The Equipment Select menu (ESM) is a User Interface (UI) element first introduced in Hitman: Codename 47, and practically included in every game since, albeit with changes.
The menu is shown before the start of each mission, allowing the player to select weapons and equipment from any that they have unlocked. Certain missions do not feature this screen, meaning the player only has whatever they had on the previous mission, or whatever the game provides.
Hitman: Codename 47[]
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Upon starting a mission, the player will be tasked with supplying Agent 47 with the load out that they want to play with. More equipment is unlocked as the game progresses, and some missions don't allow some equipment to be carried into it. Each item costs a certain amount of money which will be deducted from 47's earnings when the mission is completed. Ammunition for guns will need to be purchased separately as well.
Hitman 2: Silent Assassin[]
The ESM appears at the start of missions triggered by the laptop in Silent Assassin. Missions in which the location does not change may instead proceed straight to gameplay. Missions loaded from the Mission Menu invariably start with the ESM (except The Gontranno Sanctuary). Some missions, such as The Graveyard Shift and The Jacuzzi Job are continuation missions, and will not display the ESM unless loaded from the Mission Menu.
The ESM in Silent Assassin appears somewhat similar to the game's inventory menu, with weapons and offensive items located on the right hand side, and equipment and tools located on the left. Certain pieces of equipment cannot be removed from the list. It is important to note that some weapons only become available after being unlocked through Silent Assassin ratings.
Unlike Codename 47, equipment does not have to be purchased. Any chosen equipment will appear on the right hand list.
Any amount of one handed weapons can be taken into a mission, but only one two-handed weapon. It is also important to note that 47 will spawn with any two handed weapon equipped, risking accidental attention.
Contracts[]
The ESM in Contracts is now a list, containing all the player's unlocked equipment. They only appear when replaying a mission via the Mission Select Menu. The ESM appears with the equipment list on the righthand side, with a model viewer window to the left, and a information box below. Equipment is categorized by weapon and item type. Melee weapons are no longer collectible and can only be used in their respective missions. Whereas the Cardboard Tube can appear on this list, it suffers a bug in console versions (lacking a model and texture) and does not spawn when selected. Despite this, it will still take up a two-handed slot on the menu. Some items, such as the Lockpick and the Fiber Wire cannot be unselected. Training Area is technically the only mission without the appearance of the ESM.
Any amount of one handed weapons can be taken into a mission, but only one two-handed weapon. It is also important to note that 47 will spawn with any two handed weapon equipped, risking accidental attention (except for the WA2000, which comes in its own unique case).
Blood Money[]
The ESM reappears in Blood Money before the player starts each mission, whether loaded from the Mission Select menu, or by completing the previous level (except Hideout, Death of a Showman, and Requiem). Diana can also deliver the player a spoken mission briefing during weapon selection, depending on player speed. The player can no longer choose items, and can only select three weapons to take on missions, those being a Pistol, an SMG, and a Rifle. Although a fourth Melee slot is available, only the Bowie Knife, a cut weapon, uses it. Each weapon has an icon representing its type; Pistols, SMGs, and Rifles. Melee is also included as a fist in a multi-point star, although this is only used erroneously for the Nail Gun. An additional icon is used for unknown purposes, and is used only by the Air Rifle. This time the ESM appears as an altered three window format, with the equipment list to the left-hand side, selected equipment to the top right, and controls to the bottom right. The first section on the list is the player's own customizable set. The rest of the collected weapons are listed below in loose order.
The in-game customization shop Kruger Schmidt can be accessed from this screen, allowing the player to use earned money to customize specific weapons and gear. Customizations are unlocked as the story is progressed. Some customization options become redundant if better versions are bought. Some customization options are incompatible with others.
World of Assassination[]
The ESM now appears before each mission when loaded from the Locations menu. Missions loaded by story progression still present ESMs during briefings, except for Untouchable. The menu now consists of several boxes, allowing the player to alter starting points, equipment, outfits and smuggled equipment spots (Agency Pick Up). The player can now select both gear and weapons for use in the field. Only 3 pieces of equipment can be selected and taken into the field (4 if one item is a container). Another piece of equipment can also be smuggled in, depending on its size and whether it's unlocked.
The player has access to one "Concealed Weapon" slot and 2 "Gear" slots. the Concealed Weapon slot is only able to be used for pistols, one-handed SMGs, the ICA Combat Axe, and the Ice Axe, although sawed-off shotguns were available at one point. The Gear slots can be used for any small item other than firearms, along with one of them being able to be used for a Briefcase, which can hold any unlocked item. The player also has access to a "Smuggled Item" slot, which allows them to smuggle an item into one of several pre-selected locations within the mission. Smuggle Points are the only way to bring along the Military Briefcase, which is used to store items in Agency Pickups. The other Smuggle Point type is the Hidden Stash, which can hold one of any unlocked small item.