Unleashing the Sinister: How Michael Myers Can Learn from Hitman for an Epic Halloween Showdown

Highlights

Slasher horror properties like Halloween don't receive unique games anymore but could be adapted into the Hitman formula.

The gameplay mechanics of Hitman, which revolve around assassinating targets and evading detection, would lend themselves effectively to slasher horror franchises such as Halloween.

A Halloween game inspired by Hitman could entail stalking and eliminating victims, employing creative methods with weapons, and incorporating masks to enhance the excitement and intensity of the gameplay.

Iconic slasher horror franchises have great potential for crossover into games, as seen in Dead by Daylight's extensive collection of licensed horror content. While not every game accommodates every horror icon, Mortal Kombat X successfully introduced guest characters from these franchises, and some asymmetrical horror games have also featured well-known slasher franchises. However, apart from crossovers and niche asymmetrical games, iconic characters like Michael Myers from Halloween no longer receive truly unique gaming experiences.

Creating a full-length action-adventure game featuring a killer character would pose challenges due to the demands of modern AAA budgets. The story-driven nature of most action-adventure games would make it difficult to craft a compelling narrative around a silent killer whose sole purpose is bloodshed, as is the case with Michael. Despite these challenges, it would be exhilarating to witness a developer's attempt to adapt a slasher franchise into the Hitman formula. Halloween, with its existing gameplay mechanics, would seamlessly fit into such a concept.

The Halloween Slasher IP Would Be Perfect for a Hitman-Esque Game

In their essence, Hitman games are straightforward, focusing on players eliminating targets while trying to remain undetected. While each title and game mode may have their own intricacies, this core concept is unique to the series and hasn't been fully explored in other IPs, particularly in the realm of slasher horror such as Halloween. The specific targets that Agent 47 eliminates could be interchangeable, as the player becomes engrossed in the gameplay loop and the various possibilities that come with different settings, disguises, and strategic choices.

If the gameplay system were to focus on horror rather than espionage, it could still function similarly. Players would control Michael, the iconic character from Halloween, and their objective would be to stalk and kill arbitrary teenagers or other individuals. They would carefully follow their targets to their homes or destinations, planning the perfect moment to strike from the shadows. In this gameplay, stalking victims would require avoiding detection from other NPCs and passersby, even during daylight hours in a neighborhood. To add intensity, players would need to hide from view within victims' homes, hoping not to be discovered lurking nearby.

When it comes to killing victims, players would have the freedom to improvise like in Hitman. They could choose from various instruments found at the scene to use as murder weapons. For example, they might select a chef's knife from a kitchen or get creative with objects discovered in a victim's bedroom. While Michael may not be as concerned with hiding corpses as Agent 47, including this mechanic in a Hitman-like Halloween game would add an extra layer of challenge. Players would need to be meticulous about their kills, unless they can manage to slip away unnoticed into the night.

Furthermore, similar to Agent 47, Michael has a penchant for wearing masks and skillfully conceals his identity while approaching his targets, aligning his murderous methods with Hitman's stealth strategies. With the extensive number of Halloween releases, a game reminiscent of Hitman adapted to this theme would have the potential to regularly introduce fresh maps and content. Although there appears to be no current development of such a game, the concept remains exhilarating.