Sniper Elite III Reviews
It's not a perfect game, and there are a couple of small issues. But they really are small. I had two CTDs, and a few instances of Sniper Elite 3 freezing up for about fifteen seconds during the bullet cam. Once, I seemed to be unable to relocate, with the attention marker stuck on my player, despite the fact that I fled into a series of empty underground tunnels. The game relies perhaps a little too heavily on the 'OMG' tactic of dropping a tank into a level as a mandatory boss fight. But for everything that Rebellion has got right here, these are minor flaws. Sniper Elite III is so enjoyable because it's a stealth game done right.
More than just a showcase for slow-motion gore, Sniper Elite III shines for its open-ended approach to stealth.
Sniper Elite 3 is the best example of its genre, full stop. A fantastic sharpshooting experience is interspersed with more considered, more competent stealth and action, and the array of tools and tricks available to Karl Fairburne is impressive indeed. While you're not often able to go for broke and "play your own way", there are enough routes through missions and enough open ground to really use the environment to your advantage. Overall, Sniper Elite 3 is a solid shooter that improves on everything that was good about Sniper Elite V2 and ditches most – though perhaps not all – of the bad. This should go down as a genuine triumph for Rebellion.
A skull full of content waiting for you to blow it to pieces with a well-placed shot.
Perhaps a little short and a touch too narrow, but Sniper Elite 3 pretty much gives you a huge Nazi-filled playground, a sniper rifle, a satchel of explosives, and then waves its hand and lets you sort it out your own way. Which, really, is pretty much exactly what I was hoping for.
Sniper Elite 3 treads that fine line between realism and fun, but it comes together well, providing cheap kicks for those who enjoy over-the-top sniper kills, and a modicum of tactical depth for players looking for something more substantial.
Sniper Elite III is a third-person action game with a heavy emphasis on stealth action and sniping. Thankfully the levels are large and the player always feels in control, even in the frequent indoor portions. Gamers looking to run and gun will be disappointed, but everybody else will get a kick out of this solid World War II shooter.
"Sniper Elite 3" isn't trying to be a groundbreaking display of social commentary. It's not begging to be analyzed. It's shooting Nazis in the most violent way possible. That's what it set out to do, and that's what it accomplished. It's not the most polished experience, but it should be a bullseye for fans of the stealth and sniping genre.
At the end of the day, is Sniper Elite III going to end up on my Top 5 list for the best games of 2014? Not likely. What I will say however is that in spite of its lack of ambition on the narrative side of things, it serves as a pretty meat-and-potatoes action game that does one thing really well…and sometimes that's enough.
Sniper Elite 3 provides a unique take on an overpopulated time period, in an overpopulated genre, but still manages to stand out. Utterly enjoyable, and customizable if you are not one for the X-Ray kill-cam, Sniper Elite 3 manages to make the carnage of killing something more about a means to an end. While the story may leave wanting, the experience within, and the collectible content, is enough to call Sniper Elite 3 a definitive step forward, and one we hope continues for Rebellion and 505.
Once again, Sniper Elite proves to be a really fun and engaging game, despite its numerous bugs at launch. If you can stomach the issues, there's a lot of enjoyment to be had, but Rebellion really needs to tighten up their QA problems, and maybe then they can focus on an all around more robust entry next time.
A WWII shooter with a difference… stealth and slow-mo kills… in Africa
This, finally, feels like a game which knows how to play to its strengths and minimise its weaknesses. Anyone who enjoys a good tactical shooter, especially those with an affinity for the long-range kill, would do well to check it out.
A huge improvement over the fun but flawed 'Sniper Elite' and 'Sniper Elite V2,' 'Sniper Elite III' is a welcome breath of fresh-air in the series and the WWII game genre. The trip to North Africa gives players environments unfamiliar and exciting, while the open-world approach to missions makes sure there's not just one right way to get things done. There's still a good deal of improvement left possible for the series, but the replay value of this outing, including the understated multiplayer system makes this a game worth checking out.
The Sniper Elite series is steadfastly ploughing its own furrow in a marketplace primarily dominated by the likes of Battlefield and Call of Duty. While it's unlikely to match either of those titans in terms of sales, it does offer an experience different enough for regular shooter fans to justify a purchase. As a PR exercise for anybody who has regularly played online shooters and may still have unresolved anger issues directed at snipers, Rebellion has made a strong statement with Sniper Elite III and as a form a therapy it proves to be both beneficial and effective.
Sniper Elite 3 is still a better sniping game than a stealth game, but at least the series has finally managed to create a fair balance between the two schools of gameplay.
Sniper Elite 3 definitely improves the rare but rewarding genre of open-world sniping. Being thoughtful about each shot instills a sense of companionship with your rifle, and we definitely felt an unexpected bond with our terrifying tool of death. Everything involving firing that rifle is fun, it's just too bad the other elements in the game aren't as impactful.
At the end of the day Sniper Elite III is a pretty good game. From large game levels and lots of extra tasks to that non-linear approach to how you can complete said tasks and the ability to play the whole campaign cooperatively, there really is a lot to like. Let's not forget that the gruesome, but cool kill-cam is back too! Sure, the AI can be unpredictable and a bit wonky at times, the competitive online is not that busy, the story can be cliché and there is the odd visual glitch, but in the end it's not enough to overtake all the good. Many people should find a lot to like here, and fans of the previous two games can come back knowing there is still a lot to enjoy.
I'm glad that I played Sniper Elite V2 as it gave me a deep appreciation for all of the things Rebellion has brought to the table for the sequel. With expanded set pieces, better sniping mechanics, and an even more visceral look into what happens when bullet impacts blood and bone, they really have nailed that aspect of their product. While the AI may be dumb as a post, scoring a long distance headshot without the aim assist reticule and slow motion feels like you've accomplished the impossible time and time again. For the few things that aren't quite up to snuff, Sniper Elite III gets a whole lot right.
While not without its flaws, Sniper Elite 3 remains a compelling, tactically-rewarding shooter that fans of the genre would do well to snap up asap.