While the most obvious answer to the question of disclosing the expected playtime of a game is to offer a heads-up on how long it may take to see the end credits, there’s a part of me that believes (or maybe wants to believe) there’s another possibility. Perhaps it’s some clever little strategy from the developer’s end to temper one’s expectations so that when the reality of having invested far more time – knowingly and voluntarily so – hits, the response weighs more positively.
It’s an understandable trait common across plenty of releases, but it’s a quality that will sit highly with someone like myself when a game can offer plenty more avenues of investment other than the straight-and-narrow route towards the main objective. Better yet, when that added investment is coupled with one establishment of surprise after another. The most prominent figurative head-turn to emerge from playing throughSniper Elite: Resistanceis how Rebellion combines the temptation of optional objectives – those known about beforehand and those only revealing themselves in-the-moment – with the way each ofResistance’s sandbox-style levels are slowly revealed to the player.
Dig A Little Deeper
Thinking a map would revert to more linear leanings, only to offer a hidden complex or underground segments, with its own respective “in’s and outs”. A map that, at a glance, implies simplicity would in actuality provide far more to chew over. The recent run of Sniper Elite entries have, of course, dabbled with (and as a result, been praised for) this sleight-of-hand if you will, with level design. Hidden passages, interconnected regions and the simple idea of what one perceives at a glance may not be the whole truth once you start to dig deeper.
But of any game experienced – in a sort of an ironically befitting fashion given the game’s own initial perception as a mere stop-gap between the series' more major iterations –Resistancehas been the one where those feelings of delightful unraveling have revealed themselves the most. Admittedly, to remark on how Rebellion’s level design has been the unsung hero of the studio’s past couple of entries would be to parrot something one has already spoken of in those game’s respective reviews. Praising how well Rebellion have transformed Sniper Elite into a sandbox of opportunity, deduction and careful maneuvering, now running the risk of sounding too hollow and repetitive.
Affirmation Over Innovation
Looking at it through the lens of what’s different and what’s so compelling about an entry likeResistance– compared to the series high that 2022’sSniper Elite 5brought – it’s hard to argue against the mantra that “more of the same” is the order of play here. If you liked the last entry,Resistanceserves as a sort of meatier expansion pack-like addition to that well-crafted, well-curated formula. If you hadn’t, or simply aren’t all that engrossed with the series so far,Resistance’s smaller tweaks, but largely untouched core formula, may likely fail to convince you.
Review: Sniper Elite 5
It’s a no-brainer to proclaim Sniper Elite 5 has taken everything that made 4 as great as it was and improved it.
At its most critical, you could argue Rebellion’s answer to addressing the minor complaints and nitpicks long persistent across the series – the lackluster narrative/semblance of a story, a notable example – isn’t to make it better, but simply all-but-remove it from the package altogether. The “narrative” if you will ofResistancerelegated to but a handful of cutscenes bookmarking the start and end of the story campaign. The positioning of a character whose notoriety prior was the de facto co-op character in past games as the main protagonist this time? Just as vital (in other words, irrelevantly so) as series staple Karl Fairburne was.
These notable absentees aren’t exclusive toResistance, but it’s another sign of the game’s presence of known quantity and equally-likely quality coming out of it. But to refer to that opening point, whatResistancemay lack in unique identity it more than makes for with its splendid assortment of environments to slowly sneak one’s way (or not) through. Picking off Nazi soldiers at a distance or up close, with or without the additional time invested in masking one’s sound/positioning.
Ghost Recon
But it’s in the game’s smaller selection of maps whereResistance’s subtler qualities are allowed to shine. A rain-drenched, nighttime setting of a coastal base in “Devil’s Cauldron,” the red-hued, partially bombed-out French town of “Assault on Fort Rouge.” These are the kinds of levels that exemplify the absolute best in Rebellion’s craft from both a structural and visual design front. What could be a mere less-than-an-hour of playtime in each, inevitably stretching out to double that. Players drawn into the allure of not just optional objectives to complete, but in hunting down every possible collectible that lies in wait.
Whether that’s stone eagles to shoot down adorning certain buildings or better still, propaganda posters that serve as the buy-in to accessResistance’s Propaganda missions. Score-based rounds against the clock divided into three class of play-style: Stealth, Combat and Sniping. Jumping back into a cornered off section of a respective map, players are required to rack up points by taking out soldiers quickly and efficiently. In the case of stealth, it’s utilizing melee kills undetected; with sniping (that has players confined to taking shots at distant targets from a remote perch), taking out elite enemy snipers can increase the score multiplier for a given time.
It’s hard to argue against the mantra that “more of the same” is the order of play here. If you liked the last entry,Resistanceserves as a sort of meatier expansion pack-like addition to that well-crafted, well-curated formula.
Admittedly, these missions are a welcome test of one’s skills. Mastering and readjusting one’s knowledge of both the maps as much the actual mechanics of shooting, all in the pursuit of that coveted gold rank. It’s just a shame that for such a welcome Arcade-like break away from the familiarity of the main campaign, Propaganda mode is limited to just seven standalone challenges. Tackling these scores under higher difficulties, the only real semblance of variety in a mode that should have been further fleshed out.
Off the Bench
But none of the collectibles on offer serve a greater benefit to one’s progression than the Workshop benches. A returning feature from the previous game that, when discovered, grants players access to additional parts and components to one’s load-out. Allowing players to customize their weapons to better suit their play-style, even mid-mission if required, as tactile or as ridiculous the end results may look.
All of which would feel moot, were it not again for how varied and well-craftedResistance’s environments are. The most prominent showcase no doubt coming in the second-half of the campaign, which in one case finds players infiltrating a French château/vineyard that, again, wows instinctively in its color and its scope. But in due course, it impresses all over again when you realize just how dense with opportunity these maps can get.
It’s a far cry from the earlier cases of completely war-torn rubble and desaturated color palettes. While the WW2 motif is apparent in parts, it’s reassuring to see Rebellion double-down on this newfound love for diversification in environments. AndResistanceagain provides ample backdrops, be they daytime or nighttime set. To look back and reflect on the recorded playtime spent on each mission standalone (let alone collectively as the entire campaign) at this point doesn’t surprise me.
Closing Comments:
Packed with that familiar caliber of intriguing level design and emergent gameplay,Sniper Elite: Resistancemay not be the most radical of changes, but it undoubtedly makes up for it in its retaining the series' joyous curating of tactile shots and careful planning alike. A campaign, though shorter, still impresses with its deceptive, interweaving scale and plentiful reason to turn a sub-hour investment into a two-hour combing through. While its Propaganda mode could’ve benefited from more fleshing out via a variety of challenges,Sniper Elite: Resistanceproves that having more of a very good thing is far from a negative.
Sniper Elite: Resistance
Version Reviewed: PlayStation 5
A paraquel to the events of Sniper Elite 5, Resistance sees players taking on the role of Harry Hawker. Making their way through Vichy France, to uncover the plans of a deadly Nazi super-weapon that aims to put a halt to the impending D-Day landings.
