Editing Hitman 2: Silent Assassin (section)

== Reception ==
{{Video game reviews
| MC = (GC) 83/100<ref name="MCGC">{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/hitman-2-silent-assassin/critic-reviews/?platform=gamecube |title=Hitman 2: Silent Assassin for GameCube Reviews |website=[[Metacritic]] |access-date=13 April 2013 |archive-date=29 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231129193309/https://www.metacritic.com/game/hitman-2-silent-assassin/critic-reviews/?platform=gamecube |url-status=live }}</ref><br>(PC) 87/100<ref name="MCPC">{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/hitman-2-silent-assassin/critic-reviews/?platform=pc |title=Hitman 2: Silent Assassin for PC Reviews |website=[[Metacritic]] |access-date=13 April 2013 |archive-date=29 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231129193310/https://www.metacritic.com/game/hitman-2-silent-assassin/critic-reviews/?platform=pc |url-status=live }}</ref><br>(PS2) 85/100<ref name="MCPS2">{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/hitman-2-silent-assassin/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-2 |title=Hitman 2: Silent Assassin for PlayStation 2 Reviews |website=[[Metacritic]] |access-date=13 April 2013 |archive-date=29 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231129193313/https://www.metacritic.com/game/hitman-2-silent-assassin/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-2 |url-status=live }}</ref><br>(Xbox) 84/100<ref name="MCXBOX">{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/hitman-2-silent-assassin/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox |title=Hitman 2: Silent Assassin for Xbox Reviews |website=[[Metacritic]] |access-date=13 April 2013 |archive-date=29 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231129193311/https://www.metacritic.com/game/hitman-2-silent-assassin/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox |url-status=live }}</ref>
| EGM = 7/8/8.5/10<ref name=egm>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.egmmag.com/article2/0,4364,1237599,00.asp |title=Hitman 2: Silent Assassin |magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]] |date=1 August – 3 September 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040114001200/http://www.egmmag.com/article2/0%2C4364%2C1237599%2C00.asp |archive-date=14 January 2004 |access-date=10 April 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| GSpot = 8.6/10<ref name="GSpot">{{cite web |last=Kasavin |first=Greg |date=8 October 2002 |url=http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/hitman-2-silent-assassin-review/1900-2884880/ |title=Hitman 2: Silent Assassin review |website=[[GameSpot]] |access-date=15 April 2009 |archive-date=13 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140113191455/http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/hitman-2-silent-assassin-review/1900-2884880/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
| EuroG = 7/10
| IGN = 8.7/10
}}
''Hitman 2: Silent Assassin'' received "generally positive" reviews, according to [[review aggregator]] [[Metacritic]].<ref name="MCGC" /><ref name="MCPC" /><ref name="MCPS2" /><ref name="MCXBOX" /> ''[[GameSpot]]'' gave it a score of 8.6/10, saying that it "fixes virtually all of the problems of its predecessor" and is still an "outstanding" game.<ref name="GSpot" /> ''[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]'' scored ''Hitman 2''{{'}}s GameCube version 7/8/8.5: the first reviewer criticized its artificial intelligence and mission briefings, but said that "each time I circumvented the immeasurable odds and made the crucial killing blow, ''Hitman 2'' was briefly a blast"; the third reviewer summarized it as "an engaging adventure title that rewards patient players".<ref name=egm/>

Despite the 7/8/8.5 scores given by ''Electronic Gaming Monthly'', the cover of the GameCube release says "9/10 ''Electronic Gaming Monthly'' Gold Award". This score is erroneously taken from the magazine's review of the PlayStation 2 version. When confronted with the issue by ''Electronic Gaming Monthly'', Eidos said it would remove the score in future printings.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Letters |magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly |page=24 |date=November 2003}}</ref>

