Sniper Elite: Resistance review: your Nazi-hunting catharsis is served

I wish I despised anything as intensely as Sniper Elite: Resistance‘s creators, the team at Rebellion, hate Nazis. While discussing one’s detest for fascism is one thing, dedicating an entire career to producing the same ultraviolent execution simulator repeatedly is a different level of commitment. It’s a degree of ‘hater’ that everyone should aspire to.

Thanks to that relentless spirit, we now have another Sniper Elite game offering grotesque catharsis. Released less than three years after 2022’s Sniper Elite 5, this game closely follows the same playbook as its predecessor, feeling more like an annualized series like Madden or WWE 2K than the sequel to a narrative-driven stealth action game. The rules remain unchanged. The visual upgrade this year is just slightly better. All the expected multiplayer modes are included. It’s a dependable continuation crafted by individuals who take pleasure in turning Nazi hunting into a celebrated blood sport.

Sniper Elite: Resistance delivers more of the same action with few surprises and a lackluster World War 2 story. However, this is perfectly acceptable considering that the Rebellion team excels at the one thing they have dedicated their careers to: creating tightly designed murder playgrounds for those seeking to release their real-world political frustrations in the safety of a virtual shooting gallery.

Meet Harry Hawker

While Resistance is essentially Sniper Elite 6 in all but name, it does introduce a key difference that sets it apart from the rest of the series. Instead of playing as the long-time hero Karl Fairburne, Resistance puts Harry Hawker in the lead role. Although Hawker is functionally identical to Fairburne, down to his intense hatred for fascism, he brings a slightly different attitude, with the soldier’s voice bearing a striking resemblance to that of Jason Statham. This choice effectively sells Sniper Elite for what it is: a popcorn action romp with the intelligence of a Jack Reacher movie.

At this point, one should not expect much depth from these games. The obligatory plot this time revolves around Hawker teaming up with French Resistance forces to thwart another Nazi operation. The Nazis are developing a superweapon to further their vague plan for European domination. While the plot lacks originality and significance, it serves as a convenient excuse to traverse different environments, sabotage machinery, and crush Nazi skulls. It’s a MyCareer mode for professional killers.

Despite the lack of depth in addressing Nazism, especially in the current climate, I find myself hoping that Resistance would offer more commentary on the subject. This sentiment may stem from my recent experience with Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, a game that boldly confronts Nazis without reservation. It portrays them as weak buffoons who are easily manipulated, making them satisfying targets. In contrast, Sniper Elite fails to delve into the Nazis’ political beliefs beyond their generic desire for world domination through secret weapons, rendering them interchangeable with any other World War 2 adversaries.

Both historical Nazis and contemporary white supremacists are far more specific and menacing. They too seek world domination, but not through caricatured evil schemes executed in hidden bunkers. Their approach involves visible mass oppression, where fear and hatred are as tangible as any ubertank or super missile. As we witness a resurgence of fascism unfolding blatantly, it may be time for our art to vocally address it. I yearn for a Sniper Elite narrative willing to confront white supremacy as boldly as military intelligence.

Maximum Carnage

Despite its forgettable story, Resistance excels in its core gameplay. It presents a solid collection of stealth action missions that transform World War 2 into a Hitman-style experience. Hawker is placed in diverse open-ended levels with various objectives, from assassinating key targets to destroying weapons with explosives. The gameplay mechanics closely mirror those of Sniper Elite 5, to the point where one could almost interchange reviews of the two games with minimal alterations. While this familiarity may become monotonous for those who have extensively played its predecessor, the formula’s effectiveness is quickly reaffirmed.

The game relies on traditional stealth mechanics, a rarity in modern gaming. Players must analyze the surroundings, mark targets, and navigate cover stealthily to accomplish objectives. Classic features like distracting guards with thrown objects are present. The meticulous setup intensifies the satisfaction of a successful plan execution. Nothing beats silently approaching a Nazi, plunging a knife into their heart, and disposing of their body to remain undetected. The series’ hallmark ultraviolence is showcased through detailed killcams depicting bullets penetrating organs in slow motion, offering catharsis to those with a stomach for it.

