Sniper Elite V2

Sniper Elite V2
Studio	Rebellion Developments
Publisher	Rebellion Developments
Erstveröffent- lichung	Microsoft Windows , PlayStation 3 , Xbox 360 NA : May 2, 2012 AUS : May 3, 2012 EU : May 4, 2012 Wii U NA: May 21, 2013 EU: May 24, 2013 AUS: May 30, 2013 Nintendo Switch , PlayStation 4 , Xbox One WW : May 14, 2019
platform	Microsoft Windows PlayStation 3 Xbox 360 Wii U Nintendo Switch PlayStation 4 Xbox One
genre	Tactical shooter , stealth
Game mode	Single player , multiplayer
Age rating	USK PEGI

Sniper Elite V2 is a third-person tactical shooter - stealth video game developed by Rebellion Developments and published in 2012. It is the continuation of its predecessor Sniper Elite from 2005, which takes place in the same time frame and in the same location - the Battle of Berlin in April to May 1945 - but with a different narrative. The story of the game follows an officer from the American Office of Strategic Services who must capture or eliminate the scientists involved in the German V-2 missile program while the Red Army invades. A prequel called Sniper Elite III was released in 2014. A remastered version for Microsoft Windows , Nintendo Switch , PlayStation 4 and Xbox One was released on May 14, 2019.

Gameplay

Sniper Elite V2 is a tactical third-person shooter in which the less direct approach to combat is in the foreground and which encourages the player as a sniper to use camouflage and to keep their distance from enemy soldiers. Many of the single player levels allow players to take multiple routes, including multi-story buildings and side streets, to get lookouts and avoid direct shootings. The player-character plays in World War II and uses the weapons suitable for this era. The sniper rifle is the main weapon throughout the game, but additional side arms are available, including submachine guns and pistols , silenced or not depending on the situation . In addition to the hand grenades , the player can also use trip wire booby traps , land mines and dynamite . The binoculars can be used to mark enemies in the field of view to show the player their position and movements. When using the sniper rifle, however, certain elements can determine the outcome of a shot, taking into account realistic ballistics including wind direction and strength, as well as bullet drop that may alter the shot through the scope . Bullets can ricochet off surfaces or targets and hit others. In different postures, such as B. in crouching or lying on the front, a shot can also be stabilized, but the player character also has the ability to take deep breaths in order to stabilize a shot further and to slow down time from his perspective. Another ability is that when the player character is sighted, their recent movements and position relative to the enemy are shown as a figure outlined in white, potentially allowing the player to escape this area and avoid further detection and alarms.

One of the main features of V2 is the "X-Ray Kill Cam", where a successful and skillful shot is followed by the bullet in slow motion from the sniper rifle to the target. When it hits, an anatomically correct x-ray of the part of the body hit and the damage caused by the bullet on the organs and bones becomes visible. Sniping can also be used to shoot down the enemy's grenades and cause an explosion. This method can also be used against military vehicles by aiming at fuel tanks and valves. The game also measures notable shots by briefly showing distance and other factors such as: B. whether it was a headshot or a moving target.

Multiplayer

V2 supports online multiplayer, where players play cooperatively across a range of game modes. Kill Tally is a mode in which two players fend off increasingly numerous and difficult waves of enemy soldiers and vehicles in a closed environment with an infinite supply of ammunition and explosives. Players can compete for higher numbers of kills, but both must keep each other alive and work together. Bombing Run is a mission-based mode in which players must search the area to fix a truck in order to escape before the entire area is bombed. The third mode is Overwatch, in which two players take on different roles in order to achieve a goal, with one player acting as the operator in charge of achieving the said goals, armed with firearms and short-range binoculars that can be used to mark enemies , for the second player who takes on the role of a sniper who covers the operator throughout the game. In addition to these separate game modes, missions from the single player campaign can also be played with two players. However, the Wii U version of the game dispenses with multiplayer, leaderboard and co-op modes.

action

The main character is Lieutenant Karl Fairburne (Tom Clarke-Hill), an American OSS officer and trained sniper who was deployed in Berlin in 1945, during the last days of the Second World War . It refers to Operation Paperclip and its predecessor Operation Overcast , the US plan to recruit scientists from Nazi Germany . Fairburne encounters both Nazi and Soviet opponents as he pursues key people involved in developing the V-2 ballistic missile .

