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

The Sniper Elite series, with its increasingly immersive World War II backdrop, has evolved over time into a dynamic sandbox playground reminiscent of Hitman, providing a thrilling blend of stealth and action. It puts you into the role of a skilled saboteur, determined to disrupt the Nazi regime from within. Yet, it’s the game’s signature suspense—sneaking past enemy lines and delivering that all-important lethal shot, complete with its iconic X-ray kill cam—that continues to captivate players.

In their latest release, Sniper Elite: Resistance, Rebellion builds on Sniper Elite 5’s expansive gameplay, offering an experience filled with gore and intrigue against the Nazis. This time, the spotlight shifts to a secondary protagonist, finally giving them their center stage. Ahead of its January release, I immersed myself in a mission that involved taking down a heavily-armored German super train and exploring a hotel for vital information. This sneak peek served as a masterclass in what makes Sniper Elite so appealing.

Running parallel to the events of Sniper Elite 5, Resistance zeroes in on British commando Harry Hawker. Fans of the series may recall Harry as a key figure in the co-op campaign, often seen alongside Karl Fairburne. With Resistance, we finally get to see what Harry was up to as Karl embarked on his lone adventures in the fifth installment. The narrative revolves around Harry’s mission to weaken the Nazi grip and aid the French resistance, all while channeling a certain Jason Statham-esque bravado.

While Sniper Elite 5 enjoyed a steady stream of DLC missions bringing Karl to hidden weapons sites in France, the developers realized the potential for a fresh narrative within the same setting. This sparked the creation of a new, standalone game to tell Harry’s unique story.

“We saw a lot more to explore within the French theater,” explained Shaw. “Instead of piecing together smaller updates as we did with Sniper Elite 5, we believed a full campaign release would offer a richer experience.”

Much like its predecessor, Resistance offers a stealth-action experience steeped in strategy, as you navigate through levels teeming with Nazi forces, outposts, and critical intelligence. Equipped with your trustworthy sniper rifle that allows for stealthy long-range takedowns, alongside binoculars for scouting and marking targets, you’re well-prepared. Harry’s arsenal includes secondary weapons and gadgets for causing distractions and sabotage.

The game retains its Hitman-style flair for eliminating targets and achieving objectives through a mix of direct and creative approaches. That sense of satisfaction from stealthily neutralizing threats or sneaking past vigilant guards is ever present. While prudence is favored, Harry can certainly handle himself in a firefight, though stealth remains a more reliable path. The enemy AI typically provides a challenging experience, though I did encounter occasional quirks where they seemed to ignore sabotage or struggled with navigation.

Fans appreciated the open-ended gameplay of Sniper Elite 5, and the developers have leaned into this even further with Resistance. Shaw highlighted the team’s commitment to providing diverse options for players.

“What we excel at is giving players various tools and freedom in tackling missions,” Shaw remarked. “Our design philosophy revolves around allowing players to observe, plan, and execute in their preferred style—whether that’s going for high sniping positions or sticking to a completely stealthy approach.”

What truly stood out during my mission was the intricate level design, featuring a remarkable blend of vertical pathways and diverse routes leading to the Nazi-commanded main hotel. My attempts ranged from a failed stealthy bridge crossing to discovering a more successful path through a train yard, setting me on a side mission to destroy a train while picking off enemies for bonus experience.

Reaching the hotel was a highlight, showcasing multiple entry points and hidden avenues into locked rooms via the building’s exterior. The zipline escape from the rooftop was a particularly exhilarating moment.

From what I’ve seen, Sniper Elite: Resistance remains faithful to the core formula that its fans cherish, maintaining the familiar cycle and objectives characteristic of the series. While it may not revolutionize the gameplay, it does reinforce the open-ended stealth-action framework established by Sniper Elite 5. A feature I didn’t explore was the new propaganda missions, hidden within stages, offering micro-missions with secondary resistance characters and their stories.

With a campaign comparable in length to Sniper Elite 5, Resistance not only complements its predecessor effectively but also provides an inviting entry point for newcomers to the franchise. Sniper Elite: Resistance embraces the joy of tactical assassinations and freeing towns from fascist grip—and those iconic kill cams never cease to entertain.