''Hitman 2'' has sold more than 3.7 million copies as of 23 April 2009.<ref name="squareenix" /> By July 2006, the PlayStation 2 version of ''Hitman 2'' had sold 1.1 million copies and earned $39 million in the United States. ''[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]'' ranked it as the 47th-highest-selling game launched for the PlayStation 2, Xbox or GameCube between January 2000 and July 2006 in that country. Combined console sales of ''Hitman'' games released in the 2000s reached 2 million units in the United States by July 2006.<ref name=nextgensales2>{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071028115051/http://www.next-gen.biz/index2.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3537&Itemid=2&pop=1&page=1 |url=http://www.next-gen.biz/index2.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3537&Itemid=2&pop=1&page=1 |title=The Top 100 Games of the 21st Century|author1=Campbell, Colin |author2=Keiser, Joe  | date=July 29, 2006 |work=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]] |archive-date=October 28, 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> ''Hitman 2''{{'}}s PC and Xbox releases each received a "Silver" sales award from the [[Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association]] (ELSPA),<ref name=silverelspa>{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090221154943/http://www.elspa.com/?i=3942 |url=http://www.elspa.com:80/?i=3942 |title=ELSPA Sales Awards: Silver |work=[[Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association]] |archive-date=February 21, 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref> indicating sales of at least 100,000 copies per version in the United Kingdom.<ref name=gamasutrasales>{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170918063107/https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/112220/ELSPA_Wii_Fit_Mario_Kart_Reach_Diamond_Status_In_UK.php |url=https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/112220/ELSPA_Wii_Fit_Mario_Kart_Reach_Diamond_Status_In_UK.php |title=ELSPA: ''Wii Fit'', ''Mario Kart'' Reach Diamond Status In UK | author=Caoili, Eric | date=November 26, 2008 |work=[[Gamasutra]] |archive-date=September 18, 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref> ELSPA gave the game's PlayStation 2 release a [[Essentials (PlayStation)|"Platinum" certification]]<ref name=platinumelspa>{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090515224703/http://www.elspa.com/?i=3944 |url=http://www.elspa.com:80/?i=3944 |title=ELSPA Sales Awards: Platinum |work=[[Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association]] |archive-date=May 15, 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref> for sales of at least 300,000 copies in the region.<ref name=gamasutrasales />

''Hitman 2'' was nominated for ''[[Computer Gaming World]]''{{'}}s 2002 "Action Game of the Year" award, which ultimately went to ''[[Medal of Honor: Allied Assault]]''. The editors wrote, "''Hitman 2'' is a huge improvement over the original, and it's one of the best games of last year in any genre."<ref name=cgwpremier2002>{{cite magazine | author=Staff | magazine=[[Computer Gaming World]] | title=''Computer Gaming World''{{'}}s 2002 Games of the Year |date=April 2003 | issue=225 | pages=83–86, 88, 89, 92–97 }}</ref> ''GameSpot'' presented the game with its annual "Most Improved Sequel on PC" award. It was also nominated for ''GameSpot''{{'}}s "Best Music on PC", "Best Single-Player Action Game on PC", "Best Music on Xbox", "Best Sound on PlayStation 2", "Best Music on PlayStation 2" and "Best Action Adventure Game on Xbox" prizes.<ref name=bestworst2002>{{cite web | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030207155400/http://gamespot.com/gamespot/features/all/bestof2002/ | url=http://gamespot.com/gamespot/features/all/bestof2002/ | title=''GameSpot''{{'}}s Best and Worst of 2002 | author=''GameSpot'' Staff | date=December 30, 2002 | work=[[GameSpot]] | archive-date=February 7, 2003 | url-status=dead }}</ref> During the [[6th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards]], the [[Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences]] nominated ''Hitman 2'' for "[[D.I.C.E. Award for Action Game of the Year|Console Action/Adventure Game of the Year]]".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.interactive.org/games/video_game_details.asp?idAward=2003&idGame=438 |title=D.I.C.E. Awards By Video Game Details Hitman 2 |publisher=[[Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences]] |website=interactive.org |access-date=1 August 2023 |archive-date=1 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230801175440/https://www.interactive.org/games/video_game_details.asp?idAward=2003&idGame=438 |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Controversy ===
The game's release sparked controversy due to a level featuring the killing of [[Sikh]]s within a depiction of their most holy site, the [[Golden Temple]], where hundreds of Sikhs [[1984 anti-Sikh riots|were massacred in 1984]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/sci_tech/newsid_2440000/2440713.stm |title=Young Sikhs force changes to Hitman 2 |publisher=[[CBBC (TV channel)|CBBC]] |date=21 November 2002 |access-date=28 January 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080208212010/http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/sci_tech/newsid_2440000/2440713.stm |archive-date=8 February 2008 }}</ref> In response, the level was edited from the Microsoft Windows and GameCube versions of ''Silent Assassin'', removing all Sikh-related references.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gamesradar.com/au/racist-a-look-at-games-accused-of-bigotry/2/|title=Racist! A look at games accused of bigotry|work=[[GamesRadar+]]|publisher=[[Future US]]|first=Matt|last=Cundy|date=August 4, 2007|access-date=September 5, 2020|page=2|archive-date=April 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210425094931/https://www.gamesradar.com/au/racist-a-look-at-games-accused-of-bigotry/2/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="edited">{{Cite web |last=gamesindustry.biz |title=Eidos settles Hitman Sikh dispute |url=https://www.theregister.com/2002/11/13/eidos_settles_hitman_sikh_dispute/ |access-date=2021-09-06 |website=www.theregister.com |language=en |archive-date=2021-09-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210906063526/https://www.theregister.com/2002/11/13/eidos_settles_hitman_sikh_dispute/ |url-status=live }}</ref>