Quick Shots: Sniper Ghost Warrior

Mike Bantick
Saturday, 06 August 2011 13:35

Entertainment

It's a shooter with its cross-hair aimed squarely upon those that enjoy remaining stationary, controlling their breathing and killing the enemy with one carefully placed shot.

Play enough first person shooter games and they begin to bleed into each other, memorable features, level design and theme are all that separate a significant number of titles on store shelves these days.  And once you look beyond theme and concentrate on military shooters only, the distinguishing functions become less discernable.

Sniper: Ghost Warrior
	Developer	City Interactive
	Publisher	AFA Interactive
	Rating	MA 15+
Xbox 360, PC,  Reviewed on PS3

So it is always a boost to the interest levels if a developer tries something a little different from the mainstream, Sniper: Ghost Warrior fell into this category nicely.

But, it is difficult to construct a game around the concept of sniper combat.  Primarily the role of a sniper involves great patience, discipline, self-control, attention to detail and accuracy of implementation.  These are, traditionally, not the best principles to apply to video-game level development.

To its credit City-Interactive has provided a number of levels that work within the constraints of the subject matter.  Sniper: Ghost Warrior is at its best when you work through missions involving finding a location on the map to support the infiltration of troops below.

There are enough occasions where the tension is high; you are armed only with one of four types of powerful long range rifle and a knife, occasionally with a grenade or two, though rarely is the chance to lob them.  Most of the time, in the best levels, you will be crawling through the grass avoiding the eyes of the enemy, looking for the best vantage point to set up camp. 

This gameplay is reminiscent of the excellent Operation Flashpoint from many years ago, and heightens the heartbeat with the knowledge that one slip up means instant death.  Armed only with very close and very long range guns means any confrontation with bad guys will need to be kept at those distances.  It is almost impossible to shoot from the hip with a Dragunov.

It's just too bad there are too many moments reminiscent of other titles, where assault rifles are the norm, where storming into the evil warlords compound Rambo style is expected. 

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