Sniper Elite: Resistance Details
Publisher: Rebellion
Developer: Rebellion
Format: Xbox Series X/S (reviewed), PS4, PS5, PC, Xbox One, Asura
Platform: Asura
Release date: 28 January 2025
As befits a game which is all about hiding in long grass and taking out enemies from unfeasible distances, Rebellion’s Sniper Elite franchise has remained firmly below the radar, even while quietly amassing a large and enthusiastic following.
A new protagonist
But Sniper Elite: Resistance does offer some differentiation from its predecessors. For a start, it puts you in control of a different character, giving series protagonist Karl Fairburne a rest. This time around, the fate of the war rests on the broad shoulders of Harry Hawker, like Fairburne an SOE agent. To be frank, I found playing Hawker almost indistinguishable from playing Fairburne – they both have the same moves and skills. Hawker is a tad grittier and more working-class, however, with a trace of Cockney in his accent.
Long, involving missions
Story-wise, Sniper Elite: Resistance is set in a very specific time-frame and location: specifically France, in the lead-up to D-Day. The SOE has got wind of something which could put a serious spanner in D-Day’s works: a super-weapon being developed by Nazi boffins designed to wipe out any Allied invasion force, wherever it may land, elaborate misdirection notwithstanding.
Comforting gameplay
Playing Sniper Elite: Resistance was something like pulling on a comfy sweater: I found the act of plotting my way through serried ranks of Nazis infinitely comforting. As in Sniper Elite 5, all of Resistance’s missions are long and involving, with multiple main objectives along with plenty of hidden ones: extensive exploration was the order of the day, and after completing the campaign, I returned to many missions in search of maxing out the rating given at the end of each one.
Propaganda mode
But Sniper Elite: Resistance has a new mode which I greatly enjoyed. Entitled Propaganda, and unlocked by finding French Resistance propaganda posters in the missions, it offers short but intense blasts of action focusing on one particular form of gameplay. There are three types: sniping, stealth, and frontline combat. Each session is time-limited, but you can earn extra time by, for example, pulling off headshots when sniping or explosive-kills in combat.
Conclusion
In common with previous Sniper Elite instalments, it’s a game that you will find unexpectedly compelling and moreish should you take the plunge and play it. Sniper Elite: Resistance will delight the existing Sniper Elite fanbase, and should, in truth, impress any discerning aficionados of third-person shooters in general. If, given recent events, you’re growing tired of griping about wannabe Nazis, why not work off your frustrations by killing a load of digitally recreated ones?
FAQs
Q: Is Sniper Elite: Resistance a new game?
A: Yes, it is a new game in the Sniper Elite series.
Q: Is it a significant upgrade from Sniper Elite 5?
A: Yes, it offers visual upgrades and a new game mode, Propaganda, which provides a fresh way to play the game.
Q: Is the gameplay similar to Sniper Elite 5?
A: Yes, the gameplay is similar, with a focus on stealth and sniping, but with some new elements added in Propaganda mode.
Q: Is the game only for fans of the series?
A: No, it is suitable for fans of third-person shooters and action games in general.
