When it comes to video games, usually companies will offer little pre-order bonuses in hopes that potential consumers will secure their copy early. These bonuses typically consist of a special weapon to use in combat, or perhaps a special suit of armor or outfit for your character to strut around in. Other times you’ll see DLC offered or a collectible usually reserved for special editions of a game, but Square Enix is doing something pretty darn cool for the upcoming fifth installment in the Hitman franchise, titled Hitman: Absolution.

For those who head over to GameStop and pre-order the game starting on May 15th, you’ll be given a standalone game titled Hitman: Sniper Challenge. And even though Hitman: Absolution doesn’t hit store shelves until November 20, 2012, you’ll be able to start playing Sniper Challenge the very day you pre-order.

Continue reading for more and to check out a trailer for Hitman: Sniper Challenge.

At first glance the offer might sound more like a simple DLC mission than a standalone game—seeing Agent 47 situated on a rooftop with a sniper rifle, ready to eliminate Stallion Armaments CEO Richard Strong, Jr. and any bodyguards he might have—but there’s much more to it.

This game isn’t so much about getting the job done, but scoring the most points in the process of getting said job done. There’s many ways to take your targets out, and you’ll pile up the points using scoring multipliers, finding hidden secrets, and unlocking equipment upgrades to help you on your quest to become the best.

An online leaderboard will allow you to keep track of how you’re doing and where you stand amongst the world’s top players with prizes given out monthly straight through the summer and to the real game’s launch in November. Whoever stands atop the mountain as the best sniper when Hitman: Absolution is released will win a trip for two to Denmark where they’ll meet the development team behind Absolution and have their likeness incorporated into the next game (which is already said to be in development for the next generation of consoles).

In addition to all of this, the high-powered Kazo TRG sniper rifle you’ll use can be carried over into your Absolution game, as well as any upgrades and unlockables you obtain.

Keep in mind that if you want to be playing starting May 15th, you have to pre-order the game at GameStop. If you play on PC, you will have the option to get Sniper Challenge through Steam starting August 1st.

You can head to the Hitman Sniper page for more information.

Trailer

[Source: Square Enix]