Sniper Elite Resistance Preview: A Tactician’s Dream

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After diving headfirst into the intricate world of Sniper Elite: Resistance, I must say, it’s been quite the journey! As a seasoned gamer with a penchant for stealth and precision, this game has tickled my tactical fancy like nothing else in recent memory.

While many serious historians question the impact of Nazi wunderwaffen (miracle weapons) on the outcome of World War II, there’s no denying the significant role played by Allied special operatives and local resistance groups who operated covertly within enemy territories.

Sniper Elite: Resistance endeavors to blend intrigue about alternate weaponry with a homage to the covert operatives who fought back against Hitler in Nazi-occupied France, showcasing their efforts to bring the battlefield to him.

As you take on the persona of SOE agent Harry Hawker, you join forces with the French Underground to thwart a clandestine German scheme involving a powerful weapon, the outcome of which could significantly shift the balance towards Nazi dominance.

In a more relaxed phrasing, the game Sniper Elite: Resistance offers an enjoyable mix of challenge and entertainment, ensuring that players get a tactical exercise even though it primarily focuses on stealth.

This sneak peek pertains to the third mission in the game campaign. The game, Sniper Elite: Resistance, will be released on January 30th, 2025; however, those who own the Deluxe Edition can start playing it two days earlier.

Sniper Elite’s Latest Chapter

If you’re not already familiar with it, the game called “Sniper Elite” revolves around taking precise long-range shots, offering deep gratification as a reward.

Over the past few years, the series has shifted towards realistic settings, as evidenced by the latest releases, which focus on the Allies’ advancement to free North Africa, Italy, and France from occupation.

Just as the title suggests, “Sniper Elite: Resistance” finds you joining forces with the French Resistance in 1944, much like “Sniper Elite 5”.

Even though you’re proficient in handling “remote engagements” with your sniper rifle, the game provides numerous options for neutralizing, disabling, or diverting adversaries from a distance.

Presentation Matters

The mission begins with a well-designed video that explains your goals and visually depicts them on a map for you.

The primary goal is to uncover evidence about a suspected Nazi super weapon, following information received from the Resistance, and if feasible, eliminate it.

The secondary objectives are to locate the source following its silence, and to neutralize a local ally.

The action unfolds in the captivating city of Lyon, widely recognized as one of Europe’s gems, and the game truly reflected its charm.

Sniper Elite: Resistance doesn’t aim for extreme graphical realism, but rather emphasizes grounded aesthetics and a satisfyingly accurate anatomical representation when you make a well-aimed shot.

The user interface designers at Rebellion are truly deserving of praise; everything they’ve created for interaction not only maintains a pristine and visually appealing appearance but also aligns flawlessly with their artistic vision.

Despite it being my initial experience interacting with the game series, moving around within the game itself and adjusting its settings felt incredibly intuitive.

A Sniper’s Puzzle

In the game ‘Sniper Elite’, the controls operate smoothly and promptly, but sometimes it can be a bit perplexing when trying to determine where exactly jumping is possible.

The way you maneuver impacts an enemy’s capability to detect you. To my delight, creeping on all fours didn’t render me invisible when within their line of sight. Additionally, it was satisfying to observe that the vegetation functioned as intended.

The enjoyment of playing Sniper Elite: Resistance comes from requiring players to think outside the box, since blindly shooting from a single position won’t suffice.

I learned that the hard way, and there may or may not be footage of me dying what felt like 100 times as I tried to snipe my way out of situations that I clearly should not have.

In the game ‘Sniper Elite’, the annoyance you feel when things go awry is distinctive, as you’re aware on some level that the blame lies with you.

Simultaneously, finding resolution when all pieces fall into place makes each missed attempt rewarding.

Scheming In Motion

Picture the scene: I needed to cross the Saône river, but the bridge was crawling with Germans.

I took refuge in the abandoned Resistance safehouse, cleared out the German presence on the second floor, and then devised a plan.

By the window overlooking the river, there stood some temporary structures, which served as an exit for me. I dug a passage leading to the entrance and the stairwell ascending to the upper level, followed by retrieving my firearm.

At the farthest point on the bridge, there was an alarm to summon backup troops, accompanied by two soldiers nearby. To its right, a sniper was positioned.

Initially, I aimed at the switch that triggered the alarm, successfully rendering it inoperable from approximately 180 meters away. This action, however, attracted the attention of German guards stationed at either end of the bridge as well as a sniper on the bridge itself.

Approaching the location they detected gunfire, a lead Gestapo officer accidentally detonated a landmine, resulting in his own explosion.

Meanwhile, I popped up again and hit the sniper before he could inflict a similar fate on me.

Now, the scene had been prepared: the guards patrolling the bridge were entering the structure, the alarm had been deactivated, and the sniper was no more.

I leaped from the window onto the scaffolding, swiftly dashed over the bridge, clearing away anyone lagging behind, and eventually found a tranquil location on the opposite side.

In every adventure I embark on, there’s this recurring sequence – one that I’ve seen play out countless times. Yet, knowing that it was my own idea behind its creation, makes each victory feel even sweeter.

Minor Headaches

As with every game, there are design quirks that I could have lived without.

As a devoted fan, I have to admit that Harry’s frequent commentary on each minor action can sometimes become a bit tiresome. Picking up yet another sidearm, I can’t help but think, “We’ve found three already today, let’s move along.

There are some gripes about weapons, too. The dispersion of submachine guns bothered me a bit.

The game advises saving the powerful STEN gun for emergencies, which makes sense, but it seems excessive that when firing a full 32-round magazine at a distance of 15 meters while crouching, most bullets miss their target.

Admittedly, I found myself feeling jealous towards the Gestapo agents who were stationed at the Terminus Hotel, since some of them carried a silent variant of the semi-automatic Walther P38 handgun.

In the game “Sniper Elite: Resistance”, we frequently encounter issues when using the Welrod, a bolt-action silenced pistol. Unfortunately, this firearm doesn’t always manage to pierce through German steel helmets.

Occasionally, I’d go for close-quarters kills instead of relying on the Welrod, as I wasn’t sure it could finish the job quietly without revealing my location.

The Parting Shot

Sniper Elite: Resistance offers an enjoyable gaming experience, as it provides you with intelligent tools and ample room for creativity, enabling you to reach victory.

Yes, dying sucks, but Harry Walker is too busy making the other guys die to do so himself once you get the hang of it.

It’s delightful to witness such a well-crafted game a couple of months before its scheduled launch, and I can hardly wait until January to find out once more the effects of a .303 bullet on a human brain.

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2024-11-25 17:09