However, Resistance‘s standout feature is its exceptional level design. The game features eight main missions (along with a brief finale), each set in sprawling locations with multiple traversal options. In the initial mission, I had to infiltrate a dam and sabotage anti-aircraft guns. The flexibility in approaching objectives is remarkable. I could choose to sneak into a nearby building, acquire a silenced sniper rifle, eliminate guards on the bridge, and then proceed cautiously. Alternatively, I opted to zipline underneath the dam, making my way to the top while leaving a trail of enemies in my wake.

I am consistently impressed by the intricacy of detail embedded in Rebellion’s maps. These locations feel authentic, resembling real environments rather than mechanical video game levels. In one mission, I navigate a city on my way to a Nazi base, exploring various buildings for collectibles or gear. This design approach renders Resistance‘s missions incredibly versatile, enticing me to revisit them.

Early missions can be challenging, with a single alert guard drastically tipping the odds against the player (prompting my avoidance of Sniper Elite’s multiplayer invasion feature). It took me a few missions to find my rhythm, but the moment of epiphany is as rewarding as ever. One memorable mission had me skulking around the perimeter of a vast Nazi stronghold in a vineyard. Before plunging into the main objective, I completed side missions by eliminating an elite sniper from a tower and a VIP officer conversing with a soldier across the map. Such moments of strategic execution highlight the game’s immersive stealth experience.

Despite these strengths, the replication of Sniper Elite 5‘s existing systems may lead to monotony towards the end. Limited tools, unexciting skill trees, and repetitive mission objectives can diminish the excitement of revisiting the same game. The Hitman series thrives on diverse, comedic assassination opportunities, which keep the gameplay fresh. In contrast, a grounded war game like Resistance struggles to maintain novelty, making it feel more like an extensive DLC package than a new installment.

A Total Package

Rebellion deserves credit for successfully transforming Sniper Elite into a service platform. Players seeking long-term engagement can delve into deep career progression systems, replayable missions, and an expanding array of extra modes, all of which are enhanced in Resistance. I find it amusing to earn experience for actions like stealthily eliminating a Nazi from behind, akin to earning points for stunts in Forza Horizon 5.

I refrain from passing harsh judgment on the included bonus modes; those drawn to these games for such features receive exactly what they desire in Resistance. Personally, I have not found Sniper Elite’s multiplayer offerings captivating, as the series’ mechanics are tailored for slow-paced third-person sneaking rather than squad-based shootouts. Nevertheless, these modes serve as optional extras, allowing players uninterested in competitive play to enjoy the eight-hour campaign without intrusion.

The new addition in Resistance is the Propaganda Missions, unlocked by discovering collectible posters in each level. These “kill them all” missions resemble Resident Evil Village‘s Mercenaries mode, where players must eliminate a set number of enemies within a specified time frame. Dispatching special officers extends the time limit, fostering a competitive high-score chase. While the main game’s deliberate pace may not seamlessly translate to rapid shooting scenarios, this mode provides an unobtrusive opportunity for players to test their skills in a different setting.

Such modes may not always complement a game’s theme, as evidenced by The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered and its thematically inconsistent No Return mode. However, these extras suit Sniper Elite’s ethos, which boldly asserts that killing Nazis is enjoyable and commendable. Therefore, it is fitting for Resistance to resemble a carnival of gory attractions, enticing players to revisit the game repeatedly. Rebellion does not want players to grapple with moral ambiguity when eliminating fascists. There is no ethical dilemma to ponder; fascist slaying should be akin to basketball—an innocuous pastime.

Those challenging this notion should reconsider their stance, lest they find themselves in Sniper Elite’s crosshairs.

Sniper Elite: Resistance was tested on a PlayStation 5 Pro.