
Sniper Elite: Resistance is a lot like a sequel out of the PS2 generation. Rather than building on and expanding what it achieved in Sniper Elite 5, developer Rebellion has gone with more of the same. The old-school TV advert practically writes itself: eight new levels, a returning playable character, and more weapons and gadgets to beat down Nazi scum than ever before. You couldn’t even call it Sniper Elite 5.5; it’s probably 5.3 at best.
This is no bad thing, for the Zombie Army studio has tweaked and tuned its stealth sniping action to a fine art at this point. However, with such menial progression over the previous outing, long-time fans may find it a bit too familiar.
At least one of the differences between the two titles is immediately apparent: Harry Hawker steps into the starring role. The game takes place in parallel with the events of Sniper Elite 5, so while US operative Karl Fairburne is working to dismantle Operation Kraken, Hawker is aiding the French behind enemy lines in the lead-up to D-Day. There are rumours of a secret Nazi superweapon doing the rounds, and Harry must put a stop to it.

The story is mostly just a fun vehicle to guide you from one scenario to the next, but with some of the best sniping action in the business, it’s within those eight levels where Sniper Elite: Resistance shines most.
All playable alone and in two-player online co-op, each expedition lets you play how you want to, tackling its objectives in various manners and managing your gunplay to suit the situation. With such large maps on offer, you can skillfully stick to the shadows and snipe targets from afar or get in at close range with an SMG, safe in the knowledge enemies on the other side of the level won’t hear your gunshots. It’s the type of experience where you can dip in and out of stealth despite the presumption the game name brings.
With the franchise’s trademark x-ray killcam returning along with detailed sniping mechanics, however, it’s still likely through the scope of a rifle that you’ll land most of your shots. From the head to the heart to the testicles, Rebellion has mastered the art of killing a Nazi. Accounting for distance and the weather, few games can top the satisfaction of a Sniper Elite headshot at long range, as an enemy’s skull breaks into pieces — all delivered in slow motion and rewarding detail.

Most of the missions are moulded around this euphoria spiking as often as possible, as their maps feature vast stretches of open space with vantage points and objective-focused buildings dotted in between. You’ll fight through vineyards, infiltrate underground bunkers, and explore levelled towns to stop the Nazis on occupied turf — every location offers something a little different.
Where they falter somewhat, though, is when the alarm is raised and the game takes a turn into standard firefights. An issue carried over from Sniper Elite 5, challenging Nazis with your secondary weapon (an SMG) and pistol when they know you’re there feels far too clunky. Aiming down iron sights is sloppy, with a very slow movement speed. Equally, simply shooting from the third-person perspective doesn’t feel any better.
These problems gain further traction when they result in frustrating — and what at times feel unfair — deaths. Enemies can call in reinforcements and alert other Nazis by activating alarms, which results in all of them swarming your position. This makes sense, but the game doesn’t feel quite fleshed out enough to support such chaotic and intense firefights. With its poor iron sights and scopes, it’s difficult not to feel hard done by sometimes as Nazis gang up on you from all angles. Sniper Elite: Resistance plays fantastically well at a distance, but struggles to keep up at close range.

