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Sniper Elite: Resistance review – they did Nazi that coming-Steve Boxer-Entertainment – Metro
Rebellion’s WWII Nazi-shooting romp returns with a familiar but entertaining mix of stealth, action, and x-ray vision killcams.
![Sniper Elite: Resistance review – they did Nazi that coming-Steve Boxer-Entertainment – Metro](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/SEI_237553683-9dde.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
Sniper Elite: Resistance – you don’t only snipe (Rebellion)
Rebellion’s WWII Nazi-shooting romp returns with a familiar but entertaining mix of stealth, action, and x-ray vision killcams.
Most people would surely agree that what the world needs right now is some uncomplicated escapism, so in that sense Sniper Elite: Resistance’s arrival is very timely. A standalone mid-generation instalment of Rebellion’s long-running Nazi-sniping franchise, it could easily have been called Sniper Elite 5.5. Unsurprisingly, that means it adheres very closely to the series’ established blueprint, but it still provides plenty that is new for both Sniper Elite fans and everyone else.
This time around, the usual protagonist, Karl Fairburne, has been given a rest, in favour of new character Harry Hawker. That doesn’t prove to be the most radical of moves: Hawker, like Fairburne, is an SOE operative in the late stages of the Second World War, and he has the same proto-James Bond skillset as his colleague. That includes a dead-eye ability with the sniper rifle, Hitman-like stealth attributes, and close-quarters proficiency with both handguns and sub-machine guns.
Other elements familiar from previous Sniper Elite games are also present and correct, such as Invasion Mode, which lets you enter other players’ campaigns as an Axis sniper and vice versa – and which can be switched off or set to invite-only. You can also play the campaign co-operatively with one other person. And there’s full competitive multiplayer, both free-for-all and team-based.
In a possible pointer for future iterations of the game there’s a whole new mode, called Propaganda, which offers more bite-sized bursts of action – compared to the game’s lengthier traditional missions.
There are three types of Propaganda challenges, each highlighting an individual aspect of the overall gameplay. Sniping sees you essentially stay in one place and take out enemies from afar, earning extra time by pulling off headshots. Combat challenges place you in front-line situations, where you can earn extra time by enacting kills with explosives. And stealth challenges are self-explanatory, with extra time awarded for takedowns.
Propaganda mode is great, adding a much more immediate aspect to the gameplay, which is otherwise enacted in a longer-form manner. The campaign missions are set on large maps, with multiple objectives, and it pays to explore them as fully as possible, since they all have multiple hidden objectives and vast numbers of collectibles.
In one mission set in a castle on a coastal hill, for example, we stumbled across a docked U-boat, which could be blown up by tampering with its refuelling system; without exploring, we would never have realized the U-boat was even there.
As with previous Sniper Elite games, Resistance is not for the faint-hearted. Its Nazi enemies are controlled by impressively realistic AI, so they will, for example, sound alarms and call in reinforcements given the slightest chance. It also seems fairly well researched; in that you’re given reconstructions of authentic weapons from the period (although you can upgrade them using workbenches) and levels are filled with authentic-looking period detail.
Sniper Elite: Resistance’s storyline is pure fiction. Hawker gets wind of a Nazi superweapon, which has been designed to wipe out an Allied invasion force en masse. With D-Day imminent, he must find out more about it, then destroy it. This takes him to various gorgeously rendered parts of France – mostly rural, but some urban. Castles and underground bunkers abound, along with a dam, a vineyard, and various imposing city buildings that have been occupied by the Gestapo.
The maps are impressively large (Rebellion)
In the two years since Sniper Elite 5 was released the franchise’s graphics have evolved further, acquiring new levels of crispness and detail, along with some impressive lighting effects – especially in indoor situations. But there’s still a slightly nostalgic, comic book style edge to Resistance’s visuals, which is in keeping with its general narrative vibes. Within that context, it looks great, while the notorious x-ray killcam shots are even more graphic and visceral than ever.
The whole package adds up to a pretty meaty experience, which is just as well rounded as previous mainline entries. While you can rush through some of the missions, that approach feels counter-productive; each mission gives you a rating out of three stars when you finish it, and hoovering up all the objectives pays dividends in terms of levelling up Harry Hawker and improving his base abilities.
Also, many of the French Resistance propaganda posters that must be collected, to open up the Propaganda missions, are pretty well hidden, so there’s plenty of incentive to revisit the missions even when you have completed the campaign.
There are seven main missions, along with a prologue and epilogue, and completists will end up probably spending two hours in each one, so there’s plenty of gameplay, without it being intimidatingly long.
If you crave originality, don’t expect to find here. Sniper Elite: Resistance almost makes a virtue of giving you exactly what you would expect: a Nazi-killing romp through a magnificently recreated chunk of the Second World War. Along with that, you get challenging, tactical, and deeply satisfying gameplay that’s as comfortable as a frayed old item of clothing.
Pure, enjoyable escapism, in other words. It will, without doubt, delight and excite the Sniper Elite franchise’s existing fanbase, but it’s also a perfect introduction for those that have not encountered the series and a promising prologue to the eventual Sniper Elite 6.
Sniper Elite: Resistance review summary
In Short: A fully-featured mid-generation slab of enjoyable Nazi-shooting, that has only a few unique ideas but still manages to remain compelling throughout.
Pros: All the expected features and options from Sniper Elite 5 but with better graphics and tons of content. The new Propaganda mode is a welcome addition, offering a fun change of pace.
Cons: Few new ideas beyond Propaganda mode (whose posters are a little too well hidden). Cut scenes are not great and it can be very difficult.
Score: 7/10
Formats: PlayStation 5 (reviewed), Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X/S, and PC
Price: £54.99
Publisher: Rebellion
Developer: Rebellion
Release Date: 28th January 2025
Age Rating: 16
It’s probably best to stay down (Rebellion)
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