Scott Watson reviews Sniper Elite 4 DLC Deathstorm Part 1 Inception…
We’ve had a good old-time playing Sniper Elite 4 here at Flickering Myth. It’s been an organic and expansive addition to the series that has built and improved on everything coming before it. You can read our original thoughts on its release here before we delve into the first DLC for the game; Deathstorm Part 1: Inception.
Without spoiling too much of the story here, Inception is the first of a three-part campaign that sends our sniper of few words, Karl Fairburne, to the colder, war-torn terrain of northern Italy. His primary mission concerns the secret nuclear Manhattan Project, to retrieve a critical, mysterious package codenamed Deathstorm…
In short, it’s more of the same delights that we’ve all enjoyed over the course of the main Sniper Elite 4 campaign. Set in a sprawling shipyard, there’s not a lot of cover over the course of the map and you’re really made to work hard to hit your objectives over the course of the mission.
It feels like Rebellion were toying with us during the main campaign, or perhaps it’s just the lack of gaming prowess I have as I’m getting older! Deathstorm Part 1 gives you very little to work with. The shipyard is all tall buildings, with many viewpoints and positions that the enemy can put to very good use in spotting you. This is no Lorino Dockyard.
With a cold winter setting in broad daylight, moving around becomes a real puzzle in itself as you patiently plot and mark the enemy within your vicinity. You also have a number of vehicles thrown into the mix as well as a number of AA guns that, of course, need to be dealt with as secondary missions. But this is what us Sniper Elite 4 veterans love; a sprawling map that’s a huge puzzle in need of solving.
One of the most enjoyable aspects of this map is the lack of any clear path through it. With cover at a minimum, you find yourself leading a merry dance between cargo and warehouses, sweeping and cleaning as silently as you can to minimise alarm and impact. It’s that ebb and flow that Sniper Elite 4 does so well and always feels rewarding when you pull off a particularly tight encounter without triggering any alarms.
Managing to get through the map without triggering any alarms as well is a challenge in itself this time. It feels like the enemy are even more relentless than before and, perhaps I’m imagining things, but I could swear they spot you quicker than before! There’s very little room for error as the base certainly feels far more active and manned than anything that has come before it.
Granted, the level doesn’t really bring anything new into the mix here. It’s simply Sniper Elite 4 cranked up to the max. But you know what, that’s absolutely fine with me. Here’s to the story unfolding in Part 2.
Pros:
+ excellent level design
+ x-ray kill cams never get boring
+ hits that Sniper Elite 4 sweet spot
Cons:
– it’s more of the same
Platform reviewed on: Xbox One
Rating: 8/10
Scott Watson
Originally published April 12, 2017. Updated April 16, 2018.
