Sniper Elite Resistance First Impressions

Ninetoes plays video games, too! So what does he think about SNIPER ELITE RESISTANCE?

TITLE: Sniper Elite: Resistance

STUDIO: Rebellion and Wushu

FORMAT: Xbox X

I am a huge fan of the SNIPER ELITE franchise. Any game where you get to kill nazis and see the x-ray of your bullet doing damage on the way through that particular body part has my vote. I have played the five previous games and enjoyed them all. On January 31, 2025, the newest entry into the franchise was released (if you have Xbox Game Pass, you can play for free), and I have spent a few hours* in the game. Here are my first impressions.

For starters, you are NOT playing Karl Fairburne, the hero from the previous five installments. Now, you are playing Harry Hawker and from the get-go, the voice is very different. This time, the character sounds like actor Jason Statham, but it is voice actor Klemens Koehring. Get used to a heavy British accent.

I started in the mid-range for difficulty since I am familiar with the games. There is no “Tutorial Mission”, you are thrown into it and cross your fingers that you know what you are doing. There is a tutorial section in the pause screen. Thankfully, the control scheme is very similar to Sniper Elite 5.

I do not know how it is possible, but the “X-ray Kill Camera” that comes up for long-distance shots is even more graphic. This does not bother me. I WANT to see how much damage I am doing to the nazi bastards, and this is very satisfying. At one point, I got a special achievement for shooting a nazi in his crotch, got to see the bullet pass through and destroy his testicles. The achievement was called “Das Nuts”, and I had to pause the game due to my laughing outburst.

The graphics are a mix of last generation and this generation. They are well rendered, but some of Hawker’s actions appear a bit dated and comical (such as scaling a pipe or jumping from one ledge to another while shimmying across), on the whole, it is not enough to totally detract from the enjoyment of the game.

I plan to continue playing Sniper Elite: Resistance. I will eventually buy it, but it has to go on sale for that to happen. It is a good game, but not good enough for me to plunk down $90 for the expanded version.

*Yes, the playability is good enough for you to lose time while on the hunt.

Darren “Ninetoes” Perdue is a book and media reviewer. When he is not reading, he is watching true crime shows, cooking for his family, or working on a plan for universal domination. If you see him on his porch, say hi. He does not bite…much.