Looking to buy, but do you even use guns in this game?

[Rookie]

I saw some gameplay on youtube but they all involve walking up to someone and subduing them. Is that basically the gameplay? Is it possible to use guns to get stealthy headshots and then move body to hide?

[potato]

there are all kinds of guns; pistols, smgs, assault rifles, sniper rifles, etc

[Ravenpro22?]

yes unless you are going for silent assassin or something its fine, like if there is 2 guards near each other you could shoot them if melee is to slow

[supersand]

guns are very useful even in silent assassin, you can lure guards to a location by non-fatally shooting them and can even shoot their shin / ankles to make them fall over for a moment (if they are in water or near a ledge its likely it will kill them). Guards that were shot or saw 2 bullet distractions within one minute will run to the location it was fired from.

Guns are also very good for noise distractions, like you want a bunch of guards to be somewhere else so you unload an unsilenced pistol and then run to the area you want to go. Or you don't want civs to notice you trespassing so you panic them with gunfire (they will still see illegal actions marked with a red exclamation mark when paniced)

Great example of the gun distraction is Greenhouse start on Dartmoor. The security guard right there can be shot in the leg from a bush with a silenced gun and he will run into the bush alone for an easy takedown + disguise.

[Rookie]

Originally posted by supersand:

guns are very useful even in silent assassin, you can lure guards to a location by non-fatally shooting them and can even shoot their shin / ankles to make them fall over for a moment (if they are in water or near a ledge its likely it will kill them). Guards that were shot or saw 2 bullet distractions within one minute will run to the location it was fired from.

Guns are also very good for noise distractions, like you want a bunch of guards to be somewhere else so you unload an unsilenced pistol and then run to the area you want to go. Or you don't want civs to notice you trespassing so you panic them with gunfire (they will still see illegal actions marked with a red exclamation mark when paniced)

Great example of the gun distraction is Greenhouse start on Dartmoor. The security guard right there can be shot in the leg from a bush with a silenced gun and he will run into the bush alone for an easy takedown + disguise.

Does the game have fun sniping opportunities?

[TheOrangeBox]

Originally posted by Rookie:

Does the game have fun sniping opportunities?

You've a dedicated game mode for sniping with unique maps (you can also snipe in the main campaign carry around your sniping suitcase).

The DLC Hitman 2 Expansion also adds 2 more sniping maps to the game (in addition to 2 more locations in the main campaign).

[$2 Hero]

You can kill everybody. Will you survive and complete mission? maybe

[Talon]

This game is literally an assassination sandbox. If you really want to, you can play this like a thirdperson shooter. It's awkward but learnable.

[Lar Dass]

You can also use explosives, tools, melee items, the list goes on

[dbond1]

The Silverballer is my most vital tool. I see OP doesn't have the game, and the Silverballer is a series of suppressed pistols. Accurate, silent and lethal and probably my most often used elimination method. My first run through a level is often done with this.

And it is also useful for distractions, accidents and camera killing. I never start a mission without one, unless early Freelancer before I get one.

SMGs, ARs and sniper rifles are in the game too, but I use these far less often, rarely in campaign and a little more in Freelancer. They don't fit my vision of what I am supposed to be as a professional hitman, really, and have their own limitations in terms of carry or concealing.

Sniping is a thing, but not very good really. It's something I do because the mission or objectives require it. Or I want Sniper Assassin rating. If given free reign I would never decide that sniping is my best option I don't think. Ranges don't require it, but it works fine and some levels, like Paris, can be done with a sniper rifle in a couple of minutes. My objections to sniping in H3 are not about effectiveness but more thematic, subjectively. If the typical engagement range was triple then I think I'd use it more often. Just a personal taste sort of thing.

And finally one of the best weapons in the game is the Sieker, a poison dart pistol. This was literally a game changer for me, as it opens up a whole new host of options for isolating targets, guards or removing unwanted observers from the scene.

I used to think of the fiber wire as 47s iconic weapon, and maybe I still do. But I'll call it a draw with the Silverballer now.

[NekoWaffle]

I actually like sniping quite a bit in normal maps, though it can be somewhat awkward and very difficult to get SA for. Generally speaking Hitman is very good at letting you solve problems a variety of ways (intentionally, or as a back up when things go horridly wrong) but most people will be showing stealthy SA or SA/SO content because it gets the highest score rankings.

The important thing to know about gun-play is that head-shots are generally lethal, gunshots and impacts are loud and attract attention and that Agent 47 does not do his best work with bullets in him, so if you're going to start a shootout: plan ahead, be accurate and work fast. It is possible to mow down waves of guards, but its neither practical nor as fun as calculated and planned executions.

As for your last point: Yes and it's actually a good strategy for a lot of situations. Sometimes you can even take out a target with a well placed head-shot somewhere where they won't ever be found and save yourself the trip hiding them.