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

As the Sniper Elite series has evolved within its World War II backdrop, it has increasingly adopted a Hitman-style sandbox format for its stealth-action gameplay. This allows players to embody a saboteur, infiltrating and undermining the Nazi regime from within. Yet, the series’ true magic lies in capturing the nail-biting tension and sheer thrill of stealthily maneuvering behind enemy lines to deliver that decisive shot to a clueless Nazi villain, all complemented by the iconic and gory X-ray kill cam.

In its latest iteration, Sniper Elite: Resistance, developer Rebellion persists with Sniper Elite 5’s expansive approach to stealthy incursions into enemy territory, delivering the delightfully gruesome experience of dismantling Nazi forces. This time, though, the spotlight turns to the series’ secondary hero. Just before its January release, I experienced an early mission where the goal was to obliterate a German super train and infiltrate a hotel to uncover crucial intelligence – a perfect showcase of what Sniper Elite is renowned for.

While running parallel to the events of Sniper Elite 5, Resistance shifts focus to British commando Harry Hawker. Returning fans will remember Harry as the co-op campaign partner to Karl Fairburne, so think of Resistance as a narrative chance to reveal what Harry was up to while Karl embarked on solo adventures in the fifth game. Resistance’s central storyline revolves around Harry’s mission to weaken enemy control and bolster the French resistance, exuding a bit of action-star swagger akin to Jason Statham.

Interestingly, Sniper Elite 5 extended its narrative with DLCs where Karl Fairburne infiltrated covert weapons facilities in France. However, the developers saw ripe potential in crafting a standalone campaign within the occupied territory, resulting in this fresh installment.

“We felt there was much more story to uncover on the French front,” explained Shaw. “Creating a full-fledged campaign seemed more rewarding for players, rather than rolling out several mini-updates like we did with Sniper Elite 5.”

In the same vein as its predecessor, Resistance is a stealth-action experience that tasks you with navigating complex, chaotically occupied Nazi territories. Featuring dense, enemy-filled levels, you’re armed with a trusty sniper rifle equipped with sound-masking and damage-enhancing rounds. In addition, tactical binoculars help scout and mark targets, while Harry’s secondary weapons and tools distract foes or wreak mechanical havoc.

This game continues to embrace its Hitman-like approach for neutralizing targets and completing objectives through direct confrontations or alternatively, some creative problem-solving. There’s undeniable satisfaction in methodically thinning enemy numbers with stealthy take-downs and by distracting guards with strategic noise to slip past heavy defenses. Although stealth is generally the safer bet, Harry can hold his ground when chaos erupts – though it helps to maintain a low profile, as he is vulnerable when under heavy fire. The AI generally poses a credible challenge, but I did encounter some anomalies, such as enemies overlooking blatant sabotage or struggling with basic navigation.

This emphasis on open-ended gameplay was well-received by fans of Sniper Elite 5, and it spurred the developers to further enhance that experience in Resistance. Shaw mentioned that the game’s design caters to various player strategies.

“What makes Sniper Elite stand out is its array of options and pathways for players to tackle scenarios on their terms,” Shaw stated. “We encourage players to first analyze their surroundings, assess points of interest, and strategize their preferred routes and methods to achieve their goals. We welcome all playstyles – whether that’s getting a height advantage for sniping or relying entirely on stealth.”

A standout aspect was the multilayered and vertically engaging level design in one mission, where my task was to infiltrate the central hotel-turned-Nazi-command post. A direct, stealthy approach across a heavily fortified bridge didn’t pan out as planned, but I found an alternate path through a train yard, accomplishing a side objective of derailing a train en route.

The mission’s highlight was reaching the hotel, with its array of hidden entrances and pathways leading to locked rooms, thanks to some daring climbs along its exterior – a maneuver I found exhilarating as I zip-lined down to the streets.

From what I experienced, Sniper Elite: Resistance largely follows Sniper Elite 5’s blueprint, sticking to its tried-and-true gameplay loop and objectives that long-time fans will recognize. While it may not be a groundbreaking advancement, it builds robustly on Sniper Elite 5’s flexible, stealth-focused action. One feature I didn’t get to explore was the new propaganda missions, hidden within each stage, offering micro-missions that let players control other resistance members to reveal their own stories and objectives.

With a campaign of similar scope to Sniper Elite 5, Resistance positions itself both as a worthy sequel for veterans and an enticing starting point for newcomers. So far, Sniper Elite: Resistance retains the series’ rewarding gameplay loop of battling fascists and liberating towns from the Nazi menace. And yes, those thrilling kill cams still deliver their visceral satisfaction.