Sniper Elite V2 Remastered – Nintendo Switch

Developed By : Rebellion
Published By : RebellionInteract
Category : Action, Adventure
Release Date : May 14, 2019

The ‘Remaster’ treatment

Released in 2012 to fairly warm applause, Sniper Elite V2 was the sequel to the original Sniper Elite which came some seven years prior. Developed and published by Rebellion Developments, it was available on all major home consoles including the Xbox 360 and PS3. Fast forward another seven years, and Sniper Elite V2 has received the remaster treatment. In doing so, this third-person tactical shooter finds itself on the Nintendo eStore. Question is, is it a welcome return, or one to leave to history?

Set during World War II, Sniper Elite V2 Remastered places you in the shoes of Lieutenant Karl Fairburne, an American sniper who is dropped into Berlin to uncover some of the key events and assassinating the chosen targets. The story is told through updates during the loading screens, available at the start of each mission. Voice acted and in-depth, it served to set the scene and was an intuitive way to showcase the history. Throughout the missions, updates are then provided through in-game cutscenes. It is all done very well, allowing for the information to be threaded throughout without detracting from the action: sniping!

Skilled, long-range and successful…

Whilst it wasn’t initially clear to me when this game was announced, it took a short minute to work out exactly why this title has been remastered. Best described as a tactical shooter, Sniper Elite V2 Remastered encourages stealth and rewards long-range sniping efforts. Utilising the signature ‘X-Ray Kill Cam’, the developers have made the process of taking your enemies out immensely satisfying. It was during these moments that I realised the beauty of this title, and, whilst it may have its shortcomings, it has enough personality and ingenuity to warrant a fresh attempt at success.

The aforementioned ‘X Ray Kill Cam’ is a touch of class, and one worthy of a mention here. If a skilled, long-range shot successfully hits its target, the game will revert to slow-motion as it follows the bullet from the barrel of the gun to the enemy. Once there, an x-ray model of the victim is displayed and the bullet makes its mark, sound effects and blood galore. It never once got old, and it inadvertently encouraged me to take an approach that doesn’t come naturally to me – stealth.

Not only did the x-ray vision prove to never get old, but the opportunity to sneak up on opponents and find spots to remain undercover was equally as enjoyable. I spent the vast majority of the game incognito, and whenever my cover was blown, it wasn’t long before I was hidden from sight again. The game informs you of this by leaving an outline of you in white at your last known location to the enemy – an excellent inclusion.

Team Dog Tag Harvest

The majority of my time with Sniper Elite V2 Remastered was spent in the campaign, and across the ten or so missions, I visited a number of locations and encountered a variety of enemies. Each mission took approximately 20 minutes or so, and whilst the length of each of the missions was excellent, I found myself wanting more when I shot my last victim. Of course, this is a compliment for this Rebellion Development remaster, and fortunately, the development team have included DLC from the original release with this title. There are optional extras available including four challenge mode levels and Kill Tally: a mode that tallies your total kills as waves of enemies descend upon you.

As well as this, Sniper Elite V2 Remastered comes loaded with a number of multiplayer options, offering ample reason to revisit. There is local and online co-op, whereby you can complete the campaign with a friend, or access the other three game options: Kill Tally, Bombing Run, and Overwatch.

Bombing Run: A game mode where you must search an environment for an objective and then escape before the area is bombed.

Overwatch: This one allows two players to take on two different roles: one as a sniper, and the other as the short-range combat operative. The sniper provides cover as the other completes an objective.

As well as these game modes, there are also a further seven online multiplayer options including Team Deathmatch, Capture the Flag and Distance King. For those who enjoy a spot of multiplayer, there is more than enough here to get your teeth in to. Although the online community is small at present, I was able to enjoy a game or two. The experience was smooth and responsive, and my only issue was that I am not as good against human opponents as I am with AI ones.

Moments of pure beauty

Now, we can’t talk remaster without considering the graphical quality. Naturally, the two go hand-in-hand and with every remaster that graces the Nintendo Switch console, expectations get higher and higher. Personally, I would consider Sniper Elite V2 Remastered to be a solid remaster. There are moments of pure beauty, especially during the ‘X-Ray Kill Cam’, which is countered with moments that are particularly average. It looks better docked when compared to handheld, however both are functional and a joy to experience.

In terms of how well it runs, there are very little complaints. The game shows its age on occasion, just due to how the game was designed back in 2012. The most notable issue is the smoothness with which the protagonist moves into and out of cover: I am used to this being a lot smoother due to more recent releases. That being said, it is a very enjoyable experience that reminds us once again of the versatility and scope of the Nintendo Switch.

Conclusion

Sniper Elite V2 Remastered is the remastered port I never knew I wanted, and I am grateful that the developers chose to bring it to our beloved console. It is currently filling a void in the eShop listings and doesn’t look as if it is going to be rivalled any time soon. For anyone wanting a third-person tactical shooter to play on Nintendo, this is currently the one to play.