While VR may not have become the new normal for gaming just yet, the technology has certainly improved since its inception, and even if it still doesn’t rival the best experiences traditional gaming can offer, under the right circumstances, it can Better yet, it’s immersion.
Sniper Elite VR: Winter Warrior is a great example of this. Once you put on the headphones, you’re transported back to World War II, where during the harsh winter of 1944-45 you play as a partisan hoping to save your native Italy from Nazi occupation, one slow motion at a time lens.
The environments – while not great looking – do help embed you into that environment, but it’s the gunplay that really makes you feel like an elite sniper. You can adjust the settings however you like to make shooting as difficult or as easy as you like, but if you’re a die-hard fan of the series, or you really just love war history, you’ll enjoy pulling the bolt back on every click of the rifle, or Desperately searching for a new ammo clip for your pistol as you find yourself ambushed by an unseen enemy.
It’s worth noting that the gunplay in Sniper Elite VR: Winter Warrior isn’t exactly easy to get started with. Even on the simplest setting, you’ll still need to get used to bullet drop, and you’ll probably want to use the focus mechanism to accurately aim each shot. However, if you’re looking for a more challenging VR shooter, you’ve probably achieved your goal. This can be frustrating at times, especially when the scope on the rifle proves a bit finicky, but if you’re looking for that sense of realism and immersion, it’ll do the trick.
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As mentioned before, you play as a Partisan, an Italian Resistance soldier tasked with obtaining information about and destroying Nazi superweapons. In the campaign, a lot of the missions revolve around a more stealthy approach, where you don’t really do much sniping but just hit enemies in the back of the head with your pistol. This can be a bit wonky at times, as I’m never really sure how close I need to get to hit an enemy well, which results in me getting a little too close to the enemy’s back. Really, not a fun moment for either party.
These stealth sections are usually separated from the weird ones, and the game will tell you it’s time to start sniping. Sure, you can complete any mission loud and proud, but you’ll literally be torn apart within a few hits, so obviously stealth is your best option. Most missions do have a fairly linear structure as well, and while you do get open spaces, there’s not much to do other than pick up a lost letter or scarf. But when the action does begin, and the sniping begins, it’s easy to get lost in the thrill of it all. After you’ve worked hard to place mines on the road, taking on a tank is a lot of fun, especially when you have to dodge the beastly machine’s oncoming fire while searching for the rocket launcher needed to take it down once and for all.
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Once you’ve completed the campaign, there are a few other game modes to try. Sniper Hunt pits you against AI snipers who can pick you out from afar unless you’re smart about where you’re hiding and when you decide to move away from it. Halo is a personal favorite, where you simply snipe wave after wave of enemies until you’re finally taken down. Considering some VR games don’t offer that much time, it’d be nice to see something that keeps you coming back even after you’ve beaten the main story.
The biggest criticism I can level at Sniper Elite VR: Winter Warrior is that it doesn’t always feel fun. Due to manual save points, you can sometimes play for about 20 minutes and then discard that progress by dying. This doesn’t sound like much at all, but considering that in VR you don’t want to play for hours on end, losing a game in this way can be very frustrating. Additionally, immersive filming can be a bit frustrating at times. If you’re like me and struggle to keep your hands straight, you’ll often find that your shots just hit the wind, and a sniper scope can be hard to get the hang of. Again, this won’t stop those who are looking for the tight shooting mechanics that the Sniper Elite series has always offered, but those who want a fun new VR shooter should know that this will take some getting used to.
It’s hard to make a decision on this game. Sniper Elite VR: Winter Warrior combines a solid campaign with some fun scenarios that feel like the thrilling experience of a traditional game. However, it doesn’t quite reach its highest heights, thanks to some clunky controls and visual effects that often feel better than anything else.
