If you are a longtime fan, you could approach Sniper Elite 5, a game obviously already available on the GameStop online shop, with the autopilot on.
The Rebellion saga, born in the now distant 2005 and unfolding in recent years through a spin-off based on nazi-zombies, has always had clear ideas, perched around mechanics that over time have undergone a progressive, although not exponential, improvement, but which ultimately have never known who knows what renewal and revolution.
The hilarious and now well-known X-ray view, which shows the damage inflicted to the internal organs of the enemies by the bullets exploded from sidereal distance, is there again in its place. Sand-box environments that stimulate exploration, concealing documents, optional missions, shortcuts and additional equipment, are not lacking this time either. The classic gameplay of the series, which encourages stealth and intensive use of the sniper rifle, returns on time. Even the Second World War and the hordes of Nazis to oppose have not moved an inch.
To be honest, more than a completely new chapter, Sniper Elite 5 has the features of a very full-bodied DLC, an expansion of unprecedented dimensions, of course, but still a carbon copy of what has already been seen in the direct predecessor. Bad? Not necessarily, given the general goodness of the product, but it is good to take note.
To change, and it could not have been otherwise, is obviously the setting. After Italy, the good Karl Fairburne has gone to France, where he will have to prevent the completion of the mysterious Kraken Project. Between supporting characters with the charisma equal to that of a stool and a predictable intertwining like an old episode of Casa Vianello, the protagonist, a badass with a joke always ready, who with his hoarse man's voice sailed, perfectly follows the figure of the action hero "first shoot, then ask". You certainly won't buy Sniper Elite 5 for the depth of the storyline.
The campaign, which winds its way through eight missions, has many other advantages. As mentioned, the game behaves like a third-person shooter, with the view behind the avatar. It only takes a few hits to knock him out and, even at the lowest difficulty levels, the enemies are cunning enough to ambush, encircle, successfully exploit their numerical superiority.
For this it is essential to move with caution, a bit like you would in any Metal Gear. Silent close-range kills, evasions, diversions, are all highly recommended, highly effective strategies. Given the supplied arsenal, among other things, forget very effective silencers that can help you in the most indiscriminate sniping. Each fired shot has direct consequences in alerting those around you, unless you use ambient noises to cover up shots.
You will quickly discover that freeing one camp at a time, one base at a time from the Nazi presence is extremely pleasant and satisfying, thanks, as already suggested, to an AI sufficiently developed and able to stand up to you just enough to make you feel like real pros. once it got the better of it.
The objectives of each mission, after all, are the same as always and mostly involve finding and destroying or, at most, finding and murdering. The repetitiveness, in any case, is never felt more than it should, thanks to a level design that is now redundant within the saga, but varied at the right point, considering only the Sniper Elite 5. Wide and desolate fields, alternate with asphyxiating bunkers, small towns, narrow trenches, quite different scenarios that will heavily and significantly influence your strategies in battle.
Being a sandbox, those who love going straight to the point will appreciate the many difficulties scattered along the way. On the other hand, those obsessed with completing each objective will be impressed by how and how much the game rewards practically any action of the gamer. Eliminations and missions, to begin with, award experience points. These automatically unlock new weapon gadgets, including kicks, sights, grips and more. You will also get skill points, to be spent in the three skill trees present, able to enhance the character whatever the chosen mode. From this point of view, don't expect anything particularly original. With a little patience, everything is unlocked and the skills range from expanding the backpack to extending the state of concentration, a skill that will allow you to more easily find the enemies around you. In addition, medals and rosettes will reward you for the most disparate actions, such as having achieved a certain number of silent eliminations or having using a certain type of weapons.
If the campaign will take you no less than fifteen hours, in case you want to get any recognition, be prepared to sacrifice at least double the time.
Fortunately, Sniper Elite 5 has a lot more to offer.
First of all, you can tackle the online campaign, in the company of a friend. By selecting the maximum difficulty level, which among other things provides for the total removal of the game HUD, you will have great fun, especially if you are not afraid of repeating the same step a couple of more times.
Inheriting the concept from the Soulslike, the interesting Axis Invasion mode is also worth mentioning. The invader, in the role of a Nazi, will not surprisingly be teleported into the game of a player randomly caught from the net, with the sole task of knocking him down. The invaded by his side, who can eventually disable the function, in case he wants to enjoy the experience without interference, will have one more enemy to keep at bay, obviously particularly strong, skilled, able to move around the whole map. Between specific abilities that are activated during the invasion and objects scattered around the scenario that will make it easier to identify each other, Axis Invasion is a novelty that is really well implemented, successful, able to blend perfectly with the gameplay of the game.
The offer is completed by the Horde and the competitive multiplayer, on which we cannot yet unbalance, given the momentary absence of enough players to test these modes with, which is why at the moment this review, which will be updated soon, is currently lacking. voting.
To disappoint us in toto, and on this it is really difficult to turn a blind eye, is the graphics sector. If at first the glance can be said to be satisfactory, it does not take long before realizing that invisible obstacles, extremely woody animations and some textures that are anything but defined make Sniper Elite 5 a game just enough even if played on systems of the past generation. of consoles, let alone on Xbox Series X or PlayStation 5, where the only tangible plus of these editions is really reduced loading times.
Conclusion
Sniper Elite 5 continues along the path traced by its predecessors, giving us another, fun and satisfying third-person shooter to the sound of Nazis to blow your brains out with a little healthy sniping or to eliminate, little by little, moving in the 'shadow.
In terms of gameplay, nothing really new is reported, apart from the excellent and very successful introduction of the Axis Invasion, a mechanic capable of infusing pepper and further adrenaline to the experience.
Between documents to be found, secondary missions, various multiplayer modes, including the excellent co-op for the campaign, the title of Rebellion has a lot to offer in terms of longevity.
Too bad only for a renouncing graphic sector, for the almost total absence of real news, for a level design that is more than discreet, but never excellent.
If you loved the prequels you will love this too. If you are looking for a more than decent shooter set during the Second World War, give it a chance.
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