Sniper Elite 3 is the story of one bullet's journey from rifle to chest cavity, told hundreds of times over. From the arc of the bullet's trajectory to the way it severs a lung in half in gruesome, slow-motion detail, every single, well-calculated shot feels like it has the power to change the course of history. It's a shame, then, that the rest of the game doesn't feel as polished.
Much more methodical than most modern military shooters, Sniper Elite 3 puts a greater emphasis on stealth--if you play it like Call of Duty, you will run out of ammo and end up getting shot to pieces. Levels are open, featuring multiple paths, choke points, hidden passages, and numerous perches to rain down precision death from above. I actually got hints of the Hitman series as I played--while not as diverse as those classic stealth games, Sniper Elite 3 gives you plenty of avenues to attempt different strategies, without funneling you down linear corridors.
If the actual act of sniping wasn’t satisfying, we might as well just cut this review short and call it a day. Luckily, Rebellion has put a lot of effort into the art of the kill shot. While not as realistic as it could be, Sniper Elite 3 forces you to take numerous variables into consideration. Things like hit location, breathing, environmental sounds, distance and bullet drop--and on harder difficulties, even wind--must be noted and shots must be lined up accordingly. Aim assisting reticules help (unless you turn them off), but pulling off an expert shot from half a mile away while masking it with the sound of a low-flying airplane always feels gratifying, even with this little bit of modern convenience.
While the eight mission campaign is the main draw here, there are a number of multiplayer modes to keep you occupied after you’ve demolished a decent chunk of the Axis forces. Competitive multiplayer is fairly standard, with a few distance-based twists on the typical deathmatch mode. Co-op, however, not only lets you play through the entire campaign with a buddy, but also features a mode which sees one player providing overwatch for the other on the battlefield. These modes won’t set the world on fire, but if you’re dying for more action, you’re not lacking for options.
And then there’s the kill-cam—Sniper Elite’s signature move, and your reward for nailing these ‘impossible’ shots. The game slows to a halt as the camera follows the trail of your .30 caliber bullet right into the surprisingly fragile skull of your target, fetishistically showing--in excruciating detail--your foe’s brainmeats as they separate themselves from his person. Lungs, liver, intestines--and yes, even testicles--are given the x-ray treatment each time a shot hits a vital organ. It’s disturbing--yet grotesquely satisfying--the first few times this happens. By the third mission, it’s already worn out its welcome, becoming not a sick bonus for a shot well taken, but rather a nuisance to sit through until you regain control. The moment I figured out how to skip these became a bright spot during my time with the game.
It’s not all sniping, though--and when things get hairy, you’ll be happy to know that you can hold your own. Land mines and dynamite can be set as traps to take down roving vehicles or protect a sniper’s nest from imminent attack, and pistols and automatic rifles can keep you alive when things get a little too close for comfort. Using these secondary weapons never feels as fluid or natural as the sniper rifle, but rather than being a detriment, it actually keeps you focused on staying quiet, only using them as a last resort. And if you do go loud, you can use sound to your advantage, as guards will swarm around the last place they remember hearing or seeing you. Combined with the open maps, you are given plenty of tools to stalk your prey, and respond accordingly if things go south.