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

The Sniper Elite series has long delved into the intricacies of World War II, and with each installment, it’s embraced a more open-ended, sandbox approach reminiscent of the Hitman games. Players are cast as a saboteur working from within to dismantle the Nazi regime. The thrill of the series lies in the tense, calculated infiltration behind enemy lines to execute the perfect shot, and of course, the signature X-ray kill cam makes a return, capturing every brutal detail.

In Sniper Elite: Resistance, Rebellion, the developer, continues this tradition with the same open-world stealth mechanics that made Sniper Elite 5 a hit. What’s different this time is that the spotlight shifts to Harry Hawker, a secondary protagonist. Ahead of the game’s January release, I got to spend over an hour on a mission centered around sabotaging a German super train and sneaking through a hotel to gather crucial intel. These elements highlight what the franchise does best.

Unlike previous iterations, Resistance unfolds parallel to the events in Sniper Elite 5, focusing on Harry Hawker, a British commando. Fans will remember Harry from the co-op campaigns, where he appeared alongside Karl Fairburne. This game lets you see what Harry was up to as Karl carried out his solo missions. The storyline plunges Harry into the heart of enemy territory, helping the French resistance while exuding that rugged, action-hero charm we all love.

Post-launch content for Sniper Elite 5 brought us missions where Karl infiltrated secret weapons facilities in France. However, the developers saw an opportunity to weave a fresh narrative within the same setting, and thus an entirely new game was born.

“We realized there was more to explore in the French theater,” stated Shaw. “So, instead of multiple small updates, we thought a full-fledged campaign would be better suited for players.”

Resistance maintains the stealth-action foundation, requiring you to navigate intricate levels teeming with Nazi guards and camps. You’ll have your trusty sniper rifle, equipped with various ammo to adapt to the situation, and binoculars for scouting and marking targets. Harry also carries additional weapons and gadgets to disrupt enemy operations.

The game continues to draw parallels with Hitman, giving players the chance to take down targets creatively or solve objectives in unexpected ways. There’s an undeniable satisfaction in silently eliminating guards and using distractions to bypass fortified areas. While stealth is key, Harry can still hold his ground when chaos erupts, though it’s strategic to stay incognito since he can be quickly overwhelmed.

Player feedback from Sniper Elite 5 has guided the developers to enhance the open-ended experience in Resistance. Nick Shaw noted that the levels are crafted to accommodate various playstyles.

“Sniper Elite is known for offering diverse tools and paths,” Shaw explained. “We let players survey their surroundings first, identifying strategic points and threats, then decide how they want to approach the challenge. Whether it’s sniping from high vantage points or sticking to a purely stealth approach, we aim to support as many playstyles as possible.”

The level design impressed me most with its complexity and layers. The mission gave multiple routes to infiltrate the city’s hotel-turned-Nazi-base. On one attempt, I tried sneaking across a reinforced bridge but was discovered. In another, I opted for the train yard to tackle one side mission involving the destruction of a train, gradually taking out high-value targets for bonus experience.

A standout moment was reaching the hotel, which offered several entry points, including sneaky routes through the building’s exterior. My favorite part was escaping via a zipline, diving into the streets below.

Despite sticking to the familiar formula of Sniper Elite 5, Resistance enhances the open-ended stealth-action loop fans enjoy. Though not aiming for a groundbreaking shift, it emphasizes what fans love. One addition I didn’t fully explore were the new propaganda missions, hidden within each stage. These unlock micro-missions featuring other resistance members, adding depth to their stories.

With a storyline poised to be as engaging as Sniper Elite 5’s, Resistance serves as both a sequel and an accessible entry point for new players. The series continues to offer the gratifying experience of being an elite marksman in an open world, undermining fascists, liberating towns, and relishing those iconic kill cams.