The campaign begins with Fairburne being sent to Berlin to first assassinate the German major general Hans von Eisenberg, who wanted to defected to the Soviets. Shortly afterwards, he receives the assignment, Dr. Gunther Kreidl, a Nazi scientist who is being led out of the city in a convoy. After an ambush, Fairburne escapes with the doctor's personal documents revealing more information about the V-2 missile program and the location of other scientists. As the only American in the region, he is looking for another scientist, Dr. Schwaiger, sent to the outskirts to infiltrate a V-2 production facility. While the scientist is absent, Fairburne learns that he originally planned to defile to the United States before sabotaging the facility and escaping. The US Secret Service then sends it to the Opera Square , where the Soviets full invasion force. When the Soviets and Germans attack each other, Fairburne slips by and saves Schwaiger from being executed by Nazi officers after his plans to defeat are discovered. In the following firefight, however, Schwaiger is fatally wounded and in his last words it is said, "Wolff has a plan" and the unknown word "tabun". After these events, Fairburne continues to pursue and eliminate the remaining scientists and murder Dr. Müller in his command tower during a series of bombing raids on the city.

Fairburne infiltrates and searches Soviet headquarters without locating the launch site of the V-2. There he found documents showing that Tabun is actually a nerve gas that the V-2 missiles are supposed to carry. As a final act of revenge, the remaining scientist, Doctor Wolff, intends to shoot them at London . With only the information that the location is somewhere outside of Berlin, Fairburne goes to Wolff's offices within the city for more information. When he arrives, however, the office is already destroyed, but Fairburne finds a torn notebook and learns that Wolff is about to flee from an airfield. Fairburne picks up a map with the details of the V-2 storage facilities and sets out to destroy the missiles before they can be launched. He arrives at the launch site and has a few minutes to go. After destroying the missile and only leaving Wolff, Fairburne returns to the Brandenburg Gate , where he murdered von Eisenberg a few days earlier. Fairburne climbs onto the structure and, when Wolff threatens to escape in a car, Fairburne shoots and kills Wolff, causing the car to lose control and tip over. Fairburne notes that World War II is over, but the Cold War has only just begun, in which he appeared as the first soldier.

development

In 2011, Rebellion announced that the title would be jointly released with 505 Games . The game, which was due to be released in May 2012, was described as a "reboot" of the original Sniper Elite rather than a sequel. However, the first announcement only referred to a release on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 without a PC version. After a strong reaction from PC users, Rebellion announced that it would publish a PC version itself through stores and via the online games download retailer Steam , which should be released at the same time as the console versions. On 5 February 2013 rebellion, announced that a version for the Wii U from Nintendo is in development.

After the first release, a second retail version of the game was released for PC on October 12, 2012, the "High Command Edition". This version included an updated version of the original V2 game, the previous Assassinate the Führer pre-order bonus, new multiplayer maps and mode updates, and a previously unreleased new single player mission and weapons. Many of the features were later released online separately. The PC version was released for the third time on March 15, 2013 as part of the "Collector's Edition", this time including the original game, all downloadable content (both single and multiplayer) released up to that date, an audio soundtrack , Art-Book and the original Sniper Elite game. That same month, the PS3 and 360 console versions were re-released as the "Game of the Year Edition" in Europe and the "Silver Star Edition" in North America, which contain only the downloadable content.

The game is AMD Eyefinity validated.

Downloadable content

Originally bundled as a pre-order bonus download with the main game when it was released, the first downloadable content is a standalone single player mission called Assassinate the Leader, separate from the main campaign. The mission includes an alternate historical scenario in which Fairburne is sent to Salzburg to intercept a means of transport to assassinate Adolf Hitler before he escapes the area by train. After the game was released, the DLC was released on June 5, 2012 for players without pre-order on all platforms. The second DLC mission is "The Neudorf Outpost Pack" and was released on September 20, 2012 for PC and December 18, 2012 for consoles. The mission concerns the demolition of a German-controlled fuel depot in the Harz Mountains and includes two new exclusive weapons. The third DLC mission is "The Landwehr Canal Pack" and was released on October 18, 2012. It contains three new weapons. The mission required the assassination of several German generals at their nightly meeting in Berlin, which posed a challenge and required planning. At the same time, a new multiplayer mode called "Dog Tag Harvest Mode" was released for free on Steam, in which players only collect points after the dog tag of a fallen soldier has been collected. The fourth DLC mission is "St. Pierre" was released on February 6, 2013 and also contains three new weapons. The missions include the assassination of General Rodebrecht, a rising star in the German army whose death could turn the tide of war for the Allies.

