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Let's Do This - Sniper Elite Resistance is The Same Again
The Sniper Elite games have always been about parachuting behind enemy lines with characters so badass that just landing causes spontaneous pregnancy in one-third of the women within a 40-mile radius. Then making every enemy appear like they're the next fatality in a Mortal Kombat game.
Sniper Elite Resistance is a third-person tactical shooter developed and published by Rebellion Developments. This is scheduled for release on January 30. It's going to be on Windows, PlayStation 4-5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S, and it's releasing on Game Pass.
Setting
Set in 1944 within France, the game introduces a new protagonist, Harry Hawker, cousin to the Haktua Girl, an agent of the Special Operations Executive (SOE). Players will infiltrate occupied France, collaborating with the French Resistance to thwart the Nazi development of a formidable new wonder weapon by a group known as Vertigo, which could alter the war's outcome.
Gameplay retains the series' hallmark sniping mechanism, featuring stealth mechanics, tactical third-person combat, shiving enemies up close, knocking people out, choking them, and hiding their bodies to avoid detection.
Campaign and Cooperative Play - Resistance is Good
The campaign is playable solo as well as cooperatively online throughout, as in prior games. It’s always nice to work in tandem with someone else—sniping perfectly or even helping out your clumsy pal who didn’t see that Nazi hanging out staring at a painting when they decided to turn their insides outside.
New features include propaganda missions where players assume the role of a French Resistance fighter, completing time-based combat challenges. The Axis Invasion mode returns as an asymmetrical multiplayer experience, with the game also supporting 16-player cooperative multiplayer.
While Sniper Elite Resistance introduces a new side character, the ultimate goal remains the same—eliminate bad guys with nut shots, neck shots, headshots, eye shots, or chest stabs to trigger those signature X-ray vision kill shots. In that regard, Sniper Elite Resistance doesn't disappoint.
Missions and Objectives
The game sets you off to take out yet another super weapon. The Nazis seem to have an incredible number of super weapons—so much so that it feels like their super weapons outnumber their normal ones. Every single time we play one of these games, there's some new super weapon that needs to be destroyed. Often, it feels like these so-called super weapons are things we'd just consider "Sunday."
The game introduces you to another badass protagonist tasked with sowing discord, slowing down Nazi construction, and uncovering more of the story. The basic mission format follows a pattern of selecting loadouts, maps, main objectives, side objectives, and exfiltration.
Loadouts - In Sniper Elite Resistance
The Sniper Elite series has always excelled in load out customization, striking a balance between simplicity and depth. Players can tweak guns with detailed specs or stick to basic views that show upgrade impacts. Minor changes, like modifying scopes, can significantly alter aiming speed and view, affecting long-range shots. Stocks can turn a handgun into a mini sniper rifle but usually slow down aiming speed. Loadouts can be saved, and considering Harry's skill upgrades is crucial when planning missions.
Since Harry is part of the SOE, his skill set mirrors that of previous characters. Expect standard survival and battle skills, such as healing more often, using guns while knocked down, and increasing focus. Some skills enhance carrying extra tools, which prove useful when exploring side objectives.
Mission Structure
Each level offers multiple approaches to objectives, allowing players to choose between stealth, exploration, direct combat, or trap setting. Objectives include destroying weapon emplacements, assassinating leaders, sabotaging plans, and taking down bunkers. The game encourages players to find alternate routes using ivy walls, ladders, small platforming sections, and ziplines to get the best vantage points.
Speaking of discovery, Sniper Elite Resistance introduces new drop points that players can unlock, similar to Hitman, providing replayability with varied entry points.
Maps and Exploration
Unlike previous titles, exploration here feels less objective-heavy, which is a refreshing change. However, early maps feel smaller and more restrictive, with noticeable verticality that sometimes limits movement. Some areas feature unnatural barriers that hinder exploration and immersion. The gamification of map layouts often funnels players toward ladders and pre-set routes, breaking immersion.
Despite some frustrating level design choices, certain maps stand out. A later railway station mission provides a thrilling experience, requiring players to think on their feet as reinforcements arrive unexpectedly.
AI Behavior and Bugs
Enemy AI has seen improvements but also introduces occasional frustration. At times, enemies react unrealistically to gunfire, running directly toward it or setting off alarms even when undetected. Other times, they behave strangely, kneeling in the open or failing to notice the player at close range. Invisible walls and traversal issues, such as characters getting stuck on stairs or walls, can break immersion and even lead to unnecessary deaths.
For multiplayer, note that Denuvo anti-cheat is required.
Graphics and Performance
Graphically, Sniper Elite Resistance is on par with Sniper Elite 5, with familiar animations, textures, and environments. However, the lack of FSR and DLSS support is noticeable, particularly on lower-end systems. The game's lighting, long-distance details, and iconic X-ray bullet cam remain highlights.
Texture quality, especially on character models, feels dated, but the series' signature slow-motion kill shots still deliver satisfaction. Performance holds up well, except in cases of heavy explosions and tank fire, where frame rates can take a hit.
Audio Design
The sound design remains solid, with the satisfying crunch of bullets tearing through enemies. However, the 3D audio positioning seems slightly off compared to previous titles, making it harder to locate enemies in cluttered environments. This could be due to the game's new map designs.
The soundtrack leans heavily into WW2 patriotic themes, complementing the action without introducing anything groundbreaking. Over time, repetitive tracks may become tiresome, though they effectively set the tone.
Sniper games have never really been known for deep character interactions, at least not beyond the occasional cutscene and those in-game mission updates where Karl and his squad mumble about shifting objectives. And honestly, thank God for that—because I can't stand Harry’s voice or his dialogue. The biggest saving grace here is that the game keeps Harry’s presence on a tight leash, mostly relegating him to cutscene mission briefings, which means his lines never become a major issue—but they sure as hell don’t elevate anything either.
I didn’t exactly expect him to roll onto the battlefield perched on a tank, belting out "Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition," but hey, stranger things have happened in gaming.
The dialogue itself? It fits. This is a game about a guy who treats enemy anatomy like an all-you-can-eat buffet of potential new orifices. The lines get the job done, even if they occasionally make you wonder if Karl should maybe dial it back a notch. But hey, your enjoyment will vary—just don’t expect it to stretch too far.
Fun Factor and Verdict
Sniper Elite Resistance delivers the series' trademark fun with its stealth-action blend, detailed loadouts, and satisfying long-range kills. However, it feels lean compared to its predecessors. The quick introduction and lack of narrative buildup make it feel more like an expansion than a full-fledged entry.
Bugs, inconsistent AI, and some uninspired level design hold the game back, making it hard to justify a full-price purchase. That said, the game is available on Game Pass, making it a worthwhile experience for fans, albeit with tempered expectations.
Recommendation: Play it on Game Pass or wait for a sale. The new features and propaganda missions provide fun challenges, but the overall experience feels uneven compared to past entries.
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