Developer: Rebellion, Just Add Water & Coatsink
Publisher: Rebellion
ReleaseDate: 8th July 2021
Platforms: Oculus Quest 2, Steam and PSVR
Reviewed on: Oculus Quest 2
Ever since Sniper Elite VR was announced back in 2019 I had been eagerly anticipating the game’s release. In truth, I can’t think of a shooter franchise I would prefer to see given the headset treatment. The icing on the cake was the announcement that the title would also be coming to the super impressive Oculus Quest 2, which alleviated my concern about having to use the PlayStation Move controllers.
STORY
Series protagonist Karl Fairburne takes a back seat in this side story. Instead, you are cast as an Italian resistance fighter who narrates in between missions. To say the story is nothing to write home about would be an understatement, and there are definite pacing issues and abrupt story beats, but I appreciate the effort nonetheless. Clocking in around 6 hours, it was certainly a bigger experience than I expected going in.
GRAPHICS & PERFORMANCE
Graphically, my first impressions were not good. As the first mission loaded I panned over to the right-hand side and noticed a pile of rubble. Or to be more specific, an area at a 45° angle with a jpg picture of rubble pasted onto it. Areas like this are rare though, and while the detail has certainly been scaled back in both the environments and character models, it looks serviceable.
One really impressive aspect though was how well the detail held up under the microscope of a sniper scope. Any other VR shooter I have played has had a noticeable dip in quality when viewed through a scope, but Sniper Elite VR doesn’t appear to suffer any such issue. It is another indication of the developers making sure that the games main hook is executed well and it really shows.
This is amplified with the incredible killcam, which allows you to become the bullet and travel across the map at high speed before switching to a third-person perspective as you see the bullet crack the skeletal area you aimed at. It is predictably brutal and eternally satisfying. Honestly, it’s worth the price of admission alone. I was also impressed with how this motion was handled in VR. I had no sense of motion sickness at any point, which is to be commended when you are transferred into a bullet and skelped across the map at high speeds. Should you find this too much though, you have the option to reduce the frequency or disable it.
As for performance, the game runs at a stable 90fps on Oculus Quest 2 throughout, despite many frantic encounters. I was surprised at how well the frame rate held up. If this was the trade-off for the less impressive graphics, it was worth it in my opinion. Load times on Quest are also pretty good, never keeping you out of the action for long.
GAMEPLAY
The core gameplay of Sniper Elite VR is really enjoyable. Picking off targets from impressive distances and watching the tremendous kill cam literally never gets old, with bone-crunching animations for a bunch of different entry points on the body. Aiming down the sights is relatively steady, and the option of slow-motion really gives you that sense of holding your breath before releasing the fatal shot.
Movement is also handled well. You have the option of teleportation or free movement. Click turning or smooth rotation is also available, allowing you to decide what makes you feel comfortable. Between this and the option to dictate how often killcam is used you really do have the freedom to customise the game to your specifications. I personally always choose free movement and smooth turning. This is labelled as intense under the presets, but it really does give you the most immersive experience – if you can handle it.
However, there are some issues along the way. While you do get more used to it as the game progresses, loading your gun can be a little finicky at times. This issue is exacerbated when you are in the middle of an intense shootout. Likewise, later in the game, your belt can become cluttered, which too often results in you pulling out the wrong item.
Sniping isn’t your only method of attack either. Classic weapons like the Karabiner 98K are an option as well, as is melee combat. However, that particular method of destruction is limited to swiping the butt of your gun at enemies and does feel largely unsatisfying. What does feel satisfying though, is executing a shot at the exact right moment, disguising the sound of a bullet penetrating your enemy.
VALUE
This is another area where the product excels. Price is more important than ever, and £22.99 on Oculus Quest 2/Steam and £24.99 on PSVR is more than fair. The 18 levels will keep you busy, with high scores to chase and 3 stars available on each level in the form of objectives such as finishing the level without being spotted, reaching a certain points target or even getting a certain number of specific kills.
These aren’t just optional extra tasks either. To access the later levels you will need a certain number of stars, and so backtracking becomes necessary. It could be argued this was done to pad out the game, but it forces you to approach levels in different ways and get the most out of each area.
VERDICT
Sniper Elite VR is not without its shortcomings, but it succeeds in the area that it absolutely has to nail – the sniping and killcam. It’s a mechanic that is yet to get old in any Sniper Elite game and the new twist of seeing it in virtual reality is glorious. Combine the price along with the impressive amount of content and this is an easy game to recommend for first-person shooter fans.
-Craig 🧐