In the landscape of the Sniper Elite series, Sniper Elite: Resistance debuts as a spin - off work in the side story of the game. Naturally, it bears the deep - seated expectations of players for the innovation and expansion of the series. However, after personal experience, its performance leaves much to be desired. Intuitively, it feels more like an unoriginal "re - mix" of Sniper Elite 5, showing faltering steps on the path of innovation and breakthrough.

The game is set in the same period as Sniper Elite 5, and its main campaign runs parallel to the "Operation Kraken" in Sniper Elite 5. The entire plot revolves around the crucial task of preventing the Nazis from developing a nerve agent named "Blütenstrauß". The new protagonist Harry Harker, whom players assume in the game, is a rough - voiced SOE agent. During approximately 10 hours of gameplay, players need to maneuver among seven large - scale sandbox maps, successively completing a series of important tasks such as finding and destroying Nazi secret super - weapons.

When it comes to gameplay, Sniper Elite: Resistance is nearly identical to Sniper Elite 5. Players still need to rely on exquisite operation to precisely control the shooting timing and skillfully use environmental noise to mask gunshots, thereby avoiding detection by enemies. Meanwhile, flexibly using props such as decoys and rat bombs to contain or eliminate enemies is also an important strategy in the game. Harry has the ability to climb vine - covered walls, enabling him to reach tactically advantageous positions, and he can also adjust and upgrade weapons at the workbench. Although the game adds a small number of new weapons such as the PIAT anti - tank launcher, overall, the freshness in gameplay is severely lacking. The iconic X - ray kill cam, which once amazed and excited players, has now caused aesthetic fatigue due to its repeated appearance in the series, making it difficult to arouse the excitement and thrill in players' hearts anymore.

At the level of level design, although there are some commendable aspects. For example, in the level of Saint - Raymond - sur - Mer in France, there is a large - scale map with a vast area. The towering church bell tower provides excellent sniping positions for players, and there is also a complex network of underground tunnels, enriching the exploration and combat space for players. However, it cannot be ignored that most levels give a sense of déjà vu. Scenes such as train stations, underground facilities, and requisitioned country villas appear frequently, and the enemies are still those familiar Nazi soldiers. The entire campaign consists of 9 chapters, and the last chapter is relatively short. The ending is similar to that of Sniper Elite 5, which can be terminated with just one shot.

The protagonist Harry Harker previously appeared as a 2P character in the cooperative mode of the series. This time, he takes on the role of the protagonist for the first time. However, he is extremely similar to the main protagonist Karl Fairburne in many aspects. Except for the beard on his face as an external difference, he does not bring any new experiences or surprises to players in terms of ability performance.

In terms of new elements, in addition to the returning co - op mode for two players and the Invasion mode, the game also innovatively introduces Propaganda Challenge Missions. In most levels, there are hidden propaganda posters of the French Resistance. After players find the posters, they can unlock corresponding challenges. These challenge levels are mainly divided into two types. One type requires players to continuously kill enemies in close - range while in a stealth state; the other type requires players to snipe enemies within a limited time at specific sniping positions. For players who prefer a slow - paced stealth gameplay, the former stealth challenges are relatively difficult and less friendly. The sniping challenges are somewhat similar to Hitman: Sniper Challenge. Prioritizing the elimination of elite enemies can obtain score bonuses, adding a certain degree of strategic depth to the game to some extent. However, these challenge missions are generally short in length, and it is relatively easy to obtain the Gold Medal. They lack sufficient replay value, and there is no Ranking Ladder in the game to motivate players to repeatedly challenge, leaving players lacking continuous motivation after completing the challenges.

In addition, the skill tree structure and skill settings of the game are exactly the same as those in Sniper Elite 5. Players hardly feel any novelty or surprise during the upgrade process. The types of enemies are still the Nazi soldiers that players have been quite familiar with since 2022. The main villains have limited screen time in the game, and their image - building is not in - depth enough, making it difficult to leave a deep impression on players. In terms of plot quality, Sniper Elite: Resistance is far inferior to Sniper Elite 5. In Sniper Elite 5, there are rich interactions between Karl and the French Resistance forces, allowing players to truly feel their deep involvement in the plot. In contrast, Sniper Elite: Resistance only relies on the voice briefings at the beginning of each level to advance the plot. The entire process lacks emotional communication and warmth, appearing rather rigid and thin.

Overall, Sniper Elite: Resistance is a work that has stagnated in innovation. Its basic gameplay experience still has a certain degree of excitement, and the newly added Propaganda Challenge Missions also show some interesting aspects. However, the core elements such as skills, enemies, and the map system almost completely copy those of the fifth generation, severely lacking innovation. For players who are new to the series, they may be able to find something worth trying. But for long - time series players, Sniper Elite 5, with its more outstanding plot, rich sandbox elements, and the same gameplay mechanism, still has a better overall experience even though it was released three years ago and is more worthy of players' choice and purchase. Undoubtedly, Sniper Elite: Resistance is a relatively solid stealth shooting game. However, regrettably, it has not successfully broken through its own limitations and reached a height that can amaze and impress players.