Release Date: 30/04/2012
Played On: Win
Available On: NS / PS3 / PS4 / WiiU / Win / X360 / XBO
Time Played: 6h 15m
Progress: Completed
Developer: Rebellion Developments
Publisher: Rebellion Developments / Microsoft Corporation / 505 Games / Ubisoft
Realism is an interesting idea when it comes to video games, as it's often regarded as something admirable to aim for, while ultimately being compromised for entertainment purposes. I mean, there are many games that flirt with realism, but if they actually created hyper-realistic systems and gameplay mechanics, the entire experience would be a frustrating bore.
This isn't a bad thing though, as the purpose of entertainment is unsurprisingly that of being entertaining. While we may think that it would be fun to play out a fictional life in the real world, the simple fact of the matter is that we get enough of that every day, and when we sit down to play a game it ends up being the last thing we ever want to do.
Instead, we're satisfied with enjoyable facsimiles of real life that have been tweaked and managed in such a way that it straddles the line between realism and fantasy. It's fun to play a game like The Sims, because we recognise human behaviour and can experiment with choices and lifestyles that may otherwise be unavailable to us. However, I'm sure we've all brutally murdered our Sims by making them drown in a pool, or we've ended up shagging everyone else in the neighbourhood with little to no consequence. Imagine if The Sims had enough realism in it that Sims figured how to get out of a pool that has no ladder, or if NPCs actually talked to each other when they were out of sight, leaving us to answer some hard questions about our intimate relations. It might sound like fun for a little while, but I reckon it would get boring pretty quick.
The same can be said for any number of games that hint at realism, but stay firmly planted in fantasy. It's exciting to feel as though you're actually fighting in an intense warzone, but those Call of Duty soldiers manage to run, jump, and fart-ass around as much as they like, no matter how many weapons and heavy equipment they have stuffed in their backpack. Driving at break-neck speeds through winding rally courses in a car modelled after a real rally vehicle is always exciting, but I'm pretty sure I would have died multiple times over if I took the same risks in the real world and crashed as often as I do in racing games.
Fortunately for gaming, these fantastical gameplay concessions are a necessary element of the medium, as we love to experience something that feels genuine and real, while still having a good time and not being restricted by reality itself. We're all used to the concept and we're happy to suspend our disbelief in just about every way possible; so long as we know we're going to have a lot of fun. Although, there is one particular type of game that always makes me think about these kinds of things, as the manipulation of the game's code becomes increasingly visible the more you play and the deeper you dive.
I'm talking about any game that has stealth mechanics and systems as one of its primary appeals. Basically where you are tasked with hiding from NPCs, or trying to remain undetected by systems and enemies that will overpower you if you fight them head-on. I can't really think of any other genre in gaming, where the typically hidden systems and mechanics of the game are so blatantly on display for the player to see, but stealth game seem to find it unavoidable. Even the best in the genre are guilty of exposing their AI systems in one way or another, and it always leaves me feeling a little disappointed.
Such is the case with a game series like Sniper Elite, which is all about attempting to fight an enemy without being seen or discovered in any way. It might not be the first series anyone thinks of when they conjure up the idea of stealth games, but there is no doubt that stealth is one of the primary goals in these games.
The general premise is that we play as a sniper during World War II and are tasked with covert operations where we must infiltrate locations and kill Nazi enemies without being discovered. The whole gameplay loop is to find a spot where you have good vision over an area, tag a bunch of enemies within view, then shoot them all at the precise moment when nobody else will notice. It's a basic loop that works really well and makes for some slow and tactical gameplay that is surprisingly fun.
Much like Call of Duty though, I'm not sure how realistic a game like Sniper Elite V2 actually is, so let's focus more on authenticity instead. The game's chapters take place in a mid-war ruined version of Berlin, with destroyed buildings and streets covered in rubble. The city allows for some tight scenarios with loads of hiding spots, from ducking behind burned out cars, to climbing onto rooftops and peering through attic windows. In fact, a lot of this game felt similar to the movie Enemy At The Gates. You know the one; where Jude Law is a Russian sniper with an English accent and spends most of his time crawling through rubble as silently as possible? Well this game felt a lot like that… minus the constant threat of Ed Harris looming over every moment.
Anyway, to get back to authenticity, the setting and all of the equipment in Sniper Elite V2 fits the period, and if I were a bigger fan of history I might be able to identify certain rifles, or uniforms, or whatever. Either way, I'm pretty sure the game has made its best efforts to use authentic weaponry to go along with the authentic setting. There are no thermal scopes and night vision here; instead we get a selection of mostly bolt-action rifles with relatively short scopes. The limitations of the gear you can use in the game actually helps the gameplay feel more grounded, as you end up trying to create scenarios that will benefit what you're capable of, rather than simply choosing whatever tool will fit the position you're in.
However, it's impossible to talk about authenticity in a Sniper Elite game without mentioning the bullet physics, as it's perhaps the most well-known and recognisable element of the series. Every bullet you fire from your rifle has been modelled as an object in the world and the world's physics impact its journey. Suffice to say that there are no hit-scan weapons to be found, and every shot needs to be aimed and compensated for accordingly. Considering that most shots you take as a sniper will be over a large distance, getting used to the ballistics in the game becomes incredibly important.
