Sniper Elite: Resistance breaks new ground for the series, offering fresh excitement for long-time fans. Harry Hawker, an SOE agent, is in the spotlight this time, embarking on a mission set alongside the events of Sniper Elite 5, which I previously reviewed on the PS5 in 2022. As Karl Fairbune carries out his duties elsewhere, you’ll find yourself in a different theater of war—deep within the occupied territories of France. Hawker uncovers a formidable Nazi weapon, a potential game-changer for Germany. Joined by the French resistance, it’s up to you to sabotage this Wunderwaffe before it tips the balance of the conflict.
Your adventure doesn’t end with the main storyline. Dive into the vibrant world of the French Resistance with Propaganda missions. These missions get triggered when you find Propaganda posters scattered across the levels. In these shorter, urgency-packed tasks, stealth and precision are key as you work swiftly to overthrow Nazi forces and liberate the area.
For those interested in challenge, Sniper Elite: Resistance offers five levels of difficulty: Civilian, Cadet, Sharpshooter, Sniper Elite, and Authentic. New or casual players might want to start with Civilian, where you can focus more on the narrative. Step up to Cadet for slightly tougher foes or try Sharpshooter for a balanced test. Seasoned veterans will feel right at home on Sniper Elite, while Authentic provides a hardcore experience with realistic mechanics like wind and distance affecting your shots.
Controlling Harry Hawker is intuitive; the left stick moves you while the right is for aiming and looking around. Want to sprint? Just click the left stick. The right stick, when clicked, lets you survey the battlefield through your binoculars, even tagging enemies if you linger on them long enough. The R3 button activates focus mode, heightening your senses. Use Square and Triangle for interactions or close-quarters combat, respectively. And when danger looms, dive for cover with a tap of the X button.
Engagements feel visceral and dynamic. L2 lets you take aim, and R2 fires your weapon of choice. The L1 button opens your radial menu for switching weapons, which you can also do using the D-Pad—up for your rifle, left for your sidearm. Adjust your scope with left or right on the D-Pad. Need to make a pinpoint shot? Empty your lungs with L3 for that steady, crucial moment. R1 manages your inventory, and a quick press of the Touchpad reveals your map to strategize your next move.
Beyond the core campaign and Propaganda challenges, Axis Invasion Mode offers an online experience, provided you have a PlayStation Plus membership. Here, you play as the lethal sniper Jäger, taking your skills against players from around the globe. You can control invasions to your game to be unrestricted, invite-only, or turn them off. Survival Mode presents another layer of excitement, demanding you defend against waves of enemies—how long will you withstand?
Progression in the Campaign Mode rewards you with Skill Points. Spend these in the Skills tab to unlock new abilities in Combat, Equipment, and Body categories. Combat might let you revive with a med kit when downed, or toss back grenades. Equipment skills, like scavenging ammo from discarded weapons, can be invaluable. For Body skills, options like Health Boost 1 provide more vitality, or Speedy Recovery, which accelerates healing.
Achievement hunters will enjoy the robust trophy list including a Platinum trophy, with trophies split across both PS4 and PS5 versions thanks to the game’s Cross-Buy nature. Aspire to complete the varied objectives, from reaching rank 40 to hitting every organ with your sniper or claiming 350 rifle eliminations.
Additionally, a standalone trophy set called “Lights, Camera, ACHTUNG!” comes with its distinct mission. Here, you face none other than Hitler at a French film studio, aiming to thwart propaganda efforts. The accomplishments tie into the unique goals such as stealthy eliminations and precision shots at long distances—or even with a well-placed hit to a singular target.
In summary, Sniper Elite: Resistance introduces a captivating narrative while maintaining the immersive and tactical shooter experience fans expect. Whether it’s the compelling missions, engaging replayability through various modes, or the challenge of completing the expansive trophy lists, this release has something for everyone actively interested in the genre. And since it’s a Cross-Buy release, you can enjoy it on both PS4 and PS5 at no extra cost.
This review of Sniper Elite: Resistance is based on a PlayStation 5 copy provided by Rebellion.
