Back in the day, new Grand Theft Auto games seemed to pop up almost every year, unlike now when we wait ages for the next one.
There were loads of games like True Crime and Saints Row that tried to fill in the gap for people craving open-world crime stories. Everyone knew they weren’t going to beat Rockstar, but they still wanted to ride the wave while GTA was cooking up something new. Sniper Elite reminds me of these games, especially when compared to the Hitman series. It might not beat Hitman, but for fans of sneaky missions, Sniper Elite: Resistance is a solid choice.
I got to play a sneak peek of the game for about 90 minutes. Even though it didn’t show anything super new, it was fun. That tells me this new chapter is just as good as the ones before it, at least from what I’ve seen so far.
Like Hitman, each level is massive, giving you lots of ways to finish your tasks. Rebellion has added more creative ways to take down targets, like sneaking a grenade into a gift or using a bowling pin on Hitler. Missions come with main goals and other side quests like finding hidden places or blowing up enemy spots.
Choosing how to tackle these missions is part of the fun. Whether you sneak around or go in loud, it’s up to you. Some might focus on the main story, but I love clearing out all the side tasks. Sniper Elite is great at making me want to finish everything, especially with its stealth challenges.
People often find joy in exploring every nook and cranny.
Even with just a short time to play, I couldn’t resist checking out every side mission I stumbled upon. At one point, near the end of a mission, I remembered a hidden ally hideout I missed. So, I backtracked through the level, past fallen enemies, to climb up a building and complete the side quest. Sniper Elite gives you a huge world to explore without penalizing you for how you do it. With no new Hitman in sight, this series feels like a worthy substitute.
I’ve played all of these games, and while I’m still waiting for one to blow my mind, none have been bad. The developers seem to love their X-ray bullet cam feature more than I do—I ended up turning it off in Sniper Elite 5—but the overall game style keeps me coming back. Each level and game feels like comfort food.
Playing Sniper Elite is like eating your favorite dish again and again. It might not surprise you with new flavors, but it’s dependable when you don’t know what else to play. I really enjoy these games and look forward to trying a new one whenever they come out.
This new game isn’t completely the same as the old ones. While it’s familiar, Rebellion is introducing Propaganda missions, where you play as “resistance fighters,” adding new goals to keep things interesting on repeat plays.
For the first time, the hero isn’t Karl Fairburne. Instead, you get to play as Harry Hawker, a British soldier who’s been a side character before. This shift gives the story a new feel, but since it happens at the same time as Sniper Elite 5, it’s clearly a continuation of what already worked. Sticking with France instead of moving to a new country keeps things familiar. If you’re still hungry for more after your first helping, this sequel is like going back for seconds.
