Decades ago, I used to LOVE tactical shooters like the original Ghost Recon and Rainbow Six. Run and gun is cool and all, but I prefer the slower paced, more realistic shooters. I prefer shooters where there is a set number of enemies, and you need to strategize and think logistically. Sniper Elite has the advantage of being generations ahead of the shooters I used to enjoy, and the graphics are light years ahead. So, is this game the answer to my dreams? Yes and no.
This is a game that requires a lot of patience early on and a lot of practice. When I started the first level, I was getting frustrated as hell. I was being detected almost immediately and once I was spotted the enemies were ruthless. I may be a Sniper Elite, but the enemies could fire at a near equal distance with pinpoint accuracy. I was getting mowed down by enemies I couldn’t spot and even when I knew where an enemy was, I would get disoriented for a moment when I looked down my sniper scope which was plenty of time for the enemy to take me out. When the enemy got close, I had even more problems as I fumbled around trying to switch weapons and awkwardly target the enemy. All in all, I was dying a whole lot and thinking this game absolutely deserved it’s 79 Metacritic score.
After completing several more (long) levels I returned to the first level and found it SIGNIFICANTLY easier. Basically, I had partially overcome the somewhat significant learning curve. You need to be able to quickly read and understand the information being given to you, particularly regarding the alert levels of the enemy. You need to be able to swap between the binoculars and sniper scope quickly and increase or decrease the magnification to avoid being disoriented. When everything works, this is a fantastic shooter. Besides sniping, there are many moments of run and gun in the vein of some of the older Call of Duty and Medal of Honor games and you even get a lot of stealth elements. The further I got into the game, the more I was enjoying it.
There are definitely some issues with the game. In some cases, I can be right on top of an enemy, unloading bullets and they simply refuse to die. I guess it’s just the occasional bad luck of constantly missing every vital organ. After emptying my clip, I need to reload which gives the enemy more than enough time to dispatch me. The enemies also seem to be able to hit me at seemingly impossible angles. I figure, if I can’t see the enemy around a corner, they shouldn’t be able to see me. There is a very steep learning curve for a third person shooter and I like that. I find games that you can master in a few hours to be boring and in ES4 I feel like I am constantly improving and learning new things as I play. It took awhile but I even started using traps to kill the enemies and landmines to take out tanks.
My guess is that a lot of reviewers only scratch the surface of the game when they write their reviews which may account for the 79 Metacritic score. The truth is that the weaknesses of the game are very apparent from the get go, and the strengths of the game become more apparent the further you get into it. Some of the best games out there have serious problems because the developers reach so high. Games like Skyrim and Snowrunner have massive bugs in the games but were also incredibly fun to play. Sniper Elite’s biggest issue is the sometimes frustrating controls but I chalk that up as the price for such a complex control scheme and it does get better with practice. Overall, I really enjoyed this game and would put it among the best third person shooters I’ve ever played.
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Reviews with images
Good Game!
I actually like it for what it's worth and the game has a good campagne line along with good graphics and excellent play. The price was right for it being it's a Nintendo Switch game and tbh there is a few games out there that I still haven't played yet on the switch.
Top reviews from other countries
Jose Sastre
Great game! Recommended
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 21, 2022