On November 7, 2012, Rebellion released a free "Multiplayer Expansion" for PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. The new online multiplayer modes support competitive play between players, including traditional Deathmatch and Team Deathmatch modes, and lead " distance king ", both solo and team-based, with the players' success being measured by the distance they shoot. Another mode is "No Cross," a variation on the other modes where teams are separated on two sides of a map and only require long range firefights. In addition to the new game types, six new maps have been added for multiplayer mode. At the same time, a DLC was also released that includes a new selection of weapons.

Sniper Elite V2 Remastered

Developer Rebellion Developments announced in March 2019 that an enhanced version of the game would be released this year for Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.

In April 2019, Rebellion Developments confirmed that the remaster would be released on May 14, 2019. The new version includes several playable characters (including those from Zombie Army Trilogy ), updated graphics and a photo mode for screenshots.

reception

Sniper Elite V2 received mixed reviews on Metacritic .

In a review for GamesRadar , Matt Hughes compared V2 to the original Sniper Elite in terms of mission structure and diversity, noting that "V2 keeps objectives varied and avoids boredom by condensing and refining the game's physical range". Similarly, IGN's Nathan Meunier praised the single player, saying that it "delivers a satisfactory hike through a well-designed mix of war-torn cityscapes with tactical assassination and undercover cunning". While noting multiplayer, "Overwatch" was considered a standout mode "where multiplayer gets really cool" because "these missions require careful collaboration and are a lot of fun". However, in a mixed reaction, GameTrailers felt that the quality of the single player varies, where "things turn for the worse when you do something other than sniping," particularly in relation to close-range stealth segments that the review considered were seen as "a real stumbling block" and cause "unbearable" trial and error. However, in the same review, they found that the option to play the campaign cooperatively "fixed many of our complaints".

PC Gamer's Phil Savage objected to any obvious inconsistencies between levels, advocating the more open missions that "reward you with a feeling that carefully thought-out mischief comes in" as opposed to narrower levels where " in those moments the game turns into a popup shooting gallery ". Savage also praised the "tactical systems and the satisfactory ballistics" and at the same time criticized the "uncanny enemy vision".

One recurring feature mentioned in reviews was the "X-Ray Kill Cam". Official Xbox Magazine reviewer Chuck Osborne said it "deserves the game's maturity rating and our applause," while Game Informer's Tim Turi called it the game's "standout feature" that "never got old." . GameSpot reviewer Chris Watters called the feature "brutal and free (maybe too much for some)", but still enjoyed it as a "wonderfully bloody" highlight. Eurogamer's Marsh Davis shared this view, noting, "Its appeal is definitely stark, but strangely enough, these animations also give an eerie meaning to the death of any enemy".

The game sold half a million copies on Steam .

successor

Main article: Sniper Elite III

A third entry in the Sniper Elite series was announced in March 2013. Sniper Elite III is set in North Africa during World War II and has been described as "a sandbox game". Commenting on gameplay choices, Kingsley said, "We want you to feel like you are dealing with believable scenarios and make really meaningful decisions about how to approach them."

