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The Sniper Elite series has always been an interesting
red-headed step-child off to the side of the FPS genre. There’s no doubt its
cornerstone element is the art of sniping, as well as the slow-mo kill cam shots
of bullets ripping through your enemies, but to this point outside of that the
games have been a bit clunky. The mechanics were always decent but the limiting
factor was often the level design since the areas were simply too confined so
conceptually it wouldn’t take your enemies much effort to figure out where you
were positioned with so few options available to you. This entry completely
blows that criticism out of the water, replacing overly constrained areas with
large and wonderfully varied environments that absolutely encourage exploration
and experimentation. Not only will you find random hidden stashes here and
there, you’re really given the freedom to choose your personal path to success
whether that’s storming in a straight line for your threat, or taking the long
way to flank and utilize an element of surprise to devastating effect. This
really is the leap in quality of level design I’ve been waiting for with the
series, moving it away from being more of a niche bit of fun and making it a
legitimate contender with the more successful series out there. Sure, you’re
always going to want to set up those great long shots and enjoy the thrill of
ripping a slow-mo shot through someone’s lungs, but now the connective tissue
between those moments feels stealthier, smarter, and more engaging than ever.
Throw in online multiplayer modes that also offer some pleasant surprises and
this series finally feels like it has earned the elite in its name.
Justin Nation, Score:Nindie Choice! [9.0]