Sniper Elite: Resistance Review (XSX) – Familiar But No Less Fun

Sniper Elite: Resistance is the upcoming release from Rebellion and is a spin-off from the acclaimed Sniper Elite franchise. The question is does it evolve the formula or stick with the series’ familiar gameplay loop? Let’s talk about it.

Game Name: Sniper Elite: Resistance
Platform(s): PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S (reviewed), and PC (tested)
Developer(s): Rebellion Developments, Wushu Studio
Publisher(s): Rebellion
Release Date: 30th January 2025 (2-days early access available on 28th January)

Before I get to Sniper Elite: Resistance, it’s important to keep in mind that this game is a spin-off of the Sniper Elite games, but runs parallel to the events of Sniper Elite 5. So if you have or haven’t then your mileage with Resistance will be completely different.

For those who have played Sniper Elite games before, Sniper Elite: Resistance will be a very familiar experience. You’ll play through a series of missions with multiple objectives. From assassinations and collecting intel to destroying enemy equipment and more. Similar to the prior titles you will have access to multiple weapons and gear at your disposal. With tools to find throughout the levels to help you access different areas.

Throughout my playthrough, it seemed like all of the weapons and equipment were exactly the same as those in Sniper Elite 5. This meant that I was immediately at ease with the game’s core mechanics. Guns and tools all feel the same to use as in the previous game. Even the series’ legendary X-ray kill cam returns, being just as satisfying as before.

There are some changes in Sniper Elite: Resistance. Firstly, the game has a new protagonist Harry Hawker, who takes up this role for the first time despite appearing in the franchise previously. The plot sees him aiding the French resistance in a story that runs parallel to the events of Sniper Elite 5. Secondly, with the inclusion of the French resistance, comes the addition of brand new propaganda missions. To unlock these missions you must find a propaganda poster, which can be discovered throughout the main campaign.

Once unlocked you can access these propaganda missions through a separate menu. They put you in control of a resistance member while taking on various time-based challenges. These challenges can be focused on stealth, sniping or combat. I enjoyed playing these challenges as they felt like a bigger test of my skills. That said, I’m not sure if I would play them more than a few times each, as they are quite similar.

Unfortunately, outside of the co-op campaign, during this review period, we were unable to test the Sniper Elite Resistance’s various multiplayer modes. What I can say is that the modes on offer look to be identical to those found in Sniper Elite 5. With the invasion, traditional multiplayer, and survival modes all present. We plan to test the multiplayer modes once more people have the game and we’ll add a section discussing it below.

The Good

For now, Sniper Elite: Resistance is a game that I very much enjoyed due to its sandbox levels, and freedom of approach that never seems to get old. Especially when you can experience the entire campaign with a friend. Its lack of difference from previous titles is both positive and negative. On one hand, it gives an instant sense of familiarity which allows you to concentrate on enjoying the gameplay. Mechanically nothing has changed since Sniper Elite 5 but it remains just as fun, particularly in co-op with a friend. It helps that the game runs extremely well in terms of framerates on both Xbox Series X and PC.

The Bad

On the other hand, this lack of evolution can leave the game feeling more like a DLC than a standalone experience. Although Sniper Elite: Resistance lags behind Sniper Elite 5 in one key area. The presentation seems to have taken a step backward, especially with the character models. Unfortunately, this is very noticeable in every cutscene and detracts significantly from the experience. I often found myself laughing at moments that were supposed to be serious due to these Xbox 360 era-looking characters. I wish I could say that the voice acting was better! However, it suffers from what I can only describe as B-movie budget limitations, with Harry Hawker often feeling like a cheap imitation of Jason Statham.

In gameplay, I also encountered a number of bugs that hampered the experience. From falling through the map to being able to run through closed doors and more. These bugs are an even bigger annoyance given the very stable framerates.

The Verdict

If you’ve played Sniper Elite before then it’s all but guaranteed that you will enjoy at least the core gameplay experience. The campaign is fun and the propaganda missions add some replay value. However, the lack of evolution from prior titles mechanically combined with a regression in elements of the presentation, make Sniper Elite: Resistance a less enjoyable experience than the latest mainline entry in this beloved franchise.

Sniper Elite: Resistance will be released for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC (Steam, Epic Games Store) on January 30th, 2025. It is also available on day one on Gamepass.

Review Disclosure Statement: Sniper Elite: Resistance was provided to us by Rebellion for review purposes. For more information on how we review video games and other media/technology, please review our Review Guideline/Scoring Policy.

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