Sniper Ghost Warrior: Contracts 2 [PlayStation 5] | REVIEW

Whilst Sniper Ghost Warrior: Contracts 2 released on last-gen consoles, the Xbox Series X|S, and PC back in June, the PlayStation 5 version had a bit of a delay – something which was put down to ‘technical challenges’ by the developer. Now, nearly three months on from its initial release, it has finally hit the platform… was the wait worth it?

It’s worth noting that this review will primarily focus on the improvements brought to the PlayStation 5 version of the game when compared to the PlayStation 4. We will touch upon the gameplay, but not in too much depth.

Check out a gallery of screenshots down below:

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Sniper Ghost Warrior: Contracts 2’s PlayStation 5 release comes in the form of the ‘Elite Edition’, which brings with it all of the upgrades expected of the current-gen version as well as the Butcher’s Banquet DLC, which features a new region to explore and missions to complete. This DLC is free on other platforms anyway, but at least it’s available as part of the package at launch.

With the technical side of things, it’s hard not to be impressed by Sniper Ghost Warrior: Contracts 2. There are multiple modes of play, with Visual Mode featuring a 4K resolution at 30fps and Performance Mode featuring a 1440p resolution at 60fps. Both make the game feel great to play, so it’s going to come down to your preference of a sharper picture or smoother performance. Either way, the bumped up visual quality and detail ensures everything looks really pretty in-game, which is something players will especially notice if they played the PlayStation 4 version of the game first.

“The bumped up visual quality and detail ensures everything looks really pretty in-game, which is something players will especially notice if they played the PlayStation 4 version of the game first.”

Of course, there’s more to the PlayStation 5 than just visuals, with the Dual Sense adding some cool features to each experience. Sniper Ghost Warrior: Contracts 2 takes full advantage of this, with the haptic feedback adding an extra sense of immersion to everything you do in-game. Whether you’re moving around, shooting, or even getting shot at, you’ll feel the sensation of it within your controller. Add to that some clever implementation of the adaptive triggers that give firing each weapon its own unique feel and it becomes even harder not to be impressed with the Dual Sense functionality. If this contributed to the game’s delay on the platform in any way, it was certainly worth the wait – it makes Sniper Ghost Warrior: Contracts 2 feel like a whole different game to play.

Last but not least, there are also the improved loading times to look forward to, with the game booting into action in around twelve seconds or so. Again, it’s something I could appreciate coming from the PlayStation 4 version of the game, but it wasn’t quite as instant as the loading times seen in some other recent releases on the platform. But hey, it’s still an improvement.

“Whether you’re moving around, shooting, or even getting shot at, you’ll feel the sensation of it within your controller.”

It’s clear then that Sniper Ghost Warrior: Contracts 2’s performance on the PlayStation 5 is mighty impressive, with the work put in during the last three months paying off big time. How does it feel to play, though?

It’s a lot of fun. Missions are split over individual regions that are pretty expansive, with the player able to approach objective and targets in different ways. Of course, the bulk of this comes down to shooting from afar with the game’s realistic and satisfying sniping mechanics, but there are also times when you’ll get up close and personal with the likes of machine guns, pistols, shotguns, or even a crossbow. For the most part, you’ll want to be stealthy where possible, with scouting out enemies and plotting out the best route to take proving important. Some of the neat gadgets you have at your disposal help with this, with some helping you sneak around and others wiping out enemies with ease. There’s nothing quite like using a remote turret to take out enemies, though the likes of smoke grenades can also help you evade your enemies when in a sticky situation.

With plenty of main and side missions to complete, collectibles to find, and challenges to complete, there’s plenty to get stuck into in Sniper Ghost Warrior: Contracts 2. There’s a real sense of progress too, with the player able to upgrade their skills and purchase an array of new gear, so there’s an incentive to dive into the extra missions to take advantage of the rewards. It just makes for a fun shooting experience that balances out some sneaky sniping missions with all-out action with the s**t hits the fan… what more could you want from a game in the Sniper Ghost Warrior series?

Developer: CI Games
Publisher: CI Games
Platform(s): PlayStation 5 (Reviewed), PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC
Website: https://www.sniperghostwarriorcontracts2.com/