Insert Coheed joke here…
It has only been six years since the original release of Sniper Elite V2. It seems nowadays that games come back quicker than they ever have. So many titles from the 360/PS3 era are getting new coats of paint and being introduced to a new generation of consoles. Sniper Elite V2 was a pioneer in its time. It was basically a rework of the first game, but it laid the groundwork for what the series would become. Introducing the slow-motion sniper cam that still makes me cringe every time I pull it off, sets the gimmick for the franchise that is still kicking to this day.
The hook of Sniper Elite has become the slow-motion shots and bullet physics. V2 was the first game to really emphasize this. This iteration feels more linear than its follow-ups, with levels designed for players to bunker down in one spot and take out enemies from afar. The game introduces scenarios that really showcase how much the sniping plays a part of the puzzles. Examples like shooting the fuel canisters on a tank come to mind. It is a neat way to expand on the shooting.
MSRP: $34.99
Platforms: XB1 (reviewed), PS4, Switch, PC
Price I’d Pay: $29.99
Sniping takes the lead role, but there are other guns and gadgets to play with. The other guns include standard firearms and machine guns. Unfortunately they never feel as good or are as effective as the sniper rifle itself. They are designed to be used in case you find yourself in a close encounter. They are meant to pepper enemies and not necessarily taking out enemies with. The gadgets are neat because they can be used for protection or distraction. I could toss rocks to distract enemies, or set up trip mines at the location of my sniper position to know if someone was sneaking up on me.
What I loved about V2 was its approach to difficulty. For purists it has professional difficulties that take things like bullet drop into account, which makes landing some of the harder shots more challenging. For those like me that are terrible at that sort of thing though that can be turned off to where I point my crosshairs, that is where the bullet goes. Nothing is as satisfying as triggering the slow motion as soon as the bullet leaves the chamber though. It really is visceral to see enemies taken down in grotesque ways. There are plenty of animations as well, and some lucky shots even bounce through multiple enemies. It is fantastic and still satisfying.
Multiplayer also plays a large role in V2. This was a game that launched at the height of everything needing a PVP mode. More importantly though it has co-op modes, and even the main campaign can be played with a friend. It is a nice addition and one that makes jumping back in so much easier. Nothing better than timing shots together and watching the glorious carnage unfold.
The remaster portion looks good. The levels and characters have received some nice texture work and the resolution has been updated. The game still has some drab colors spread throughout, but it works for the time. Rebellion has even gone back and added a photo mode with all the usual bells and whistles. This is a nice package of one of the better sniper games ever made.
Sniper Elite V2 Remastered is a nice throwback in the series. While it is more linear than its follow-ups it still packs a visceral punch worth checking out. For those that exhausted the original it might be a tougher sell, but for anyone that passed it up the first time around it is definitely worth a look. Those slow-motion shots still never get old, even to this day.
Review copy of game provided by publisher.
