Check out our video review:
Sniper Elite is a pretty cool series. They are stealth games that put you in the shoes of a sniper and let you drop Nazis in awesomely violent ways. The first game takes you from one sniping playground to another and the realistic elements make well placed shots feel really satisfying to pull off. While the second game is more linear, it does introduce the X-Ray Kill Cam which lets you see your bullet tear through an enemy’s bones and internal organs, making the sniping feel even more fun and satisfying. Now that I’ve finally beaten the first two games, I would say I’ve become a fan of Sniper Elite’s brand of stealth action and have been looking forward to playing the next entry, Sniper Elite III. Developed and published by Rebellion Developments, Sniper Elite III was released for PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One in 2014, and Switch in 2019. For this review, I played the PC version. Sniper Elite III is in many ways more of the same but it also features some new ideas and acts as a prequel to its predecessor, Sniper Elite V2.
Set in Africa in 1942, during World War II, the player assumes the role of returning protagonist and sniper, Karl Fairburne. As he assists British forces repel the German army, he learns of a secret project to develop a weapon that could destroy the Allies in Africa and be used to conquer all of Europe. So he sets out to stop the development and eliminate the Nazi commander responsible. In addition to the main campaign are DLC missions that center on Karl’s efforts to save Winston Churchill from an assassination attempt. I can’t say these tales are anything to write home about but they are good enough backdrops for the gameplay which is always front and center and I really love this approach. The story is primarily advanced through briefings or narrations and cut scenes but the narrative never gets in the way of the gameplay. The game basically throws you into missions and says “have at it”. Even though Sniper Elite III is yet another World War II shooter, it’s not another World War II shooter set in Europe. The African setting and participating in the African conflict makes for a wonderful change of pace.
Sniper Elite III is a stealth game and retains much of what was present in its predecessors and also includes some refinements and new features. The campaign can be enjoyed solo or cooperatively and the game also comes with competitive multiplayer modes. However, this review will only focus on the single player. In addition to the campaign are Survival modes, one of which can be played solo, and Overwatch which is a cooperative mode requiring players to work together.
All the good stuff that was present in the previous games can be found here. As a result, Sniper Elite III offers the same kind of fun, satisfying, and addictive gameplay. The X-Ray Kill Cam has been improved and lets you see even more, vehicles can be disabled and destroyed, the environments are more expansive, and you can configure multiple loadouts and customize rifles and the parts you install will affect their stats. You can even change the reticle. There are multiple ammo types, new items to utilize, health no longer regenerates, and the game places a big emphasis on the relocation mechanic. I would say Sniper Elite III is very much like V2 but with more freedom and options. You earn experience for kills and after earning enough, you are promoted and will unlock something like a new weapon for your loadout. Different types of kills award you different amounts of experience but experience isn’t just restricted to kills. You’ll gain extra experience for tagging enemies and being stealthy or a “ghost”. Even blowing shit up awards you experience.
Stealth pretty much works the same but the game does include some features that make things a little more clear. You always have the option to sneak or go loud and I found both options viable. I would say running and gunning is even more viable here than it was in V2 mainly because ammo for secondary weapons is easier to come by. Although, it is usually better and safer to take the stealthy approach. You can still use loud sounds in the environments to mask the sounds of your shots, still use the Welrod to drop enemies quietly, and can still perform stealth kills. Karl can also perform melee kills and lure and distract enemies with not only rocks but also Flint and Steel which can also be placed near explosives to blow them up. Karl can hide in the shadows and on the HUD is an eye that squints or opens to indicate how hidden he is. When enemies are alerted, a circle appears above their heads and the different colors represent their alert status. Relocating plays a big role here. Whenever you’re detected it’s wise to relocate, or in other words move to another position so the enemies lose track of you.
As expected, the sniping feels amazing. Dropping foes with well placed shots is still extremely satisfying and the X-Ray Kill Cam is still beautifully violent and gory. Also, takedowns look more brutal this time. While Sniper Elite III can be played like a sniping shooting gallery much like its predecessor, I would say it makes for a better stealth game. I feel V2 balances on a line separating shooting gallery and stealth mainly because of its more linear level design among some other things. Sniper Elite III’s more open ended maps and reworked stealth mechanics make sneaking around a lot more enjoyable mainly because you’re given more freedom and options. Each mission is set in a large map that you can freely navigate. Every mission has primary objectives to complete and you can come across optional objectives as you explore. Areas within a map are typically interconnected so there’s often multiple routes and ways to reach destinations. This makes infiltrating areas undetected, dropping foes quietly, and/or just evading foes a lot of fun because there’s usually more than one way to approach any situation. There is what I’ll call “collectibles” to find like playing cards and war diaries hidden throughout the environments along with sniper nests to discover. Furthermore, some enemies carry weapon parts that can be collected after you drop them. Needless to say, the game offers plenty of reasons to explore and experiment.
