Playing Hitman Absolution for the second time on the PC, I’ve noticed something interesting about 47’s character.

I don’t know if it’s intentional but it’s almost like he has two personalities. The cold and almost mechanical killer with a knack for technical perfection that carries out his contracts is the first and obvious one of the two, but there’s an almost childlike and naive side that sometimes comes out when he’s not in danger or interacting with people he trusts on some level.

The first time I really noticed was in the gun shop when he reacted to finding his Silverballers like a child looking at their favorite toy sitting just out of reach(“they were mine” slips out).

When the owner tells him he doesn’t look like a thief in response to his suggestion that he could just take them. he also says “it wouldn’t be stealing” in an almost innocent tone of voice like a child trying to rationalize the concept of “stealing is wrong, but is it stealing if I’m taking back something that was stolen from me?” and process it.

Going back again, this also seems to come out a little when he’s attempting to comfort Victoria and tell her he knows what’s she’s been through and won’t let anyone hurt her again(he also brings up his promise to Diana).

There’s also the way he offers money to the head Nun when he first hides Victoria there and seems confused at the idea of someone helping him out of kindness instead of in exchange for money or other personal gain.

As I said, I don’t know if it’s intentional or not but it’s a interesting bit of complexity to a character that’s usually pretty generic.