Say you’re a trained Sniper; sure you have been through the drills and the training sessions. The real question is can you really pull the trigger, and then get out alive and undetected all while keeping your cool. This is an interesting premise for a different angle to the wave of WWII games that are out on the shelves today. I will give it that. The role of a real life Sniper has been covered before but not in a way that really allows gamers to get in touch with the feelings of the actions you must perform.

At first the storyline may seem a bit far fetched but really for every action there is a consequence and this new title from Namco displays this fact in an interesting way. Based on real life events but changed for the sake of the overall game, the characters and events were only based on the real life events. Unlike Brothers in Arms you won’t play as a well-known person and in some ways this allows for more freedom in the story and the level design. The real question is with all the WWII games out there right now is Sniper Elite worth playing? Read the full review to find out!

Gameplay

You play as a young cadet fresh put of the academy and still very naïve to what war is really about. Sure you have the skills and a dead on aim but now you’re in the trenches and assigned to help in a covert mission. You’re every move, action and choice can change the outcome of the mission, a lot to handle. The premise is interesting and besides the short tutorial, they leave a lot of the finer points of the game up to you the player to learn. This adds a sense of realism since your thrown right in the thick of the action. Orders at first seem simple. Go in, find the operative, get the Intel and get out alive. Of course nothing is easy in war and the levels are made to throw that in your face so to speak. Normally, in a game like this it’s like a human shooting gallery and little more. However, Elite throws in more of a real stealth element and enemies do not just appear for an easy target. The A.I. can snipe you easy and this may frustrate gamers who like a fast pace style of gameplay. You really need patience to play it correctly. The enemies can be sniped and when you get one in your sites, it looks realistic and very dramatic. Then again while you’re a sniper, it’s not the whole object of the game as they throw new objectives and the story changes fast.

The overall game is meant to be played slower and make you think before you act. A great example is where you have a Russian in your sites and a perfect headshot, the thing you trained for is staring you right in the face. Pulling the trigger is an easy headshot and a kill but what about the 4 or 5 other enemies just around the corner you can’t see? Firing your weapon would be suicide but letting the target walk will be hard. It’s this style of gameplay that makes the game different than most. For gamers who love wide open levels, this game will appeal to you but it also has a price. The fact you will need to familiarize yourself with the map can get a bit old. It has to be played this way and you also will need to save often one shot and it’s all over if it hits a vital organ or a head shot. They throw a ton of distractions at you as well making it harder. For some, this will be great and others will just get ticked off. The overall missions are broken up into several and open up as you get further along. You may find an informant that has vital information for you but then tells you about a snag or someone who got captured to get this info in your hands. You then need to save this solider which will delay the mission but never leave a brother behind. The real life events are not just thrown at you for the sake of the game or to make you back track it is added for the sake of the total game.

While I enjoyed the twists thrown in the story and the new objectives, in ways it seems like the A.I always has an upper hand and they can hit you from distances that seem a little unfair. Gamers will also notice it takes you longer to get ready in the sniper mode. While you can shoot outside of this mode, it was meant to be played in the sniper view. The key to enjoying it is pretty simple: adjust your attitude and play by the rules they set for you. Like war it seems unfair but somehow even when everything is at the advantage of the A.I, the game is a decent one and offers plenty of situations for you to experience. While the levels and A.I seems a bit unbalanced, the developers added plenty of places for you to heal and hide out. The hard part is finding them. The map is decent to read and shows the general direction of the enemy or when they are firing but just don’t expect this title to hold your hand. It’s more thinking and stealth than run and gun. If you can adjust to this style, the game has plenty of interesting missions and storylines. Of course while more stealth sniping is the main goal, the look and feel of this mode is very well done. You will need to take into account the air speed; you’re breathing and your heart rate. Another nice realistic feature is that you can carry two weapons but each handle differently. Once you fire a shot, you have to readjust the aim all over as well as reload when needed.

