Sniper: Ghost Warrior 2 Review

I'm going to start by saying that I loved the first instalment of Sniper Ghost Warrior. There were a few glitches, it was a little clunky in places and sometimes it made no sense, but what I loved and admired about the game was the commitment to the sniper and the game play which allowed you to access the more "exciting" aspects of sniping. So it was with some excitement and apprehension that I played through Ghost Warrior 2; I'd hoped City Interactive had listened and tightened up the gameplay and the gunplay.

To start with, and we have to be clear here, Sniper Ghost Warrior 2 is a stealthy game with various difficulties. Don't be duped into thinking that the game will dumb down the action. True, if you play on the easier settings then you'll have less environmental impacts on your bullet; that is gravity, wind speed, distance to target and so forth. If you play on an easier setting, be aware that you may find the gameplay a little repetitive, the AI a little despondent and sometimes down-right stupid. But this is, after all, a game, and there has to be an element of fun somewhere right? Otherwise we could have a game which sees you setting up and waiting for hours or even days before your target even shows! The point is if you want to really experience the game as close as to the real thing as you can, then I recommend cranking the difficulty level up. It has to be said though, it's pretty tough. No enemies will be marked, bullet drop will be accurate, breathing will affect the bullet's trajectory and the rest.

You'll also notice (if you've played the first game) that you have more of a connection with the protagonist of the game, Cole Anderson, and there is a more substantial story element than in the last game. You go through Cole's history, you meet people he's worked with and against along the way and there are some unexpected (and expected) twists in the story. Although the voice acting is a little hit and miss, mostly miss, the story is strong enough to keep you interested and the distractions of your commander can be ignored most of the time without taking away too much from the overall game experience.

But the game is really all about the sniping and the stealth. The missions in the campaign, which will take you about 8 hours to complete on Hard, a little less on Medium difficulty, can all be done in a number of ways, and I think it's here that the game really comes into its own. Each mission is effectively the same, just in a different, beautifully rendered CryEngine 3 environment. You get dropped into a location from which you have to make your way to the mission. When you get to the mission you can either perch up and watch the enemies' patrol patterns and mark them (on easier difficulties) for sniping, or you can sneak into the mission area and assassinate the enemies silently with either your pistol or your knife, or you could start a "loud" firefight where you blatantly pick off a guard in front of other guards resulting in the raising of an alarm and an imminent man hunt. The choice is really yours, my choice was usually to find a nice hiding spot and take out as many enemies as I could without raising the alarm. There is a flaw, however, with the mechanic of stealth if you opt to go in close. If you decide you want to sneak up to enemies and dispose of them with your knife of silenced pistol, there is no option to drag or hid bodies, which I think is one of the game's major oversights.

But there's been a lot to improve too, and City have done well. There are now no "loud" sections where you see yourself as part of a military assault team flushing enemies out, you stay a sniper all throughout the game, which is a massive relief. And as a sniper you support the assault team, which I think is a great touch. In fact, some of the most memorable parts of the game are when you're supporting the assault team and taking out targets they're spotting, or just making sure they have a clear run to their target.

I also love that the heart rate has a bearing on your stamina and your aim stability. It's very hard to sprint, then crouch or even lay down and aim at a target. You have to be consistent with your breathing, and this applies in all game mode difficulties.

Having said all of that there are still errors. Primarily the AI isn't as sharp as it could be, no matter what difficulty you're playing. Furthermore there just aren't enough routes into your objective areas, it sometimes feels like you're being pushed down corridors. The sandbox element is great, but it feels restrictive and tedious sometimes. I also think there is something to be said for cover mechanics, which is missing here. Having cover would certainly add a level of urgency and authenticity to the game.

But as a sniper game, I think it's great and, more importantly, better than the last game. And that's the point. This isn't just another first person shooter, this is a thinking gamers game and I hope that every iteration improves on the last. This time we have better game mechanics, more interesting story and a much more beautiful environment. You're a sniper, and like any great game franchise, as long as the game improves with every iteration, it'll just get better, sharper and more enjoyable. I think the multiplayer aspect is a little uninspiring, but it's a welcome addition and I'm sure they City guys will find a way to make multiplayer more engaging and more fun, but for now it's done a good job.

What's great about this game, unlike V2 - a sniper game set during the war - is that you're not distracted with a larger war. If we were to take anything from V2 it would definitely be the use of booby traps and defence points which would help to protect your sniping position for a little longer or even be a ruse to the enemies.

Overall, however, this game does deliver and, although not the best first person game out there, is a very refreshing and well executed change from the conventional shooters you're likely to default to. You'll find yourself immersed in some of the levels and trying to find better ways to execute your enemies and sneak through areas. It's good fun and worth the time playing, however you'll struggle to want to play through the game again once you've completed it.