Web links

• Official website
• Official website of the remastered

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Sniper Elite V2 Preview. In: GodisaGeek.com. January 20, 2012, accessed August 15, 2020 (American English). 
2. ↑ Phil Savage: Sniper Elite 3 announced, Rebellion focused on "more of a sandbox game". In: PC Gamer. March 14, 2013, Retrieved August 15, 2020 (American English). 
3. ↑ Say no to corridors: Rebellion on Sniper Elite 3's sandbox. In: VG247. June 6, 2013, accessed August 15, 2020 . 
4. ↑ ^{a b c} Sniper Elite 3 Announced - IGN. Retrieved on August 15, 2020 . 
5. ↑ Sniper Elite 3 detailed for current, next-gen. In: VG247. March 14, 2013, accessed August 15, 2020 . 
6. ↑ Alessio Palumbo: Sniper Elite V2 Remastered Launches May 14th on PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch. In: Wccftech. April 9, 2019, Retrieved August 15, 2020 (American English). 
7. ↑ ^{a b c} Matt Hughes 02 May 2012: Sniper Elite V2 review. Retrieved on August 15, 2020 . 
8. ↑ ^{a b c} GameTrailers - YouTube. Retrieved August 15, 2020 . 
9. ↑ Wesley Yin-Poole: Wii U Sniper Elite V2 lacks online play and DLC. In: Eurogamer. May 30, 2013, accessed on August 16, 2020 . 
10. ↑ Robert Purchese: Sniper Elite V2 announced for 2012. In: Euro gamers. April 6, 2011, accessed on August 16, 2020 . 
11. ↑ GameTrailers - YouTube. Retrieved August 16, 2020 . 
12. ↑ Sniper Elite V2 coming to PC. Retrieved August 16, 2020 . 
13. ↑ "Sniper Elite V2 confirmed for Wii U release, GamePad screens emerge". Retrieved August 16, 2020 . 
14. ↑ News - Sniper Elite V2's 'Silver Star' Edition Available in US Later This Month. Retrieved on August 16, 2020 . 
15. ↑ "AMD Eyefinity Validated and Ready Software. Retrieved August 16, 2020 . 
16. ↑ News - Sniper Elite V2 Hitler Killin 'Mission Available to Buy June 5. Retrieved on August 16, 2020 (English). 
17. ↑ ^{a b} News - Sniper Elite V2 Hitler Killin 'Mission Available to Buy June 5. Retrieved on August 16, 2020 (English). 
18. ^ "New DLC for Sniper Elite V2 PC Comes in Both Free and Paid Flavors". Retrieved August 16, 2020 . 
19. ^ "Sniper Elite V2 St. Pierre DLC breaks stealth today on Xbox 360 & PS3". Retrieved August 16, 2020 . 
20. ↑ Sniper Elite V2 Multiplayer Expansion Review | The Controller Online. January 17, 2013, accessed August 16, 2020 . 
21. ↑ Ben Lee: Sniper Elite V2 multiplayer DLC released. November 7, 2012, accessed August 16, 2020 (UK English). 
22. ^ Wesley Yin-Poole: Rebellion announces four new Sniper Elite games in development. In: Eurogamer. March 14, 2019, accessed on August 16, 2020 . 
23. ↑ Wesley Yin-Poole: Sniper Elite V2 Remastered comes out in May. In: Eurogamer. April 9, 2019, accessed on August 16, 2020 . 
24. ↑ Sniper Elite V2. Retrieved August 17, 2020 . 
25. ↑ Sniper Elite V2. Retrieved August 17, 2020 . 
26. ↑ Sniper Elite V2. Retrieved August 17, 2020 . 
27. ↑ Sniper Elite V2. Retrieved August 17, 2020 . 
28. ↑ Sniper Elite V2 Review - IGN. Retrieved August 17, 2020 . 
29. ↑ Phil Savage: Sniper Elite V2 review. In: PC Gamer. June 7, 2012, Retrieved August 17, 2020 (American English). 
30. ↑ Official Xbox Magazine | GamesRadar +. Retrieved August 17, 2020 . 
31. ↑ Tim Turi: Sniper Elite V2 Review: Rebellion Delivers A Visceral WWII Shooter. Retrieved August 17, 2020 . 
32. ^ Marsh Davies: Sniper Elite V2 Review. In: Eurogamer. May 3, 2012, accessed on August 17, 2020 . 
33. ↑ Martin Robinson: Inside Sniper Elite 3's Rebellion, Britain's best guilty pleasure developer. In: Eurogamer. July 3, 2014, accessed on August 17, 2020 . 
34. ↑ ^{a b} Sniper Elite 3: Rebellion discusses North Africa setting, sandbox approach. In: VG247. April 11, 2013, accessed August 17, 2020 .