

A few cons pop up now and then, to do with minimalistic graphics and small enemy variety. Otherwise, best prepare yourself for the rollercoaster, bloody life of an assassin.