I've never been big on games that lets you target enemies from afar; I prefer up close and personal combat, but having played this for the first time in years a year ago, I was really impressed and enjoyed the game immensely. Sniper Elite 3, a prequel to the 2nd game in the series, is a step up in many ways.
The first thing you'll notice about the 3rd game is it's graphics. From the desert sands, rocky caverns, underground bunkers, and enemy bases, Sniper Elite 3 boasts some impressive visuals with splendid attention to detail in the environments with smooth animation and lighting effects; which even surpasses that of the Splinter Cell series. One has to wonder if Rebellion took design cues from Ubisoft's flagship stealth series, which has yet to see a seventh installment. You have to see it for yourself. It's THAT good.
The gameplay is similar to Splinter Cell in that you move from Point A to B, observing the environment for enemies and using various strategies and tactics to take them out like shooting an explosive barrel near groups of enemies, setting traps with trip mines to blow up tanks. You can also target grenades on the enemies with explosive results. There are various missions with optional side quests, but how you complete them is entirely up to you like using noise to mask your shots. In actuality, if you want to just snipe for the hell of it, you can do it, but doing so makes the game more challenging. And boy is it challenging, due in part to the game's stunning AI. They'll go in cover, call reinforcements, use squad tactics,etc. Some enemies use different attacks, depending on whether they spotted you or not. Sometimes, they'll use sheer numbers to overwhelm you. Each strategy you use has advantages and disadvantages; i.e getting caught out in the open with very little cover as well as trying to go guns blazing will likely get you killed. But with an assortment of silenced pistols, machine guns, grenades, rocket launchers based on their WW2 counterparts and using a bit of skill and strategy, you'll see your way through. It's not gonna be easy, but the effort is worth it.
The voice acting is worthy of praise; especially for the main character, Karl Fairbourne, with deep gravitas by Tom Clark Hill, who sounds remarkably similar to Sam Fisher, voiced by Michael Ironside. Enemies sound appropriate relating to their countries of origin; namely German and Italian troops with their languages actually being spoken in their native tongues, which really enhances the feel of being behind enemy lines during WW2.
There are a few things that would've made the game better. First, the level design could use more variety, but since it's set in the deserts of Africa, that's understandable. You do get to duke it out with enemy snipers, but they have no personality; like someone akin to Batman's Joker. Plus, the enemy's faces could be varied.
But despite all these issues, Sniper Elite 3 is a great game in it's own right, but Sniper Elite 4 completely blows it out of the water. Since I'm new to the franchise, I would love to see more of the series for years to come.
The first thing you'll notice about the 3rd game is it's graphics. From the desert sands, rocky caverns, underground bunkers, and enemy bases, Sniper Elite 3 boasts some impressive visuals with splendid attention to detail in the environments with smooth animation and lighting effects; which even surpasses that of the Splinter Cell series. One has to wonder if Rebellion took design cues from Ubisoft's flagship stealth series, which has yet to see a seventh installment. You have to see it for yourself. It's THAT good.
The gameplay is similar to Splinter Cell in that you move from Point A to B, observing the environment for enemies and using various strategies and tactics to take them out like shooting an explosive barrel near groups of enemies, setting traps with trip mines to blow up tanks. You can also target grenades on the enemies with explosive results. There are various missions with optional side quests, but how you complete them is entirely up to you like using noise to mask your shots. In actuality, if you want to just snipe for the hell of it, you can do it, but doing so makes the game more challenging. And boy is it challenging, due in part to the game's stunning AI. They'll go in cover, call reinforcements, use squad tactics,etc. Some enemies use different attacks, depending on whether they spotted you or not. Sometimes, they'll use sheer numbers to overwhelm you. Each strategy you use has advantages and disadvantages; i.e getting caught out in the open with very little cover as well as trying to go guns blazing will likely get you killed. But with an assortment of silenced pistols, machine guns, grenades, rocket launchers based on their WW2 counterparts and using a bit of skill and strategy, you'll see your way through. It's not gonna be easy, but the effort is worth it.
The voice acting is worthy of praise; especially for the main character, Karl Fairbourne, with deep gravitas by Tom Clark Hill, who sounds remarkably similar to Sam Fisher, voiced by Michael Ironside. Enemies sound appropriate relating to their countries of origin; namely German and Italian troops with their languages actually being spoken in their native tongues, which really enhances the feel of being behind enemy lines during WW2.
There are a few things that would've made the game better. First, the level design could use more variety, but since it's set in the deserts of Africa, that's understandable. You do get to duke it out with enemy snipers, but they have no personality; like someone akin to Batman's Joker. Plus, the enemy's faces could be varied.
But despite all these issues, Sniper Elite 3 is a great game in it's own right, but Sniper Elite 4 completely blows it out of the water. Since I'm new to the franchise, I would love to see more of the series for years to come.
