HITMAN's Eminem DLC Is Wonderful To Play As A Fan Of The Rapper And It's Near Perfect On The Steam Deck

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A copy of the Eminem DLC was provided by IO Interactive via Keymailer. Thank you!

Of all the sandbox games that I keep an eye on, it's HITMAN that ultimately keeps me interested. The team at IO Interactive have been releasing intriguing new missions all based around celebrities, including Jean-Claude Van Damne, Sean Bean, and even Mads Mikkelson's Le Chiffre character from Casino Royale. Now, Eminem has stepped in as the next elusive target, and I would have never expected it. In this mission, we have to take on his alter ego, Slim Shady, fighting in a gorgeous private hospital in Hokkaido, and I love it.

I have been watching HITMAN and its DLC get released, but I haven't played it in awhile. Eliminating Slim Shady was a great reason to come back, and now it's going to be hard for me to put down. However, I feel like this mission goes a step above others, making me want to stick with it and hunt down all the challenges it brings.

While the level itself doesn't offer any direct references to Eminem or Slim Shady, there are tons of easter eggs throughout. This ranges from props and songs, to actions that Slim Shady can take. From refernces to Mom's Spaghetti to moments of the mission's story that reference Eminem's music and album covers. As a fan of Eminem, I loved running through and seeing what other easter eggs were prevalent.

On top of that, the mission's story is quite interesting. Slim Shady is an insane version of Eminem, and has taken over and manipulated this entire hospital to create more music ideas for him and put on shows. This is all taking place in Eminem's dream world, which adds in a little to the surreal aspect of the world. It's pretty crazy seeing the patients, doctors, and bodyguards with clown masks all parading around the facility. And with Eminem voicing parts of the narration as we continue the mission, it feels more immersive and enjoyable.

I don't want to spoil the gameplay or his Slim Shady's routine, but it was challenging to figure out his schedule and anticipate his next move. Trying to get disguises as staff, bodyguards, or even some of the patients while finding my way through the four-level hospital was challenging, especially when it came to completing the 33 challenges associated with it. I'm not complaining though, I enjoy the challenge, and it kept me motivated to figure out how to complete them.

With this taking place in a dream world, we also have a unique way of traveling through the hospital. In some mirrors, we can actually go into them, heading into a morphed house that can be used as a way to get around the hospital. It's a nice way to retreat, and going through all of them on the map is an optional objective for the second level of this mission.

The elusive target mission is available for free right now until the end of December, and beating it will unlock a brand new suit as well. However, I enjoy the mission enough to where I would say the $4.99 price tag is worth it. Being able to take my time, come back, and enjoy taking down Slim Shady is great, but it does come with some new outfits and objects as well, including the MC Fit, Prank Pistol, Jar of Mom's Spaghetti Sauce, and more. I can't wait to take the Spaghetti Jar and find ways to kill everyone with it in Freelancer mode.

As for the Steam Deck performance, the mission itself runs wonderfully. Almost every area stuck above 30 FPS, with most going above 40. And with HITMAN's default settings, it looks fantastic as well. The gorgeous level based in Hokkaido look great while still keeping optimal performance. The only spot I saw go down below 30 FPS was in the courtyard when Slim Shady is rapping on the screen. The performance can dip into 25-28 FPS, but as soon as he is done rapping, the framerate will go back up.

So, despite this one area that has some issues, it ultimately runs very well and I would consider it playable throughout. I do wish the screens being rendered aren't super intensive, but this is one area and not something I would worry about encountering often. The Reflective Mission is a treat on the Deck through and through, and I can't wait to keep on grinding to get better at it and fulfill all those challenges on the go.

HITMAN's Eminem Vs. Slim Shady Pack is available for $4.99 on Steam now. While the full game is on sale for the giant Steam Winter Sale for $27.99.

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