itman 2 follows the "think before you shoot" school of thought, also prevalent in games like Deus Ex and Thief (none of which are on GameCube, so maybe that’s a moot point). It relies on wits more than hits and gives you some artistic license in the completion of its missions. Think Max Payne with a higher IQ, and you’re on the right path.
Agent 47 starts Hitman 2 as a groundskeeper at a monastery in Italy, trying to put his violent past behind him. Two minutes in, you’re using dual pistols to turn guards into Swiss cheese. To have a high success rate on missions, however, you’ve got to pick your shots wisely and cover your tracks. The AI is very intelligent and will discover any mistake you make. This gives a good sense of tension as you expect to be found out. The stealth aspects are hindered by a snail-paced crawl and overemphasis on taking it slow (I want to run more); but donning disguises, hiding corpses, and blasting light bulbs make up for it.
If you’re a patient soul (there is a high frustration factor here), the strategy of Hitman 2 is very rewarding, and it fills a unique niche on GameCube. You’re not going to get anything over the other versions, but isn’t getting it victory enough? Splinter Cell fans, this should be up your alley.