Given how similarly the game plays, feels, and looks to Sniper Elite 5, these flaws aren’t a surprise — they’re the same ones we highlighted two and a half years ago. It’s disappointing that the gameplay loop hasn’t evolved during that time to make being spotted not so much of a disaster, yet in equal measures, the same strengths of Sniper Elite 5 also still hold water. It’s going to feel overly familiar, right down to carbon copies of the previous game’s UI and menus, and even the same collectible types, but there’s a unique charm and satisfaction Rebellion has managed to capture that aren’t replicated anywhere else. It’s playing to its strengths, and while those weaknesses are starting to feel more prominent and in need of attention, Sniper Elite: Resistance can still deliver an enjoyable campaign.
Surrounding the campaign are a few additional modes, some of which are tied to the single player action while others are challenge-based and focused on PvP. Propaganda Missions test your sniping, fighting, and survival skills while traditional multiplayer modes are also on offer for up to eight players.
The most exciting bonus, though, is the return of Invasion Mode — again from Sniper Elite 5. With this mode active, another real-life player can invade your game ala Dark Souls and hunt you down as an enemy sniper. This adds a great degree of tension to every skirmish and decision you make, as since there’s now a target painted on your own back, landing sniper shots on standard enemies could reveal your position to the other player. You are told when you’ve been invaded, but then you’re on your own. It’s an extra layer that helps to elevate the whole experience.
Conclusion
Sniper Elite: Resistance serves as more of a stopgap than a full-blown sequel to Sniper Elite 5, so much of that experience — including its highs and lows — carries over two and a half years later. Its sniping action truly is elite, but the gunplay surrounding it still needs work. Equally, the Invasion Mode is again a standout while enemy AI remains frustrating at times. It is more of the same. However, when that similarity is a fairly unique model in the first place, Sniper Elite: Resistance just about gets away with it.
Comments 26
I never had any doubt this was going to be a great game. I’m sure people are sick of me singing SE5’s praises, but I’ll probably be doing that more often now. I can’t wait for this one!
I had a good time playing V2 and 3 recently but if I'm honest that was more than enough for now and the near future.
All starts to get pretty samey after a bit.
Maybe down the line I might take a look. Decent games if you want some silly casual stealth stuff.
@Medic_alert 2 and 3 feel like proof-of-concepts compared to 4 and 5. The latter two smoke the former in terms of polish and mechanics (not that 2 or 3 are bad games, just not a patch on their sequels).
@Medic_alert 4 and 5 are leaps and bounds ahead of those ones. It's probably at 4 where the game "clicked" and they've basically been iterating on that formula since. Seriously give 4 a go at least; you can get it for peanuts.
@JB_Whiting @MrPeanutbutterz I have both 4 and 5. I started 4 and was bored really fast, but that's just me I think having come straight off the back of the other 2 which I enjoyed a lot.
It is still the same basic idea and I definitely need a break from it before I have another stab at 4.
I really enjoy these games and expect it to sell well. Proof that often people just want a bit of arcade fun without deeper meaning.
N.i.c.e. Sniper elite games are always good times.word up son
A massive con, it should be dlc
I think I'm going to wait a little while to see what extra maps and items show up as DLC before I make a buy.
@Medic_alert Oooh yeah, that'll definitely give you burnout. I've played 2 to 5, and always with several years between them and even at that, have never rolled the credits on any of them (despite really enjoying them).
I only bought the first and second one. Played the rest on PS Plus. This one Will be the same.
If there's one series where I'm happy with more of the same, it's Sniper Elite. I'll be on this as soon as me and my mate can clear our schedules. We always play through them in co-op, and it never fails to be hilarious
Is good? Yes! Is great? No! Is the same Game since the second game? Yes!!!!!
Is the same thing about years. Mechanic, way of play, taticts, etc sorry but its true.
Is the same ideology since the second game. The cenarios are the same thing. The way you play i mean. That the fans come to argue now... im a fan but im realistic and know what im saying. I play since the first one. I have all games by the way. Im a colector. But im realistic!
Love this series, few more hours till unlock, then nut shots ahoy 👍
One of the very few (these days) game series i'll day one! Guaranteed a great time.
I’m ok with it being more of the same, yes please good content!
I have not had a bad time playing ANY of these games. I discovered the series in 2022 and I've played every entry, and earned every single trophy for all of them, including VR!
And yet despite that resounding endorsement I'm probably gonna pick this up a little later. Got so much on my plate at the moment.
Getting boring now , why can't they put new mechanics in for the price on ps5 , I'll play it on Xbox to lessen the blow on the wallet.
Fantastic! Now I’m really looking forward to lunchtime when I can finally play it.
I bet this preorder will make me happier than that MK:1 game 🤣 I swore I’d never do a digital preorder ever again.. but then this game appears.. a game I know I will have a blast playing over and over again..
Unlike MK:1 💀
@Kraven finished up 100% all the dlc trophies for SE5 yesterday. One of the only series I get all the dlc maps for. Reliable quality. I'll probably wait for a sale this time though.
You can never have too many x-ray vision bollock Nazi kill cams, if anything the world needs more of them.
I’ve not played one of these games since 3 (maybe 2?), but seems like I missed out on some of the best entries, I’ll have to dig back in.
Love this series roll on Thursday:)
Weirdly, Sniper Elite 4 and 5 have become the go-to games for me and some school friends to play weekly. It's just something that gels well. It is pretty much the same thing but new maps etc. The only thing I am not a fan on is the monetization of content that is big in Rebellion's games. That said, the base game is pretty darn good.
Never got into this series, did give one of them a go, think it might have been on plus or the catalouge. But didnt give it a proper go. Might give it another try, especially as you can do it in coop.
I preordered it and I’m a little disappointed. It’s just a big, expensive DLC. New levels but zero addition to the game mechanics. Even the character models of the Germans look identical.
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