Sound is another aspect that plays heavily into how you approach each encounter, as enemies will hear your shots and try to locate you if you fail to keep your actions under wraps. Even being far away on a rooftop doesn't mean that some enemies on the streets below won't hear you fire upon their comrades, so being able to mask the sounds you make is just about as important as finding a good hiding spot. This isn't even limited to firing guns, as enemies will hear you running through the dirt nearby, so it's best to crouch down and carefully step through the environment without anyone noticing.
All of this means that the game ends up taking on a much slower and methodical pace than your usual wartime shooters, but it's a nice dynamic that continues through the series. It might take a good half hour to crawl between patrolling enemies and find that perfect hiding spot where you can peer out a window and remain hidden from anyone glancing up from below. Then there's more waiting, as you line up an officer with your scope, a little above his head to compensate for bullet-drop; ready to fire when the time is right. Your patience is rewarded when low-flying planes pass overhead, creating enough noise that if you pull the trigger your shot will be lost amidst the rumble of jet engines and nearby bombings. That's one officer down, time to follow it up by patiently taking out the remaining dozen or so in the vicinity.
As with most stealth games, the dopamine really gets stimulated when you manage to take out all of the enemies in an area, without anyone ever being the wiser. I may have save-scummed a lot during my time with Sniper Elite V2, but sometimes mistakes get made, and once you're discovered there really is very little you can do to get out of the situation and get away, not to mention the bonuses you receive for remaining completely undetected during each level. This is definitely a game that encourages taking your time and being patient with each tactical decision you make.
Of course, that's not to say that it doesn't suffer from the usual drawbacks of just about every stealth game I've ever played. Yes, I'm talking about how every single enemy in the game seems to have some form of dementia or temporary amnesia that kicks in every time they figure out where you're hiding. Even with a Thompson at your side and a range of traps to protect your location, the enemies are numerous and should have all the means to overpower you once you've been discovered. Sadly though, a few cheesy manoeuvres that exploit the AI's systems are all it takes to get away, leaving you to wait until they've entirely forgotten you ever existed.
It's the same in every stealth game. Enemies will converge on your position when they know where you are, or hide in cover if they know they're being shot at, but only for a short amount of time. Once the timer ticks over some predetermined line, everyone stops looking for you and returns to their regular positions as if nothing ever happened, and Sniper Elite V2 is no different. If your shot is heard, or if you're seen by an enemy, they will tell all their friends and try to shoot you. Sometimes they duck behind cover and hide so you can't shoot them, but other times they will tell all their friends and rush your location in an effort to overwhelm you with sheer numbers.
Thankfully you're quick on your feet and when the jig's up, it's time to get moving. The smart sniper will have prepared traps that cover the enemy's approach, giving you a short window through which to escape and duck around the corner. Don't worry though, if you get out of sight and manage to avoid the location where you were spotted, all it takes is a little patience. After all, once the enemies have scanned your previous location and discovered that you're no longer there, they will shrug it off and resume their positions as if nothing happened. Once everything's back to normal, it's just a matter of taking up the same hiding spot you were in previously, and continuing the job of shooting the bad guys.
Now, I'm not trying to be hard on Sniper Elite V2, as this is a problem in just about every game of its kind. Of course, I understand that it's a necessary evil to have this kind of forgetful AI behaviour, otherwise the game would be frustratingly bad to play. I can't imagine it's a lot of fun to be so constantly dogged that you're unable to actually set up something tactical and satisfying. Instead, it seems that most game developers accept that their NPCs are going to be a bit stupid as a way to let the player have more fun, and for the most part, it works.
However, I think I'd like to play that frustrating game someday where NPCs are as determined and thorough as IRL people. Some games have certainly attempted to replicate this in an interesting way, with your actions causing changes in the world around you, but I have yet to play a game that nails it. At the end of the day, we're stuck with AI amnesia in stealth games for better or worse. I just wish it wasn't so obvious sometimes.
Sniper Elite V2 does a good job of landing on the better side of the spectrum when it comes to stealth games with forgetful AI. While it still suffers from the same problems, there are many ways that the game makes up for it and encourages the player to remain undiscovered at all times. It feels super satisfying when you've spent a good amount of time sneaking into an area and setting up in your sniper's nest, followed by a series of clean kills that nobody ever discovers or even suspects. This is when the game is doing its job and firing on all cylinders, and thankfully, it's more often than not.
In fact, what I really loved about Sniper Elite V2 was how the game managed to combine its location with its setting and the goals of the game. I mentioned earlier that the game takes place in a war-torn Berlin, and even though the graphics may be a bit dated by contemporary standards, the environment is one of the most interesting aspects of the game. With tight streets and destroyed buildings, the urban landscape offers many opportunities to feel like a badass sniper as you sneak through behind enemy lines. Not to mention a few notable set-piece moments that have purposely been tailor made for a sniper to feel like a total boss. All I'll say is that climbing the Brandenburg Gate and using it to spot and eliminate bad guys is one of the big highlights of the game.
I definitely struggled when I played the first Sniper Elite, simply because I got to it too late and the clunky controls and simplistic graphics didn't hold up. However, I'm pleased to say that this second entry to the franchise delivers on its premise and creates a series of fun missions and diverse opportunities for you to really explore the world of being a WWII sniper.
It may not be without its faults, but I had a fun time with Sniper Elite V2 and could barely put it down once I had started. With the fifth game in the series about to be released at time of writing, it might be worth going back and finding out why this franchise has won so many awards. Oh, and stay tuned as I have more posts coming for the 3rd and 4th Sniper Elite as well.