SNIPER ELITE 4

IN all the war games out there (and there’s been a lot) one of the most satisfying parts of a mission is when you get to snipe at the enemy from a few hundred yards away.

Having never played any of the previous Sniper Elite games, I found myself wondering why this genius idea for a game never crossed my path before.

Sniper Elite 4 sounds great and looks amazing. Whether it’s the sprawling vineyard or some derelict docks, each place you come across looks better than the last.

The 10 hours you will spend traversing the Italian landscape will be more than enjoyable.

There’s also a “kill-cam” which jumps straight to an X-ray view of your bullet or blade hitting the target.

The game is set in 1943 Italy and players take on the role of sniper Karl Fairburne once again while he hunts down the Nazis’ plans for a radio-guided missile.

You must infiltrate enemy buildings and terminate key personnel before the cavalry arrives.

There is always a window, mountain or rooftop to exploit so be on the lookout.

But the map app is not very specific and you may find yourself wandering about as you are not told on which level your target is.

Improved enemy AI sees your foes try to figure out your location when they hear a shot so best to keep on the move from pillar to post – literally – if you want to stay alive and not be flanked by the rest of the enemy squadron.

If you fire your gun normally without the sound cover of the plane overhead or the distant gunfire then you get spotted.

I did this more than using the stealth mode which allows you to stay hidden and sneak up on the bad guys and take them out silently. I don’t do stealth.

The gameplay itself is rewarding if a little repetitive but if you buy a game called Sniper Elite then you should pretty much know what you are in for.

STEPHEN McKEOWN