November 25th 2024.
When it comes to staying hidden, it's always best to be a bit more discreet than that. Rebellion, the masterminds behind the popular Sniper Elite franchise, is back at it again with their latest game. This time, they're adding a whole new range of online options and multiple player characters to keep the excitement alive.
For nearly 20 years, the Sniper Elite franchise has been a constant presence in the gaming world. It all started back in 2005 with the first Sniper Elite game, and most recently, we saw the release of Sniper Elite 5 in 2022. But Rebellion isn't one to shy away from keeping the momentum going, especially with their upcoming game, Atomfall.
But fear not, fellow gamers, as we won't have to wait too long for the next installment in the series. Sniper Elite: Resistance is set to be released as one of the first new games of 2025. Although not a numbered sequel, it promises to take the concept to new levels of evolution.
Following the trend of long-running franchises, Sniper Elite: Resistance will be a mid-cycle game, more commonly known as Sniper Elite 5.5. We had the opportunity to get our hands on it, thanks to the game-streaming service, Parsec. But before diving into the game, producer Lauren Davidson gave us a quick rundown of what to expect and the exciting new features it has to offer.
Resistance is a standalone addition to the Sniper Elite series, complete with a full-length single-player campaign. This time, instead of playing as Karl Fairburne, we will be taking on the role of Harry Hawker, a British Special Operations Executive agent.
Davidson also teased a new game mode, Propaganda, where players will have to search for hidden propaganda posters scattered throughout the levels. Once found, players will be able to play as a French Resistance operative and complete time-sensitive objectives.
But that's not all, as the popular Axis Invasion online mode will also make a return, allowing players to join other players' campaigns as an Axis sniper. Plus, there will be a 16-player competitive online mode and a three-player co-op Survival mode where players must fight off waves of enemies.
Our hands-on experience consisted of playing through the third level of Resistance's campaign. However, since it was an early demo, there were no checkpoints, so we had to restart the level each time we died. But without further ado, we jumped into the game, playing on a gaming laptop using an Xbox Series X controller.
The mission briefing, presented in a 1940s newsreel style, gave us a glimpse into the game's overarching storyline. Our mission, as Harry Hawker, was to gather intel on a new powerful weapon being developed by the Nazis, known as the Wunderwaffe, which could potentially end the war.
In the demo level, Harry finds himself in Fourviere, a district of the French city Lyon, where unusual activities related to the Wunderwaffe have been reported by the local Resistance. The Hotel Terminus is now a base for a large number of Gestapo officers, and there is unusual activity in the nearby train station. Our objectives were to gather intel from the Gestapo's offices, investigate the Hotel Terminus's basement, and scout out the train station. We were also given the option to establish contact with the Resistance operatives who have disappeared or find out what happened to them.
As we started the mission, we noticed that Resistance is by far the best-looking Sniper Elite game yet, with crisp and detailed visuals, and impressive level design that offers a lot of verticality.
As is customary for a Sniper Elite game, Hawker is equipped with a pistol, sniper rifle, and assault rifle, along with grenades, medical kits, and other helpful objects. Each weapon can also be equipped with different types of ammo, such as armour-piercing rounds. Looting dead enemies and finding supply drops throughout the level is crucial for building a diverse loadout. Plus, some enemies may drop unique weapons that players can use.
Gameplay-wise, Sniper Elite: Resistance feels familiar and comfortable. We immediately reached for our sniper rifle and took out a lone Nazi infantryman, using the right bumper to hold our breath, slowing down time and allowing us to take a more accurate shot. The x-ray killcam, a trademark of the Sniper Elite series, showed our bullet's path as it ripped through the enemy's body.
As we continued through the level, the enemy AI proved to be as rigorous as ever. We took out long-distance targets in the square opposite us, which consisted of both infantrymen and Gestapo operatives. We also experimented with environmental kills, causing a lorry to explode by shooting at its engine.
Some enemies took cover, requiring us to be patient and wait for the right moment to take them out. We also managed to get some kills while they were on the move, earning a ribbon for achieving five sniper rifle kills in 60 seconds.
After clearing the initial area, we made our way towards the Hotel Terminus and the train station. On the way, we came across a Resistance safe house, which was compromised and filled with Gestapo operatives. We had to use our assault rifle to take them out at close range.
As we progressed through Fourviere, we noticed more elements of the familiar Sniper Elite gameplay, such as Hawker's powerful melee takedown, which can either kill or incapacitate enemies. We could also turn on generators to mask our movement, hide bodies, and booby trap them with grenades. However, alarms were everywhere, and we had to take them out or disable them manually to avoid attracting reinforcements.
The level was long, with multiple stages, and kept us engaged throughout. As with any game in the franchise, the gameplay is challenging and requires strategic thinking. One wrong move can result in being overrun by enemies, so being cautious and finding new hiding spots is crucial.
In summary, Sniper Elite: Resistance offers exactly what we would expect from a new game in the series, with improved visuals, an authentic World War 2 plot, and an added layer of variety with the new Propaganda missions. It may not be Sniper Elite 6, but it's certainly the next best thing.
Sniper Elite: Resistance will be available on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, and PC for £54.99 on January 30th, 2025. It's published and developed by Rebellion, with an age rating of 16.
Don't forget to email us, leave a comment, follow us on Twitter, and sign up for our newsletter. You can also use our Submit Stuff page to easily submit Inbox letters and Reader's Features without having to send an email.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
