Hands-On Preview: Sniper Elite: Resistance Enhances the Saboteur Sandbox Experience

As the Sniper Elite series has delved deeper into the World War II era, it has gradually adopted a sandbox style reminiscent of Hitman, putting players in the role of a saboteur determined to destabilize the Nazi regime from the inside. However, the distinct thrill the series offers lies in swiftly yet cautiously infiltrating enemy lines to deliver that one pivotal, spine-tingling shot on an unguarded Nazi. And, of course, it comes with the iconic X-ray kill cam displaying the gruesome impact.

In Sniper Elite: Resistance, developed by Rebellion, the trend of merging stealth and action in an open-ended format, as seen in Sniper Elite 5, continues. This edition brings a fresh focus on the series’ secondary hero. We got a sneak peek at this with a pre-launch demo, engaging in missions that ranged from sabotaging a super train to stealthily gleaning intelligence from a hotel. It all highlights the series’ unique attributes.

Set alongside the narrative of Sniper Elite 5, Resistance centers on the adventures of British commando Harry Hawker. Long-time players might recall Harry as a co-op character alongside Karl Fairburne. Resistance showcases Harry’s contributions to the war effort, weakening the Axis influence and bolstering the French resistance, all while channeling an unmistakable Jason Statham vibe.

While Sniper Elite 5 expanded its narrative through downloadable missions featuring Karl targeting secret facilities in France, Rebellion saw the potential to weave an entirely new storyline, resulting in a stand-alone game.

“We realized the French theater had untapped potential, leading us to create a comprehensive campaign,” shared Shaw. “Releasing it as a full-fledged game seemed far more rewarding for players than trickling out smaller updates, as we did with Sniper Elite 5.”

In line with its predecessor, Resistance delivers a stealth-action experience. Players maneuver through intricately designed levels teeming with Nazi forces and valuable intel. Equipped with a trusty sniper rifle and a set of binoculars for scouting and marking targets, players can approach situations strategically. Harry’s arsenal also includes secondary weapons and gadgets for causing distractions and sabotaging enemy establishments.

Resistance embraces that familiar Hitman-style gameplay, allowing players to tackle objectives through direct confrontation or inventive strategy. Sneaking through heavily guarded zones while thinning enemy numbers with stealth can be incredibly rewarding. Although Harry can engage in combat if exposed, maintaining a low profile is advantageous, given how quickly enemies can overwhelm him. While the AI is generally alert and responsive, occasionally, they would overlook obvious disruptions or struggle to navigate terrain properly.

The feedback from Sniper Elite 5 players was overwhelmingly positive about its open-ended experiences, and the developers decided to expand on that. According to Shaw, Sniper Elite: Resistance’s levels are designed to support different player strategies.

“Sniper Elite is about offering players choice in how they approach situations,” Shaw explained. “We encourage players to observe, analyze their surroundings, and select the path and strategy that suits them, whether that’s finding high ground for sniper shots or sticking to stealth. We aim to cater to diverse playstyles.”

One aspect I found particularly fascinating during our mission demo was the elaborate, layered level design, replete with vertical spaces and multiple routes to objectives like the hotel turned Nazi command center. In one scenario, my stealthy attempt over a fortified bridge was foiled, prompting a new tack through a train yard with a mission to destroy a train, taking out notable adversaries along the way.

A highlight was navigating the hotel with its numerous entry points and concealed routes by scaling building exteriors. Escaping via zipline into the streets was a fulfilling way to wrap up my mission.

Sniper Elite: Resistance largely upholds the familiar gameplay formula from the previous title, offering the same loops and objectives that fans have come to enjoy. It doesn’t strive for drastic evolution but reinforces Sniper Elite 5’s open-ended, stealth-centric action. This installment introduces propaganda missions, a feature I didn’t have the chance to explore, which allows control of other resistance fighters and dives into their unique narratives and goals.

With a campaign comparable in length to Sniper Elite 5, Resistance serves as a robust companion piece to the earlier game. It also provides an engaging entryway for series newcomers. Thus far, Sniper Elite: Resistance retains the captivating dynamics of operating as an assassin in a wartime sandbox, dismantling fascist strongholds and liberating towns. And without a doubt, those thrilling kill cams never lose their allure.