Sniper Elite: Resistance [PlayStation 5] | REVIEW

Few gaming franchises capture the exhilarating thrill of long-distance precision shooting quite as effectively as Sniper Elite does, with its distinct mix of tactical gameplay, vast open levels, and, of course, the iconic x-ray kill cam, ensuring it has a special place in the hearts of gamers. Sniper Elite: Resistance is the latest release in the series, and whilst it does act as more of a spin-off than a sequel, it offers more of the same exciting action to keep both returning players and newcomers hooked into its sniping action.

Check out some screenshots down below:

Sniper Elite: Resistance brings a new protagonist to the forefront, with players stepping into the boots of Harry Hawker (who has appeared in other entries in the series but only now gets a starring role). He’s a colourful chap who is as sharp with his tongue as he is with his rifle, delivering a cockney wit that adds a livelier edge to the game’s storytelling. The narrative actually unfolds alongside the events of Sniper Elite 5, placing Harry in occupied France as he works alongside the Resistance to foil a Nazi superweapon project. I know, I know, the idea of sabotaging the Nazis in another one of their dastardly plans is well-trodden territory for the series at this point, but it acts as a serviceable backdrop for the action where the stakes feel high enough to keep the player invested.

At its core, Sniper Elite: Resistance stays true to the series’ formula: vast, semi-open maps, a variety of objectives, and an arsenal of tools to approach missions however you see fit. Whether you prefer to silently eliminate enemies and slip past patrols unnoticed or storm through all-guns blazing, the game offers the freedom to play your way. But, of course, the sniping mechanics remain the highlight of the experience. The longstanding commitment to authenticity is once again on display, with factors like wind, bullet drop, and gravity influencing your shots, whilst there’s a a visceral satisfaction in lining up the perfect long-distance kill – especially when the x-ray kill cam kicks in to showcase the internal devastation of the bullet’s impact. I’m a long-time Sniper Elite player so you’d think it’d grow a little old by now, but you know what? I STILL love seeing the disgusting impact of my perfectly-placed shots.

The campaign is enjoyable, with it spanning nine sprawling levels that send players through diverse environments across France within its cities, idyllic countryside, and across different times of the day. These locales offer a plethora of ways to deal with your objectives, with vantage points, hidden paths, and opportunities for environmental kills scattered throughout. Players are given a lot of freedom in how they tackle these levels, and whilst the easier difficulties will let you get away with a few mishaps, those playing on the higher difficulty settings will want to keep an eye out for any advantage that they can get.

“Sniper Elite: Resistance doesn’t reinvent the wheel but still delivers an exhilarating sniping experience.”

Adding further excitement is the return of Invasions, which allows other players to invade your game as an enemy sniper. This multiplayer twist creates tense, unpredictable encounters that force you to adapt on the fly. It’s something that I really liked in Sniper Elite 5, so it’s great to see it wasn’t a one-off feature – even IF it is brutal when you get killed by an invader. But hey, it’s even better when you invade another player’s game and inflict pain upon them…

Oh, and if you’d rather play work with other players instead, online co-op lets you tackle the entirety of the game with a partner. It gives the whole experience a fresh feeling, with the added player allowing you to coordinate silent assaults from afar or really up the chaos when you decide to meet the enemy with machine gun fire and grenades.

One new addition to Sniper Elite: Resistance are Propaganda Missions, which are unlocked by finding special propaganda posters across each level. These missions put players in the role of a Resistance Fighter and give them unique objectives to complete, encouraging creative problem-solving and experimentation as they push players to work as quickly as possible. They’re a neat little diversion to the core experience, and whilst they’re small in size, they were always a treat to play through.

Check out some screenshots down below:

It’s a whole lot of fun then, but Sniper Elite: Resistance is guilty of feeling overly familiar. The French setting, while beautifully realized, doesn’t feel unique after spending so much time there in Sniper Elite 5, whilst the lack of new features did feel a little underwhelming. Sniper Elite: Resistance plays things very safe and doesn’t add too much to the core experience, and that’s fine – especially since the gameplay is still really good – but it would have been nice if it had a few extra tricks up its sleeve, if only to give long-time players something fresh and exciting to experience.

Whilst Sniper Elite: Resistance may lack in innovation, it does offer plenty of content and replayability to keep players coming back for more. Each mission is packed with collectibles, from hidden intel to and unlockable weapon customization options, whilst the multiple approaches you can take to objectives means no two playthroughs have to be the same. The aforementioned co-op really is a blast too, whilst I’d be lying if I said that spoiling someone’s day with an Invasion didn’t keep me coming back more.

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