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

As the Sniper Elite series has continued to immerse itself in the World War II period, it has started to increasingly adopt a sandbox style reminiscent of Hitman, blending stealth and action to put players in the role of a saboteur determined to weaken the Nazi regime from within. Yet, what truly sets the series apart is its ability to deliver the tension and excitement of stealthily slipping behind enemy lines for that one pivotal shot on an unsuspecting Nazi villain – complete with the iconic X-ray kill cam depicting the gory details.

Sniper Elite: Resistance, brought to us by Rebellion, keeps up with Sniper Elite 5’s open-ended infiltration into enemy territories, allowing players to obliterate Nazis in a brutally stylish manner. This time, it places a spotlight on the series’ secondary protagonist. I had the chance to delve into over an hour of a mission that involved destroying a colossal German train and sneaking through a hotel to gather crucial intel – a mission that perfectly encapsulates what makes Sniper Elite so gripping.

While Sniper Elite 5 was unfolding, Resistance shifts attention to British commando, Harry Hawker. Fans will remember him as one of the additional playable characters in the series’ co-op campaigns alongside Karl Fairburne. Think of Resistance as uncovering what Harry was up to while Karl was on his solo escapades in the fifth game. The narrative zeroes in on Harry’s efforts to undermine the empire’s hold and bolster the French resistance, all the while channeling serious Jason Statham vibes.

Sniper Elite 5 often expanded with DLC missions where Karl Fairburne unearthed hidden weapon facilities in France. However, Rebellion identified a chance to weave a fresh story within the occupied land, ultimately leading to an entirely new game.

“We believed there was much left to explore in the French theater of the war, and we ended up crafting a nearly full-fledged campaign,” explained Shaw. “It made more sense for players if we released one substantial game rather than scattered updates like with Sniper Elite 5.”

Just like its predecessor, Resistance is a stealth-action title where players navigate intricate levels filled with Nazi troops, bases, and key intel to gather. Besides your trusty long-range sniper with varying ammo types for concealing noise and enhancing damage, you have binoculars to scout terrain and tag foes. Harry’s arsenal also includes secondary weapons and gadgets to misdirect enemies and ruin structures.

Resistance embraces that Hitman-esque strategy of eliminating prime targets with either straightforward tactics or innovative problem-solving. There’s a certain satisfaction in methodically reducing enemy numbers with stealthy assassinations and distracting soldiers to glide through heavily guarded zones. While being discreet is often the wisest approach, Harry can still manage if things go sideways – though blending in is key, as Harry is vulnerable to enemy fire. Overall, the enemy AI keeps you agile, though occasionally their reaction to sabotage or navigating spaces seems peculiar.

Fans appreciated this open-endedness in Sniper Elite 5, prompting developers to delve deeper into it for Resistance. Shaw noted that the game’s design accommodates various player strategies.

“Sniper Elite excels at offering players diverse tools and pathways for any scenario,” Shaw remarked. “We want players to first observe and understand the environment and enemies, finding ways to advance through the level and achieve the mission. We aim for flexibility, whether you prefer sniping from above or sticking solely to stealth.”

What really impressed me about this mission was how rich and layered the level design felt. The level boasted amazing verticality and numerous routes to accomplish my goal of infiltrating the city’s main hotel turned Nazi command center. My first attempt to sneak directly across a fortified bridge ended poorly after being spotted. On the second try, I sidestepped to reach a rail yard with a side mission to wreck a train, swiftly reducing enemy numbers and taking out high-profile targets.

Reaching the hotel stood out, offering multiple entry points and secret paths into locked rooms by scaling the building. My favorite part was zip-lining from the hotel down to the street below.

From what I played, Sniper Elite: Resistance sticks to the established formula of Sniper Elite 5, delivering the familiar rhythm and objectives fans love. It isn’t trying to revolutionize things but rather enhances Sniper Elite 5’s open-ended stealth-action gameplay. I didn’t explore it, but there’s a new feature of propaganda missions tucked within each stage, unlocking bite-sized missions where you control other resistance members, revealing their stories and specific goals.

With a campaign length similar to Sniper Elite 5, Resistance serves as both a worthy successor and an enticing entry point for newcomers to the series. So far, Sniper Elite: Resistance captures that gratifying experience of operating as an assassin in an open world, dismantling fascists, and liberating towns from the Nazi grasp – and yes, seeing those intense kill cams will always be satisfying.