Scott Watson reviews Sniper Elite 4: Deathstorm Part 2: Infiltration…
Hats off to Rebellion, they’ve done a damn fine job with keeping those of us in need of our Sniper Elite fix entertained. The drip feed of season pass DLC and additional free content in the way of maps, modes, weapons and skins has been pretty exemplary. It’s great to see a developer and publisher who are so passionate about their product it can’t help but rub off on the fans.
Now, before we start, for those of you who still need to know what’s going on you can read my review of the game here, Villordsutch’s second opinion here and finally a recap on the first part of the DLC, Inception, right here! Bear in mind, due to the nature of the content there are some minor spoilers of what’s ahead if you’ve not played it. That being said, now you’re all caught up let’s crack on.
Deathstorm Part 2: Infiltration is the mid point of the 3-part DLC arc, seeing Fairburne unearth and, we assume, put a stop to Deathstorm and its connections to the Manhattan Project. Having recovered the Deathstorm package, which turns out to be canisters full of deadly plutonium particles, he’s dispatched to the Fascist-occupied north of Italy to find out what the Nazis are planning for their new weapon. His mission this time; infiltrate the town, find a prominent Italian scientist and rescue his wife – a crucial Allied informant – before it’s too late!
The beautiful medieval town of Niroli, now a regional centre for the Nazi propaganda machine and garrisoned with a strong Italian force, is the setting this time and it is indeed a beautiful change from the stark, winter dockyards of Inception. It’s a mix of some of the best bits of Bitanti Village and Abrunza Monastery; a lush forest with plenty of ambush spots opens up to a towering, enclosed town that most definitely should not be approached head on. Like Inception, there’s a higher concentration of enemies and vehicles for you to circumvent with stealth and careful exploration of your surroundings being the key to getting inside.
Once inside the town you’ll find it’s a tight mix of alleys and streets, overlooked by turrets along the city walls that become key sniping points for your enemies (and eventually you). Taking control of the turrets gives you fantastic vantage points to begin clearing the streets, thinning the herd and of course making some spectacularly long sniper shots. Back on the ground, the streets give you ample opportunity to set mines, tripwires and traps to draw enemies in to an explosive demise. It really is quite the playground for you, more so than the shipyard in Part 1. Tight spaces and elevated positions throughout the map make it an absolute joy as you work towards your objectives.
With regards to the primary and secondary objectives, they’re pretty much Sniper Elite 101. To me though, that’s perfectly fine. What’s more important is the sandbox surrounding them and how you achieve them that is, and always will be, the fun factor in this game. The whole map allows you to think, plan, mark and then attack. While silent and deadly wins the day, it’s always great that you can switch up to a more explosive attack!
All in all, Part 2 of the Deathstorm DLC sets us up nicely for what appears to be a huge showdown in the final act. I’m anticipating something akin to Target: Fuhrer with a good few bells and whistles thrown in for good measure! Sniper Elite 4 continues to entertain and engross as it continues to throw us into the lead role of a story that would sit perfectly on the pages of any Commando Comics.
Pros:
+ excellent level design
+ great contrast to Part 1
+ map gives plenty scope for creativity
+ new enemies present new challenges
Cons:
– objectives feel secondary to having fun
– more of the same
Platform reviewed on: Xbox One
Rating: 8/10
Scott Watson