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

As the Sniper Elite series has continued to explore its World War II backdrop, it has leaned more heavily on a sandbox approach reminiscent of Hitman’s stealth-action gameplay. Players step into the role of a saboteur determined to bring down the Nazi empire from within. Yet, where Sniper Elite truly shines is in the tension and excitement of quietly infiltrating enemy lines to execute that crucial shot on an unsuspecting Nazi, complete with the iconic X-ray kill cam that lets you witness the gruesome aftermath.

With Sniper Elite: Resistance, Rebellion takes the open-ended strategy of Sniper Elite 5 a step further, allowing players to sneak into enemy territories and decimate Nazis in a graphic, over-the-top manner. This time, the secondary protagonist of the series is thrust into the limelight. Just before its January debut, I had the chance to immerse myself for over an hour in a mission focused on destroying a German super train and infiltrating a hotel to gather vital intelligence—showcasing exactly what Sniper Elite excels at.

While it parallels the events of Sniper Elite 5, Resistance shifts the focus to British commando Harry Hawker. Fans will recognize Harry as the second playable character in the series’ co-op campaigns alongside Karl Fairburne. Essentially, Resistance offers a glimpse into what Harry was up to while Karl tackled his own solo missions in the fifth game. The storyline follows Harry as he works to weaken the Nazi regime and bolster the French resistance, all infused with a heavy dose of Jason Statham-like charisma.

In Sniper Elite 5, players enjoyed a series of DLC missions featuring Karl Fairburne infiltrating secret weapons facilities in France. The developers saw a unique opportunity to narrate a fresh storyline within the occupied country, which led them to conceive an entirely new game.

“We realized there was much more to delve into within the French theater of the war,” Shaw explained. “Eventually, we decided to craft a full-fledged campaign from our ideas. It’s a better experience for players to have one substantial game rather than numerous smaller updates like we had with Sniper Elite 5.”

Similar to Sniper Elite 5, Resistance offers stealth-action gameplay where you meticulously navigate intricate environments teeming with Nazi guards, outposts, and supply caches rich with intel. Equipped with a trusty sniper rifle capable of using various ammo types to muffle noise and enhance damage, you also have binoculars to scout ahead and tag targets. Harry is also armed with additional weapons and tools designed to mislead enemies and disrupt their operations.

Resistance maintains the Hitman-inspired method of dealing with significant targets and objectives—either through direct confrontation or creative problem-solving. There’s an undeniable thrill in stealthily reducing enemy numbers with silent kills and distracting guards with simple diversions like bottles to navigate heavily guarded areas unnoticed. While stealth is often your best bet, Harry is no slouch in combat if things go haywire. Still, maintaining stealth is wise, as Harry can be quickly overwhelmed if bombarded by enemy fire. Generally, the enemy AI is quite sharp, keeping you vigilant, though there are occasional odd lapses, like ignoring evident signs of sabotage or struggling to navigate certain areas efficiently.

This open-ended experience was something fans applauded in Sniper Elite 5, and the developers have expanded upon it in Resistance. According to Shaw, each level in Sniper Elite: Resistance has been designed to support various player styles.

“Sniper Elite excels at offering players a wide array of tools and options to approach any scenario as they see fit,” Shaw noted. “Internally, we encourage players to first observe their surroundings, noting points of interest and threats, and then devise strategies to progress through levels and accomplish objectives. We ensure opportunities for sniping from vantage points while also catering to those who prefer a completely stealthy approach.”

What struck me most about this mission was the complexity and depth of its level design. The environment was richly layered, featuring varied paths and a significant vertical component to reach my target, a hotel refurbished as a Nazi command center. One attempt saw me taking a stealthier route across a fortified bridge, which quickly unraveled when spotted. Another approach led me to a train yard for a side objective involving train destruction. Along the way, I gradually eliminated targets and picked off high-profile enemies for extra points.

A highlight of the mission was reaching the hotel, which offered numerous entry points and hidden pathways into locked rooms by scaling the exterior. Escaping with a zipline above the streets was particularly satisfying.

From my experience so far, Sniper Elite: Resistance largely adheres to the established formula of Sniper Elite 5, delivering the familiar gameplay loop and objectives fans have come to expect. While it doesn’t aim to radically transform the series, it effectively builds upon the open-ended stealth-action style of Sniper Elite 5. I didn’t get a chance to explore the new propaganda missions, but the developers mention they’re scattered throughout the levels, unlocking mini-missions where you take on the roles of other resistance members to explore their stories and tasks.

With a campaign planned to match the length of Sniper Elite 5, Resistance serves as a fitting extension of the previous game and a compelling introduction for newcomers. Based on my session, Sniper Elite: Resistance keeps offering that gratifying experience of acting as a stealthy assassin in a expansive setting, liberating towns from Nazi control. And yes, witnessing those spectacular kill cams never gets old.