Sniper Elite: Resistance – The Ultimate Stealth-Action Experience!

by

Over a span of two decades, the Sniper Elite series has steadily risen as one of the top choices in the stealth-action genre, known for providing players substantial flexibility when tackling objectives and taking down targets. The latest addition, Sniper Elite: Resistance, continues to solidify this fundamental essence.

Essentially, “Sniper Elite: Resistance” isn’t exactly a direct sequel, but more of a spin-off. The game puts players in the shoes of Harry Hawker, a Special Operations Executive agent, as he embarks on a mission to track down a top-secret Nazi weapon that could potentially disrupt the D-Day operation. This adventure takes Hawker through WW2 France. To summarize, “Sniper Elite: Resistance” delivers everything fans would anticipate – nothing more, but definitely nothing less.

Variation and Player Choice Remain Core Parts of Sniper Elite’s Identity

In line with other installments from the extended stealth series, the main attraction of Sniper Elite: Resistance lies in its campaign. The game offers a total of nine missions, and it typically takes players about 10 hours to complete them, though this can vary greatly based on individual playstyle.

Over the course of time, it’s become clearer than ever that the Sniper Elite series thrives on diversity and player freedom, and these aspects are fully realized in Sniper Elite: Resistance. Prior to embarking on a mission, players are given the opportunity to personalize their equipment. They can select from numerous sniper rifles, SMGs, and handguns, each boasting multiple upgradeable attachments that directly influence weapon efficiency. Furthermore, players can acquire various tools like mines and decoys as they progress.

In this game, once players choose their equipment, they begin by parachuting into a sizable, free-roaming map. Immediately, they’re presented with multiple tasks, some obvious and others hidden for those who wish to explore. Much like the recent Sniper Elite games, the player decides how to accomplish these tasks – whether it’s through stealthy maneuvers at various entry points, launching into a full-scale attack, or a combination of both, using their personalized weaponry.

The richness in player freedom harmoniously complements the diverse range of missions in Sniper Elite: Resistance. In fact, the majority of the game’s nine missions transport you to distinct locales, each brimming with numerous intriguing points worth exploring. For example, a mission within Sniper Elite: Resistance could find you stealthily moving through an ancient French village’s outskirts, then a repurposed medieval castle serving as a Nazi base, and finally, an undercover weapons factory hidden beneath the earth. Another mission might lead you to investigate a multi-tiered hotel, its adjoining residential and commercial districts, and a nearby train yard.

Each mission in this game offers a unique experience, and that uniqueness is accentuated by some outstanding work on the environmental design. The settings in Sniper Elite: Resistance manage to be both distinctive and relatable, as every level features a realistic layout, genuine architectural styles, and intricate environmental details.

In the campaign, the dam initially encountered during the first mission is utilized again, yet it undergoes a significantly altered design and incorporates a portion of the map that was originally inaccessible.

In Sniper Elite: Resistance, the goals are generally similar. They often involve sneaking into a location, obtaining certain documents or sabotaging something, and then escaping. Objectives that deviate from this pattern typically focus on eliminating high-value targets. However, the game’s diverse settings, gameplay possibilities, and storyline context make these objectives remain interesting throughout the campaign.

Similarly, the storyline in Sniper Elite: Resistance can be considered somewhat linear. To elaborate, the game’s narrative involves players tracking down a Nazi super-weapon, which leads to a relentless pursuit through France. Although this straightforward concept doesn’t develop much further, it effectively serves as a driving force for character motivation and sets an adequate stage for the action in Sniper Elite: Resistance.

In contrast to its unassuming plotline, I found the main character in Sniper Elite: Resistance, Harry Hawker, to be slightly more annoying than expected. Throughout the game, Harry seemed to be channeling Jason Statham, and his harsh, overly gruff Cockney accent felt incongruous in an otherwise realistic environment and storyline. Additionally, there was a noticeable disconnect between the character’s exaggerated accent and the facial model, which might indicate technical issues that I’ll discuss later on.

Sniper Elite: Resistance is Yet Another Complete Sniper Elite Experience

In addition to the 10-hour campaign found in Sniper Elite: Resistance, the overall Sniper Elite experience offers much more. Notably, the feature known as Axis Invasion, debuted in Sniper Elite 5, makes a powerful comeback within Resistance. This aspect can easily steal the limelight. For those who might be new to this, Axis Invasion involves one real-life player invading another’s game during a mission.

As soon as a message flashes on-screen alerting the player about an invasion, a nerve-wracking game of hide-and-seek ensues. If both players possess decent skills, this situation often results in unforgettable gaming moments within Sniper Elite. Here, players must swiftly adapt their strategies not only to achieve their goals but also to outwit a pursuing adversary. This struggle, which usually induces tension and gratification regardless of the result, is an integral part of the gameplay experience.

In addition to the main gameplay of Sniper Elite: Resistance, there are several other multiplayer options available, such as deathmatch and survival. While these may not be where most players focus their gaming hours, they still add a pleasant touch to the overall experience. Furthermore, this game offers a novel Propaganda Challenge mode, which can be accessed by discovering the related posters scattered throughout each level.

