It’s 1945. The Germans are very close to implementing their V2 rocket program. I am behind enemy lines. I have no allies here. It’s nighttime and the only lights are from the few remaining working street lamps, some burning buildings in the distance, the occasional burst of light from a distant explosion and some tracer rounds. I spot an Nazi foot soldier. He’s close, so I put him down with a well placed shot from my Welrod pistol. Moving forward quietly, I have a clear view down a ruined city block.
A cathedral stands proudly, though charred and battered. It seems to offer a glimpse of hope. A loud ring emanates from the bell tower. I utilize the next precious seconds to fire a shot at a perimeter guard from my rifle. The sound of my gun is drowned out by the ringing. Another bell strike, another shot. This time, the camera follows the bullet all the way to its target, another foot soldier’s helmeted head. I see his wounded skeletal structure as the bullet passes through, and exits flattened and bent from the impact.
A glint from a scope high on the cathedral signals danger. I take a shot to my shoulder and take cover behind a destroyed automobile. I peek out, and just as the glint signals another shot from my enemy, I fire. The bullet travels 200 meters, soaring through smoke and fog to find it’s victims chest. My name is Karl Fairburne, and I am a sniper.
If the above doesn’t appeal to you, you are not the target demographic for Sniper Elite V2. SEV2 is a WWII sniper simulator with a story to string together what amounts to a series of moments. Moments including slow motion closeups of peoples eye balls getting shot out, vital organs becoming punctured, and vehicles, including tanks, meeting a fiery end because you shot the gas cap (magic explosion button).
Graphics
Easily an improvement on the original Sniper Elite’s graphics, V2’s visuals leave a little to be desired from gamers spoiled by Call of Duty’s frame rates, and Gears of War’s textures and rendering tricks. Still, they hold up to the average game graphics with smooth frame rates and servicable textures and models.
Beyond the slick use of x-ray vision and slow motion effects, there aren’t any wow moments visually, but the graphics don’t ever get in the way. In fact, the well designed, delapidated structures and rubble-strewn streets capture the look of a city ravaged by the battles of weeks past.
Sound
This is a mixed bag. I found the gun sounds to be good. The audio in the slo-mo sections is very cool with a drawn out “Ckuuuuuu” when the gun fires. The dramatic sounds that follow the bullet and the “plink” as the bullet hits helmet, sometimes twice (front and back), and sometimes multiple helmets in a row, is very immersive.
These sounds helped me to feel remorse from my actions like, “Sorry video game dude!”
The voices of enemies seemed authentic (I don’t speak any foreign languages), but the narration was inconsistent, alternating between different pronounciations of the same German name. Plus, the all too familiar gruff, macho, more-manly-than-you tone is overused, but mostly inoffensive.
Echos sounded phoney, and my “silenced” pistol sounded louder than many of the other non-silenced weapons in the game. Though the enemy never heard it, I can’t figure out why.
Gameplay
This is what matters most. Honestly, if the characters where low resolution 3d models in a cardboard town, it would still be thrilling to take those long distance shots and hope you have accounted for your elevation and windage correctly.
Crawling around rubble and ducking behind low walls, always very aware of how deadly my own discovery could be, and pulling off those “I can’t believe I did that” type of shots kept drawing me deeper in.
There are no vehicles to man, but there are several sniper rifles that you can unlock as you play through the campaign.
The framerate stayed consistantly smooth and the controls were very responsive. Rebellion knows how important a good “feel” is to a shooter of this variety, and they nailed it.
Multiplayer
Co-op is online only, despite the box detailing that the game is 1-2 players on the system. This is a disappointment for those who played the first Sniper Elite, and wanted to kick butt cooperatively in high def.
There is a single player challenge mode that pitts you against waves of enemies a la Horde Mode from Gears of War. I enjoyed it for a short while, but without the ability to share in that experience with a friend in split screen, that mode will see no more action from this player.
Game Over
As a single player niche shooter, Sniper Elite V2 stands tall and proud, overcoming some lame voice acting and average graphics with solid long range gunplay. SE:V2 delivers a unique experience to this generation of gaming hardware.
More co-op options would have helped. Maybe V3??
Four out of Five
Get Sniper Elite V2 here:
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