Release Date: 26/06/2014
Played On: Win
Available On: NS / PS3 / PS4 / Win / X360 / XBO
Time Played: 15h 40m
Progress: Completed
Developer: Rebellion Developments
Publisher: Rebellion Developments / 505 Games
I've heard it said before, that a sequel of a smash hit is always doomed to fail, and there isn't a lot anyone can do about it. This is especially true in certain forms of media, but I would argue that video games are something of an exception to the rule, as making a hit sequel doesn't appear to be all that difficult. At the very least, just repeat what you did in the first game, make it look nicer, and you'll make everyone happy. No?
While I may be speaking broadly (and being a bit silly) with that statement, I do think there's a little truth to the notion that sequels have a hard time living up to their predecessors. There's no surprise that any attempt to replicate the complex and ephemeral quality of success is at best a calculated risk, and always open to interpretation. It's easy to see why the blockbuster titles keep churning out the same game over and over again, for fear of alienating their well-established fanbase. Sometimes it seems like the best we can hope for with big titles in a franchise are updated graphics and controls, while the core gameplay remains the same, so we can rest assured that we'll be getting what we expect and nothing more.
It's a double-edged sword that either makes or breaks a game and I'm sure that we've all played a sequel that left us either wanting more, or wishing they'd stuck to what made the original special. Not changing anything in a sequel certainly gets boring, but at the same time too much change can make it feel like it doesn't belong. Like many aspects of game development and design, I often feel like this is one of those balancing acts that nobody really has an answer for.
Sniper Elite 3 is something of an ironic title; being a sequel to Sniper Elite V2, but set prior to the events of that game. We still play as gruff man sniper Karl during World War 2, but this time it's a few years earlier and in a completely different location. Instead of the tight streets of Berlin, we find ourselves in the open landscape of North Africa, chasing down Nazis and destroying all their stuff to really stick it to the man.
Most of the changes between Sniper Elite V2 and 3 are straight upgrades that are to be expected from a new entry to the series. The graphics are a lot nicer, the levels are much larger, and everything feels more comfortable to control and manoeuvre as you sneak through the Nazi ranks silently killing as you go. The X-ray shots are back, only with greater detail and fidelity on the enemy's organs and body parts, not to mention accurate ballistics that shatter bones and destroy all that meaty flesh in glorious slow motion.
These are all welcomed changes, but they're also what I would expect from a quality sequel, as it's essentially the same game only fresh and more detailed. However, the best thing Sniper Elite 3 does differently is how it lays out its missions on the large open world maps in each level. Thanks to some welcomed changes, the maps themselves adjust the way that the game should be played, and I was pleased to find that the change is exactly what I wanted to see.
The streets of Berlin provided some excellent gameplay as you slowly progressed through neighbourhoods, always scouting for snipers on rooftops and patrols around the corner. It was a tense and stressful setting that was a lot of fun to navigate and control, as enemies where everywhere and it took a slow and methodical approach to find them all and remain hidden. Having said that though, I often found myself being sprung by an enemy I hadn't accounted for, or a rival sniper hidden in the dark of a bombed attic that I had failed to properly scout, Those moments were entirely possible thanks to the city setting, so it makes sense that changing up the location would affect the game feel one way or another.
What we end up getting in Sniper Elite 3, are a series of large open areas, often ringed by tailored sniping positions that provide a good view of the area, while providing adequate elevation and privacy. It's almost as if every level is some form of valley, flanked on all sides by a trail that's suspiciously accessible. What's more, military camps and locations are nicely designed so that watch towers and viewpoints are easy to reach and provide a comprehensive view over enemy positions. This leads to a gameplay loop that is far more relaxed than in the Berlin streets, but requires a lot more patience and monitoring of enemy soldier movements.
Although, you might be thinking that this kind of setup for each level sounds very 'video gamey', and in a way you'd be right. I've never fought in the North African theatre of World War 2, but I doubt that every Nazi encampment was located in a valley and surrounded by convenient sniping positions that overlooked the entire area. The geography certainly feels like it has been purposely built for a video game, with points of interest in key locations that facilitate enjoyable moments and opportunities. Yes, it's a little bit 'gamey' even at the best of times, but I would argue that the game itself is all the better for it.
It doesn't help that I'm kind of speaking out of turn here, because I've already played the rest of the Sniper Elite franchise at time of writing. I already know where the series goes and how I feel about it, which I will write about in future posts, but I'm well aware that for my money Sniper Elite 3 is something of a high point in the series. The improvements over Sniper Elite V2 make it more accessible and contemporary, while the redesigned open world levels and setting go a long way to providing a much more enjoyable gameplay experience.
The thing to remember is that this is a game series that's all about being a sniper who is basically a one-man army and able to infiltrate and defeat countless bad guys without breaking a sweat. It's as if our character Karl could set out and win the war on his own, leaving the allied troops to mop up all the carnage he leaves in his wake. This is clearly a game about being a total badass who stealths into locations, kills everyone, and leaves like the super hero ghost he ends up being.
With that in mind, I'm not too bothered if the specific layout of a level is super realistic or not, as I'd rather be given opportunities to do cool stuff instead. After all, this is a sniper game that boasts some complex ballistic simulations and shows you precise data on where you hit someone, how far away they were, and just how awesome you are as a rifle wielding maniac. Let me take a shot at a Nazi officer from the other side of the map and show me the slow-motion bullet flying through the air before shattering his skull and splattering blood all over his mates. That's just the kind of dumb gameplay that I want to see, and the obviously-tailored level design in Sniper Elite 3 really caters for this kind of entertaining loop.
In fact, the weakest moments in the game were the ones were using a sniper rifle was the least effective way to progress. There are a few levels with close-quarters configurations where you have to get right up to an enemy before you're able to take them out, which does not lend itself to sniping. The sniper nests in these levels have limited visual opportunities for covering large areas from the same location, so you end up using your pistol or sneaking up for a melee kill more than looking down your rifle's scope. These sections are fun enough to play through, but can get frustrating when all I want to do is sit in a hidden spot and pop the heads off numerous Nazis.
Hence why the big open areas are actually a welcomed feature for a player like me, as it's precisely the kind of gameplay I wanted after playing through the tight streets of Berlin. However, it's hard to say whether these open areas are better or worse than the demolished city blocks, as they're equally challenging and suitable for their purpose. In Berlin I spent a lot of time looking on rooftops and setting myself up with good views down long streets, while in Northern Africa most of my time was spent surveying an area with binoculars to locate every enemy on the map before systematically destroying their internal organs.
I can see how the difference between each game might be a bit off-putting for some players, but I welcomed the change and overall felt like I had more fun by the time the credits rolled. There's something to be said about balancing realism with fun gameplay, and I suppose I'll always prefer to have more fun at the end of the day. Perhaps this is where authenticity makes up for a lack of realism, as Sniper Elite 3 still feels like it is authentic to its setting and era, even if it feels a bit more 'gamey' in places.
In a lot of ways this really is the high point in the Sniper Elite series for me, but I'll get into more of those details in future posts about later titles. For now, this prequel to the previous game does a lot to improve the overall gameplay experience and provide some excellent opportunities for badass sniper fun. I honestly couldn't ask for a whole lot else, so keep this one on your radar if you're looking for a long-range stealth shooting experience.