Sniper Elite 5 Reviews
Sniper Elite 5 is an excellent step forward for the franchise bringing vast environments that are filled with unique challenges to tackle.
The sniping in Sniper Elite 5 is still as gruesomely satisfying as in previous games, but various aspects of the game’s design actively take the spotlight away from it, making for a clunky and frustrating shooter.
There is added depth and complexity to this title that elevates the experience above the solid game that went before it. Too many series continuations just recycle the same old tropes but in this instance, I can gladly state that this is not the case at all. If you are a fan of Sniper Elite 4 you will certainly enjoy playing this game. Available to play from day one via Xbox Game Pass, this is not (in my opinion) an experience that you can afford to miss.
Rebellion Games has been quietly refining this formula for 10 years. The studio found an enthusiastic audience, among whom are other writers at this very site. You already likely know if you are interested in Sniper Elite 5.
Sniper Elite 5 does not disappoint. The newest entry in the series introduces customizable weapons, new gadgets, ammo types, and an improved kill cam.
Sniper Elite 5 already aims low by being only a small improvement upon its underwhelming predecessor, but it still manages to fall short of its target.
Sniper Elite 5 does what the series does best: letting you kill Nazis with unrelenting fury. You can be as strategic or guns-blazing as you’d like, and the number of options will have players coming back for more quite often.
You would think that being on the fifth mainline title (with four Dead Army spinoffs) that the series would have grown tiring, yet here I am, still impressed and still having fun. It’s core remain unchanged, sure, but the saying of, “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it” holds very true here, and what Rebellion delivers on, not only keeps the fundamentals of what made the franchise so great, but also keeps it in a way where they’re able to expand on it without losing its identity. While the semi-open world does have some faults, it was an appropriate step for the series to take, one that I cannot wait to see unfold further into the future.
If you are new to the Sniper Elite franchise, or a veteran of this long-running series. Then I recommend checking the title out at some point this summer. While the story and overall polish are a little rough around the edges, the gameplay loop is rewarding and has a ton of variety. Bloody x-ray-soaked action combined with a great drop-in drop-out co-op experience, plus a unique twist on the PVP experience. Sniper Elite 5 feels like it has expanded the series in a new and bold direction.
Stellar level design and refined gameplay mechanics firmly establish Sniper Elite 5 among the stealth action classics such as Hitman and Splinter Cell.
Broadly, however, Sniper Elite 5 is outstanding – it’s easily the best game in the series and offers a rich, rewarding and replayable adventure which can be as easy or as challenging as you like. The levels are well-crafted and detailed, the payoff when a shot or trap comes together is extremely high, and the ability to play from “the other side” is a welcome feature too.
Sniper Elite 5 falls short of its primary influence, but it also falls within its own merits. Its restricted level design, weak features, and perplexing A.I. make it a terrible stealth game only momentarily improved by its repetitive sniper tactics. Sniper Elite's essential components of tact and stealth remain, but the game's balancing flaws have been addressed, allowing players to concentrate on the game's primary appeal: enjoyment. Fun exists in the game, but it's not where you want it.
Sniper Elite 5 is a perfect example of a game that is just good. There are no real glitches or screen tearing and the game plays really well on the PS5. The graphics look fine, even if the character designs are a little questionable. The problem arises with the game becoming predictable and boring. However, the devs saw this coming – hence half the game being online. So even though playing through the campaign with a friend is fun, it’s not worth the price, in my opinion.
Over the years, Rebellion have been the target of a lot of glib claims that they have merely “made the same game over and over” with Sniper Elite. While it’s true that the studio has never thoroughly overhauled their formula, the series has consistently improved with each instalment. With Sniper Elite 5, these enhancements are truly stacking up and Rebellion’s passion and experience shines through. While its thin story and demand for patience mean that it isn’t for everyone, this is an enthralling fifth entry in a series that has continued success firmly in its sights.
Sniper Elite 5 successfully builds on the foundations of Rebellion's long running series, but some glitches do hamper the experience somewhat.
Sniper Elite 5 is definitely the best of a series that continues to grow with each installment. I’m happy to say that this one has some of the most meaningful updates to its formula to date. The heavy focus on more involved maps, and gameplay freedom within them is a breath of fresh air and exactly what this series needs.
Sniper Elite 5 is the latest installment from the team over at Rebellion. Set in Nazi-occupied France and taking place just before the events of D-Day, you once again play as Karl Fairburne, where he finds himself sneaking past the Atlantic Wall to rendezvous with the French Resistance. Sniper Elite 5 is easily the best entry in the series. Hats off to the team over at Rebellion for sticking to what works and building on an already amazing and fun franchise. If you’re a Sniper Elite fan, this latest entry won’t disappoint.
Sniper Elite 5 opts for refinement over reinvention, and that’s absolutely fine when the building blocks of its predecessor were already stellar. Its tense sniping action and massive sandboxes are best in class for the series, allowing for creativity and player agency in a way that so few action games do. If you can overlook a narrative that suffers from fatigue due to its subject matter and the somewhat clumsy way in which Karl interacts with his surroundings, then Sniper Elite 5 and its open-ended approach to gameplay provide a stunning, experimental sandbox that you will likely find yourself returning to again and again.
After four Sniper Elites and four Zombie Army games, Rebellion decided it wasn’t quite done having us kill Nazis. With the new setting in France, the open map exploration, and new invasion mode, Sniper Elite 5 aims to keep things fresh for a nearly two-decade old franchise.
Sniper Elite is a fun game if you play in coop. Alone you will really challenge yourself, and quickly notice the game was meant to be played with a partner. It looks good, but could have been better. The x-ray shots keep on being really cool and during the nine hours the game lasts, you will not get bored easily.
Review in Dutch | Read full review