The first time you nail a headshot and see the slow-motion animation is pretty cool. This effect looks great but can get old. I like that they tried to recreate not just the look but the emotion of seeing the kill. It’s one thing to train on dummies or targets but shooting someone for real and seeing it is a whole different thing entirely. Not to be funny but hunters will know what I mean. You see that buck in your sites and you want to pull the trigger. When you do and if you do not freeze up after the shot, you almost feel a small feeling of remorse.

Control / Playability

The controls are laid out well but will take some time to remember them all. You also will find yourself going from a third person view to a first person view and this may seem a bit odd and awkward. Left analog stick allows you to toggle to views and get into the sniper mode. The basic controls are like most games of this type. You will need to learn the D-Pads functions and when to search a body for ammo and other needed items to survive though the game.

The learning curve is about 30-45 minutes to learn everything and I suggest that you go though the tutorial and read the instructions and keep them handy. You will get on screen prompts and reminders but since the action is so fast it is easier to learn the controls well before playing. Once again the game allows you to make your own choices to a point so you need to save on your own. Die and not save and you will repeat the whole mission. For the most part, the controls all respond well but in close combat situation the controls are less than spectacular. This is not really due to bad controls, but it’s more on the way the game was design and it was not made for close combat fighting.

Xbox Live

While this is not a real budget title, it is cheaper at $39.99 and what separated this from other similar games is the online modes. This option adds replay value and also acts as a great way to hone your skills while playing against real people. You can jump in a room and start or create your own and pick form three different modes. The Lobby is basic but well made and easy to navigate. Most games are the standard Death-Match style but you can adjust it to team and tweak the rules and options. The assignation mode is cool and will test the skills of anyone. The games are lag free and surprisingly smooth with all the graphics and players in one game. It will depend on the host’s connection of course as with any online game but they did offer plenty of modes.

Graphics / Presentation

Graphically, the game looks good for the most part but does get a bit blocky looking in certain areas. They really did a good job and any war game has places where the graphics change a bit. For the most part, you will be in worn torn areas with half blown up buildings and rubble anyhow. When you shoot someone high ranking, this triggers the slow motion effect and again it looks great but may get old after seeing it a few times. When you lose someone in your sights and need to switch you your binoculars to find them, the effect is well done. Overall the game is average when it comes to the graphics. A few places show off some neat effects like the anti-air guns and other tanks. It is smooth and really does the job of pulling off the time the game is played in.

Audio

While playing the game, you may be tempted to skip the intros and if you do, the extra stories told will be missed out on. The voice-over talents do a great job and the stories they tell also may have some information that will help you in that level or mission. I am not sure if this was by design or by chance, but it is a neat use of voice-over work. The weapons sound all different and realistic and so do the explosion and air raid sirens. When you meet up with someone who need to tell you information or pass vital Intel on, they also sound convincing and not just sounding they are reading a script. Overall, the game’s sound effects are well balanced and done well for a war-themed game.

Replay Value

Sniper Elite’s replay value is really up to the player. If you give it a chance and play the game the way it was meant, the game has a lot to offer. If you’re really into the stealth and sniping elements the game offers, then you’re certain to get more replay value than someone who is not into this style of game. It takes time and patience but pays off after you learn the way it was designed. The online modes really adds to the overall value and make it a good title instead of average. The single player mode is long and well made but adding the online play was a smart move and will attract more gamers who may want to play against others.

Overall Score

Overall Score: 8.0/10 [not an average]

Additional Comments

Sniper Elite is different and in a good way. While the close combat is flawed, you won’t have time to really notice. The effects and story angle is one that makes you interested in what is going on and the fact you always need to watch what is ahead or behind you adds to the overall gameplay. You will also get frustrated that the A.I seems to have an advantage but that to some just makes it more of a challenge. The price and the online modes make’s it worth the money and especially for fans of sniping. It has some graphic and gory parts but then again most war games do. They don’t overuse it, but it can be disturbing and maybe that was the intent. Certainly a game for any fan of the genre and priced right.

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