For no reason at all I decided to stop playing on Normal difficulty and restart the game on Professional difficulty, the highest setting. Well, I say for no reason, but it’s because I was annoyed about being able to get away with too much. It’s too easy on Normal to start blowing people away when things go wrong. On Professional, if a gun fight starts then I’m basically dead. Much better.

There’s also less information on the map – which I like – and no mid-level saves, which I’m not too keen on. But as things tend to go differently each time I play a mission, it’s not so bad.

I did the first level after a few goes. Had to kill a few cops, but I did it. The second mission – The Meat King’s Party – took a lot longer. I almost did it cleanly, though. I would have done, too, if Sturrock hadn’t been too fat to strange. I had to run off and find a knife, all the while listening to him shout for his guards. Good thing he’s too fat to move, really. The other two targets I took care of very quietly, though.

I nearly got out all right, too, but the guards decided I was suspicious as I left, so I had to run through the last few rooms. Still got a Professional rating for it, though. I’m proud of myself. Though whether I should be proud of being a very good killer is another matter. Given how many times I died before getting it right, I don’t think I’ll be changing career paths soon, though. Being a programmer is a much safer occupation.

The game’s not without oddities. Sometimes the enemy AI seems to fall apart and I’m surprised none of the people searching me cared that I had a severed arm under my jacket, but it’s generally all works well.

I’m really looking forward to Blood Money now, as it should refine everything.