The enemy AI gets the job done, although I have seen foes do stupid shit like run off ledges but it wasn’t often. When they’re first alerted, they typically run to cover and if you continue to fire, they will be able to pinpoint your position and everyone will be gunning for you. Just like in the previous games, it’s typically wise to set up traps around your position to prevent foes from getting too close. Enemies will lob grenades to flush you out and will attempt to flank you. Relocating is typically the best course of action when enemies are on high alert and as long as you’re in cover and out of sight, they will eventually revert back to their patrol status. In addition to soldiers and snipers, you will come up against vehicles including trucks, half-tracks, armored cars, and tanks every so often. I feel like tanks pose more of a threat here than they do in V2 mainly because they take more effort to destroy. But that applies to all vehicles. They also often appear towards the end of missions as if they’re bosses. Vehicles have weak points that can be penetrated and it can take multiple shots to blow them up but armor piercing rounds can make your life easier. You can also lay down land mines to stop or destroy them and even utilize dynamite and other explosives to deal with them as well.
Sniper Elite III is all about options. There are multiple rifles and secondary weapons to choose from, numerous ways to deal with threats, and numerous ways to approach situations. You can repeat missions multiple times and get through them differently each time. One thing I really like about the game is that it doesn’t force you to play a specific way. The game never forces you to be stealthy or run and gun. Objectives are pretty standard for a game like this and include things like assassinate people, destroy things, and retrieve items. Optional objectives are often discovered as you explore and you can complete most in any order. Unlike the missions in V2, the missions here don’t feel like they’re holding your hand as much or funneling you in a specific direction. The maps are open so you can go anywhere at any time. Enemies can be found standing and patrolling around, explosives can be used to your advantage, ammo and supply boxes are seemingly everywhere, and sniper nests make great vantage points.
Sniper Elite III is a great looking game with plenty of color. The texture work and lighting are great, the environments are detailed, and X-Ray kills look awesome and brutal. The only eyesore I noticed is pop-in. Other than that, I would say Sniper Elite III is a looker with some gorgeous African environments and backdrops on display. The action is accompanied by solid audio work including powerful sounding rifle shots, helping make the gunplay feel as good as it is. Backing the action is a solid soundtrack with a good mix of dramatic and intense tunes that do a good job at conveying a sense of tension whether you’re sneaking around quietly or taking the loud approach. On the technical side, I did get stuck in the environments on more than one occasion forcing me to load a previous save and the game did crash on me a few times. Other than that, it ran smooth.
The first two Sniper Elite games made me a fan of the series but Sniper Elite III is the game that really clicked with me. I had an amazing time with it. It does an excellent job capitalizing on its potential. Much of the stealth isn’t anything we haven’t seen before and the sniping is still the big draw but the more open-ended environments, freedom, and options make Sniper Elite III more than just a stealth game with a cool gimmick. For me, Sniper Elite III really cements the idea that open-ended environments are the best choice for these types of stealth games. Some other examples include Sly 2, Hitman: Blood Money and the World of Assassination games, and Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory. These are some of my favorite games in the genre and they all share a similar kind of environmental design. Linear environments can work but, in my opinion, letting the player choose how to approach situations is the better option. In addition to this, the sniping in Sniper Elite III still feels amazing partly due to the gory and awesome X-Ray Kill Cams. Also because the realistic elements helping to make well placed shots extremely satisfying. As a result of these things, Sniper Elite III has become my favorite game in the series up to this point. I welcome everything this game introduces and only wish certain elements were expanded upon even further.
I absolutely recommend Sniper Elite III. I had a blast playing it thanks to the fun and addictive nature of the series brand of sniping and the freedom and options on offer. The replay value here is excellent. You can play through missions differently every time, try different difficulty levels, and you don’t have to go at it alone. Just like its predecessors, Sniper Elite III is not a game that bogs you down with a lot of story. It gives you just enough to set things up and throws you into missions with complete freedom to tackle objectives however you see fit. It’s a wonderful stealth game and fun shooter that should keep you coming back for a while. Definitely check it out.