Sniper Elite VR: Winter Warrior is the latest entry in the fantastic Sniper Elite series and it may surprise longtime fans of the franchise with its shift away from the traditional focus on ranged combat and pixel-perfect accuracy. Instead, the best moments in this spin-off come from close combat encounters and intense cover shooting with automatic weapons.
While this shift might raise eyebrows among Sniper Elite purists, this game’s choice to not exclusively rely on stealth mechanics delivers a more unexpectedly frantic experiences, requiring players to fight tooth and nail to survive under a hail of enemy gunfire.
Sniper Elite VR: Winter Warrior is available now on the Meta Store.
I am a relative newcomer to the Meta Quest scene, having only owned a PSVR in the past; complete with PlayStation move controllers. However, I was pleasantly surprised with how quickly I got to grips with the core mechanics of the Quest control scheme thanks to my time spent with Sniper Elite VR: Winter Warrior. Thanks to the game’s intuitive control scheme, I quickly found myself expertly lobbing bottles for distractions, utilizing the rifle butt for close-quarters combat, and laying down suppressing fire while smoothly transitioning between cover like a veteran.
My biggest stumbling block lay in the form of the game’s titular scoped weapons. For a while, I struggled to keep the sight in alignment in order to pull of the perfect shot. The commitment to realistic weapon handling in virtual reality here is commendable, although it did verges on inducing some frustration.
Reloading is also a drawn out process here, demanding four separate hand movements, which takes up valuable time in the heat of a gunfight. The close proximity of the grip points on the bolt-action rifle lead to input misinterpretation more than once, resulting in a number of player deaths that could have been avoided.
Fortunately, after hours of practice, my moment of revelation finally came. The key was pulling the gun stock up to my shoulder, as though you would in real life, and resting the controller against my cheek. This motion became pivotal to both my enjoyment and survival in Sniper Elite VR: Winter Warrior.
As expected, a well-aimed rifle shot triggers the iconic camera tracking the bullet’s trajectory to the enemy’s skull. This technique may seem routine at this point for Sniper Elite veterans but transforms into an immersive, gory spectacle in VR. However, the abrupt shift in perspective during these moments does momentarily take away from an otherwise seamless virtual reality experience.
The Last Stand and Sniper Hunt modes are both welcome new additions in this game. In the latter, players take on elite German snipers, luring them out of hiding by targeting their comrades and strategically setting up traps and ambushes for the perfect shot. Whereas, Last Stand teaches survival mechanics under the threat of death, instead of encouraging the tactical creativity that the Sniper Hunt mode does.
Both modes contribute to a surprisingly lengthy campaign, given the modest price tag of just over ten dollars. The campaign includes a number of varied locations, which will have players sneaking through Italian villas in the dead of night one minute, to confronting monstrous cannons across chilly winter mornings the next. The narrative, woven by the player character known as The Partisan, adds a layer of sadness to the violent escapades, as it is told from within an empty, isolated house.
Although I never played the previous Sniper Elite VR game, for those who have, Sniper Elite VR: Winter Warrior will likely greet you like an old friend. The familiar tones of The Partisan’s voice, similar in-game menus, and gameplay that feels like a remix of its predecessor should all make you feel right at home, given how close I am told this sequel is to the original.
However, this iteration does marks a significant improvement the original Sniper Elite VR game, mostly due to the advanced hardware of the Meta Quest 3 that it is running on. More expansive levels enhance the historical escapade being shown. Players are given a variety of tasks to carry out, ranging from planting explosives in harbors, to eliminating high-ranking Nazi officers hiding out in fancy villas. Although the level design maintains a degree of linearity throughout, it does allows for some player choice in terms of taking out targets. For example, taking alternate routes can offer strategic options not available on the main path.
The mechanics of weapon storage and retrieval further amplify the immersive nature of the game. Pistols and ammunition find a home in the player’s utility belt, ensuring quick access in tight situations and rifles can be slung over the shoulder. While the weapons generally control well and feel responsive, there were a few instances where I’d try to stow weapons only to see them thrown to the floor. I also faced occurrences being unable to pick up or interact with objects unless I was in a very specific position, which isn’t exactly what you need when you have got bullets whizzing towards you from every direction.
At times, the enemy AI behavior in the game is questionable. As soon as shots are fired, guards go from patrolling diligently, to running around like headless chickens. They will crouch behind the wrong side of pieces of cover, or amusingly follow the player into confined spaces creating easy opportunities for systematic elimination. Shooting outside a mansion might draw a swarm of enemies into the yard, but firing within the confines of the lobby will fail to alert the guy in the next room. This lack of consistency becomes more apparent as you progress through the game.
The graphics in Sniper Elite VR: Winter Warrior are fine but not outstanding. While some areas do contain some appealing visuals, low-quality meshes in other areas look like something from a previous console generation. However, the sound design in the game is fantastic, with echoing gunfire and explosions reverberating inside the headset. Despite the use of music in the game being sparse, the tracks that included are effectively memorable.
In the ever-evolving gaming landscape, titles like Sniper Elite VR: Winter Warrior are indicative of a potential resurgence of the stealth genre. Along with Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed Nexus, these titles showcase the immense potential of virtual reality stealth. Even when stealth tactics fall apart, as they often did for me, enjoyment can be derived from dual-wielding MP40 machine guns and blasting your way through a Nazi encampment delivering violent retribution.
Venturing into the immersive landscapes of Sniper Elite VR: Winter Warrior feels akin to strapping on a VR headset and parachuting into a virtual wartime playground. For sniping game enthusiasts, this is a no-brainer. Even for those new to the genre though, the streamlined gameplay mechanics make this title a joy to play through. The new campaign, combined with two genuinely enjoyable new challenge modes, means that Sniper Elite VR: Winter Warrior provides a substantial amount of content for the $11 asking price. Beyond the just the fun gameplay though, this immersive sniping adventure serves as a promising advertisement for the future of VR gaming, setting a positive trajectory for the medium.
Sniper Elite VR: Winter Warrior – 8/10
Sniper Elite VR: Winter Warrior was reviewed on the Meta Quest 3 with a code supplied to FandomWire by Lick PR.
