Hitman World of Assassination is the game that just refuses to die and honestly I am here for it. IO Interactive has basically turned this into the ultimate platform for digital murder. It is wild to think about how far this has come since 2016. We went from a weird episodic release that everyone was skeptical about to this massive collection that feels like the James Bond simulator we always wanted but never actually got from the official movies. The longevity here is insane. Between the Freelancer mode which is basically a roguelike that will ruin your life in the best way possible and the constant stream of live content it is hard to put down. Just when you think you have seen every corner of Paris or Sapienza they drop something like the Eminem vs Slim Shady DLC and you are right back in it wondering why you are trying to poison a legendary rapper with a plate of spaghetti.
The World of Assassination Foundation
Before we get into the weirdness of Marshall Mathers let us talk about why the base game works so well. Hitman World of Assassination is basically a giant clockwork toy. You drop into a level and everything is moving in a specific pattern. The guards have their routes the targets have their loops and your job is to throw a wrench into the gears in the most creative or stupid way possible. You can be the silent assassin who never leaves a trace or you can be the guy who dresses up as a flamingo and beats people with a fish. The replayability comes from the fact that there are a million ways to solve every problem. You finish a mission and the game immediately tells you ten other ways you could have done it which is a brilliant way to make you feel both like a genius and an idiot at the same time.
Eminem Enters the Asylum
Now let us talk about the star of the show. The Eminem vs Slim Shady DLC is easily one of the most surreal things IOI has ever put out. The premise is that the real Marshall Mathers is tired of his alter ego Slim Shady ruining his life so he hires Agent 47 to go into a dreamscape version of Hokkaido and finish him off. It is essentially based on his “The Death of Slim Shady” album and it leans hard into that trippy psychological vibe.
They took the Hokkaido map which is usually this sleek high tech hospital and turned it into the Popsomp Hills Asylum. It is covered in neon lights and broken mirrors and general madness. It feels less like a stealth game and more like a playable music video. Eminem actually voiced himself for this and the dialogue is genuinely funny. He is constantly making meta jokes about speedrunning and how ridiculous the whole situation is. Hearing Diana Burnwood try to keep a professional tone while talking to Eminem is worth the price of admission alone.
What Doesn’t Work: The Difficulty and FOMO
It is not all perfect though. If you are looking for a deep tactical challenge this might disappoint you. The mission is fairly easy. Because of the mirror portals and the way Shady is positioned you can basically finish the level in under five minutes without trying very hard. It feels more like a narrative experience than a hardcore puzzle. For some people that is fine but if you want that “Master Difficulty” grind you won’t really find it here.
The other big issue is the FOMO or “fear of missing out.” IOI has been doing this thing where these celebrity Elusive Targets are only available for a limited time. If you didn’t grab the pack while it was live you are basically out of luck. Even worse some of the items take up permanent slots on your weapon wall in the Freelancer safehouse. If you don’t have the DLC those spots just stay empty forever which is a nightmare for completionists. It feels a bit predatory for a single player game especially since the content is so unique.
The Puzzles and Navigation
The “puzzles” in this DLC mostly revolve around the mirror dimension mechanics. You have to figure out which mirrors lead where to track down Slim Shady. There is a specific challenge where you have to cross all the mirror portals which is trickier than it sounds because one of them is hidden behind a locked door that requires a key found in a body in the morgue. It forces you to actually explore the asylum rather than just running straight for the target.
There is also a cool “Mom’s Spaghetti” kill where you have to prepare a specific plate of food to poison Shady. It is a classic Hitman trope but with a rap twist. Solving these little environmental puzzles is where the game shines because it rewards you for paying attention to the details in the environment. It is not “Portal” level brain scratching but it is satisfying nonetheless.
Replayability: Is it worth the Loop?
In terms of replayability it is a bit of a mixed bag. The main Elusive Target mission is fun to do a few times to see all the different kills but the real longevity comes from the “Antithesis” Arcade contract. This gives you permanent access to a two level version of the mission with different complications. It is a good way to keep the content alive after the main event ends.
However since the map is a remix of an existing location you might find yourself falling back into old habits. Even with the new visuals it is still Hokkaido at its core. If you are tired of that map this DLC might not do enough to change your mind. But for the average fan the novelty of the Eminem collaboration is enough to justify at least a few nights of play.
Final Verdict
The Eminem vs Slim Shady DLC is a weird, beautiful mess. It is proof that IO Interactive is comfortable getting strange with their flagship franchise. It is not the most difficult content they have ever made and the time limited nature of it is annoying but the personality on display is top notch.
If you love Hitman for its dark humor and creative kills you will have a blast. If you are an Eminem fan it is a no brainer. Just don’t expect a grueling 10 hour campaign. It is a short sharp shock of surrealism that reminds us why Agent 47 is still the king of the genre.
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