Sniping requires stealth. Despite incredible enemy AI. City interactive did a decent job recreating sniping in games.
Too start I do want to say this game is under-appreciated by the general public. Despite City Interactives low budget they did a good job with this game. For $40 it is great. You have to remember off the top, that this is not a run and gun shooter. This is slow moving. So if you purchase this and think it is, you better take it right back or sell it. You are not a sniper in COD because that isn't real sniping. You cant run around a map destroying everyone you see doing quick scopes etc. Sadly life isn't like that or I would go to war and be a super soldier. This game isn't fully realistic because if it was you would sit there for 10+ hour waiting to maybe not even shoot anyone. However it does do a decent job at mimicking a bit sniping aspects.
Graphics: 8
Good from a far. Cut-scenes could be better.
Story: 6.5
Average sniper movie story. You are sent to kill someone. Something goes wrong. Hunt him down! Don't be so predictable, but I am glad you didn't take the government betrayal route. How many times can something go wrong?
Game-play:7
Sniping is excellent on hard mode minus the AI's ridiculousness. Do not be seen! You will die. The game is about stealth and reconnaissance, so use them to your advantage. Sometimes it wont work and that's just the low budget game-play. AI on your team is kind of choppy in the sense they glitch a bit. Remember you objective isn't to shoot the living hell out of everything you see. You can leave targets, sometimes you will have to.
The assault missions are run of the mill and lack quality. You are buying this game for the sniping though. I could honestly do without the assault and have more sniper mission, example: traps and stuff you could set. I think weapon classes/ different, weapon layouts, more guns, customizable guns and ghillies etc would be a great improvement to the overall game.
Sound: 7
Good. I like hearing people sneeze. Could have a bit more areas of work.
Multiplayer: 7.5
Super fun. Maybe some more maps and game modes?
Sniper Synergistics: 7
On difficult you get the full experience. Maybe something to tell you how camouflage you have(in real life this is easy to know. In game not so much.) Measuring for wind and gravity is fun. Let me find my targets and mark them myself. I would also like to see some spotter work, with my partner telling me where to notch up the bullet if I miss. Etc. Training on difficult to know exactly where to shoot, how to compensate etc, would be nice. (That would take hours though) but I still would like to see more done with the spotter. A lot of times today is sniper teams will have 3 people. A Sniper, Spotter, and a Rifleman in case. I will say they fail at a lot of the actual sniper side of this game (What actual snipers do) which is a problem considering this game is supposed to be only about snipers.
Overall: 7
This game brings me back to the days of sniper elite! Although a low budget, city interactive has done a great job and the sniper kills are satisfying. You have to remember this is not Call of Duty or Halo or anything like those games. If I was to compare it to something. Hitman or Splinter Cell would be the best way to describe it. Take your Time, plan your escape, plan your attack, remember the AI is ridiculous, so dont get mad at it when you die sometimes( it may not be your fault), remember it is low budget. Use stealth and take the one shot, one kill approach. Kill only those necessary to the mission. You are an Elite Sniper. Not a balls to the wall Willie with gun-hoe mania. You have a purpose and something to strive for, you are not just another soldier with nothing to live for.
There are definitely areas for improvement with the right size budget. I would love to see another try at this but this will satisfy my sniping desire for now, this and Sniper Elite anyways. I love the game, I love the $40(CDN) price tag. I love the bullet cam, I love being a Marksman. I will say though it is not true to real sniping. They fail a lot.
Buy it. (If you like this type of game)
Thanks,
SniperViper