The Propaganda Missions consist of tasks such as Stealth, Combat, and Sniper operations. Essentially, these missions require players to eliminate a specific number of opponents within a set timeframe. With each kill, the time limit is extended, similar to the Mercenaries mode in Resident Evil. These challenges are engaging diversions, but they lack depth and variety to warrant multiple playthroughs.

In Sniper Elite: Resistance, Patience Is Key

In Sniper Elite: Resistance, players have the freedom to run and gun if they prefer, but seasoned Sniper Elite fans understand that this isn’t the optimal way to fully enjoy the game. This learning curve is crucial to acknowledge for those newcomers who are diving into the series for the first time.

To get the most out of “Sniper Elite: Resistance,” players should savor their experience. Initially, it may take some time for novice players to acclimate to the game’s deliberate tempo. However, as they progress, they’ll discover a sense of accomplishment that arises from mastering each stage of the game’s cycle. From surveying an area with binoculars and marking enemy patrols, to strategizing the most effective approach for objectives, and methodically carrying out their plan in stages.

The feeling of fulfillment intensifies as players learn to utilize their versatile arsenal effectively. For instance, they can lure groups of enemies with decoy items, surprise solitary foes with hidden explosives, synchronize loud sniper shots with the noise of aircraft, or even generate a distraction by damaging vehicles or generators themselves. The heightened sense of triumph from careful planning and tactical execution is magnified when real opponents join the fray during an Axis Invasion scenario.

For players who are patient and familiar with the pattern of this series, the gameplay in Sniper Elite: Resistance stays engaging from start to finish.

A Technical Performance That Fans Have Come to Expect From Sniper Elite

The game Sniper Elite: Resistance isn’t a high-budget AAA title, which is evident in certain technical aspects. Despite the fact that environments are consistently detailed and the game’s lighting contributes significantly to creating an immersive atmosphere, the character models in Resistance, particularly their faces, do not quite meet the same level of quality. In many instances, characters in Sniper Elite: Resistance appear surprisingly two-dimensional and lack the detail typically found in modern games.

In the dimly lit scenes of “Resistance”, the cinematics fall short, appearing as a string of sepia-toned photos that are supposed to represent in-game photographs within the storyline. These static images expose the lack of depth and emotion in the characters’ facial models, making players pay closer attention to the details than they normally would during gameplay, due to the unnatural stillness.

In addition to its engaging gameplay, Sniper Elite: Resistance includes some animations that might seem rough or unpolished at times. For instance, moving down a zipline is extremely swift, enhancing game mechanics, but it can feel abrupt compared to the otherwise realistic in-game actions. Furthermore, stealth takedowns may disrupt the immersive experience as enemy characters tend to jerk awkwardly, adjusting for a specific animation that doesn’t align with the player’s current position at times.

Although these minor problems can be noticed, they are typically overlooked by fans of Sniper Elite due to their familiarity with the game’s quirks. These technical glitches aren’t likely to disrupt the gaming experience for an extended period or substantially affect the player’s overall satisfaction. However, it’s worth noting that the AI behavior in Sniper Elite: Resistance might have a more significant influence on the gameplay experience.

While engaging with Sniper Elite: Resistance, I encountered situations where it seemed like enemies could see me through walls. A clear demonstration occurred during the initial mission when, while hanging from one of the flak turret platforms, an enemy spotted me from the dam quite a distance away, even though there was a huge steel cylinder obstructing our view.

In many instances, the artificial intelligence of my adversaries would often bump into architectural elements like doorways, sidewalk edges, and the summit of steps. Rarely, this resulted in them seemingly passing through the environment, allowing them to fire upon me from behind walls. These glitches didn’t significantly disrupt gameplay (a return to the previous checkpoint usually resolved the issue), but it’s worth noting as a precaution. However, it’s likely that developer Rebellion has already rectified these problems by the time the game is launched.

In summary, the X-Ray bullet-cam in “Sniper Elite: Resistance” continues to live up to fan’s expectations, offering an equally grisly appeal that encourages players to take their shots accurately.

On the very first day of its launch, Sniper Elite: Resistance will be available through Xbox Game Pass. If you’re an existing subscriber, this game is definitely worth checking out. For those considering it, this could serve as a compelling incentive to sign up for a month-long subscription.

In a fresh take on wording, let me rephrase for you: Sniper Elite: Resistance doesn’t venture into uncharted territory for the Sniper Elite series or the stealth-action genre. However, it wasn’t designed to do so. Instead, its goal was to offer another enjoyable, comprehensive Sniper Elite experience that remains loyal to the elements of the franchise cherished by fans, and it successfully delivers on this objective.

The game titled “Sniper Elite: Resistance” is set to debut on January 30th across platforms like PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. For this review, we were given a PlayStation 5 code by Game Rant.

Read More

2025-01-28 22:15