Sniper Elite

Infobox VG
title = Sniper Elite


caption = Xbox cover of "Sniper Elite"
developer = Rebellion Developments
publisher = flagicon|Germany Atariflagicon|EU Ubisoftflagicon|United States Namco
designer =
engine =
released = vgrelease|PAL Region|PAL|September 30, 2005
genre = Tactical shooter
modes = Single-player, multiplayer
ratings = vgratings|ESRB=M|PEGI=16+
platforms = PlayStation 2, Windows PC, Xbox
media = DVD‑ROM
requirements =
input =
footnotes = The PC version uses Starforce DRM [http://www.glop.org/starforce/list.php Boycott Starforce ] ] .

"Sniper Elite" is a tactical shooter developed by UK based video game developer Rebellion Developments. The main character is an American OSS agent, Karl Fairburne, disguised as a German sniper inserted into Berlin in 1945, during World War II, with the objective of obtaining German weapons technology before the Soviet NKVD does.

Gameplay

One of the main features of the game is the option of realistic ballistics, involving factors such as bullet drop, wind strength, and breathing when attempting a shot. Sniping gameplay is in first person scope view, whereas movement and use of all other weapons is in third person view. When the player makes an extreme sniper shot, the view follows the path of the bullet in slow motion, while the camera rotates around the bullet.The game is unlike most other first or third person shooters in that most of the gameplay involves stealth and patience, punctuated by a sniper. To reinforce the 'stealth' aspect, there is a camouflage index measured in percentage that displays the visibility of the protagonist.

Characters

* Karl Fairburne: An American OSS agent disguised as a German sniper in order to thwart the Soviet NKVD's plans to obtain Nazi nuclear weapon technology. He is the game's protagonist, and the character the player controls throughout the game. Very little information is known about his background, other than he was raised in Berlin as the son of an American ambassador to Germany before the war broke out, that he studied at West Point shortly after America's entrance into the war, and the fact that he was chosen for this mission because Berlin was his childhood home.

* Martin Bormann: An extremely powerful figure within the Third Reich, he plans to meet up with an NKVD contact at the Brandenburg Gate in order to defect to the Soviet Union, guaranteeing his safety. However, he knows too much, so he is assassinated by Fairburne before he is able to do this.

* Vasily Kralovek: The NKVD general who attempts to meet with Bormann in order to organise Bormann's defection to the Soviet Union. The Kremlin has given Kralovek a huge amount of power within the NKVD. His assassination is only a sub-objective, and is therefore optional.

* NKVD fuel depot commander: The NKVD officer who is in command of the Karlshorst fuel depot that Fairburne is tasked with destroying. He also holds a codebook that Fairburne must retrieve. The fuel depot is the forward base for the NKVD units attacking Berlin.

* Dr. Max Lohmann: A scientist who Fairburne is assigned to help capture and escort out of Berlin, back to America, in order to prevent him from falling into the hands of the NKVD. He played a key role in helping the Nazis develop nuclear weapons plans, and is therefore wanted by the NKVD for his knowledge on the subject.

* Niklas Huber: Huber is the officer in command of the Nordsig Heavy Water Plant. He has strong links to the Nazi party. Apparently, he has "no stomach for personal pain", which makes it easy for Fairburne to interrogate him for the safe code he needs. Once Huber hands over the code, Fairburne kills him with the silenced pistol.

* Thomas: Thomas is the pilot who flies Fairburne and Lohmann out of Berlin. He is rescued from the NKVD by Fairburne.

* Stephan: Stephan is Thomas's brother. Fairburne rescues Stephan from the NKVD, but he wishes to remain in Berlin to aid the people relying on him.

Factions

* Wehrmacht and Waffen SS: They wear field green uniforms, with the ordinary soldiers wearing brown helmets, the officers wearing officer caps, and the snipers wear Soviet-style smocks with hoods over their heads, a tactic that can sometimes protect them if discovered by a Soviet sniper who will think the German sniper is a friendly. Camouflaged Waffen SS soldiers appear later in the game. The soldiers are fighting a losing battle against the Red Army for control over Berlin.

* Soviet NKVD: They wear dark brown uniforms, with the ordinary soldiers wearing grey fur-lined hats, the officers wearing officer caps, and the snipers, oddly, wear German Waffen SS masks to conceal their faces. They are slowly but surely bringing Berlin under their control.

* Red Army: Mainly made up of Russian civilians and less experienced soldiers. They are relatively weak, but come in large numbers.

* German Resistance: Active since before the war, the GR forces in the game are comprised of disgruntled Wehrmacht soldiers who have decided to work with the Allies. They often wear grey jackets and carry sub-machine guns. Fairburne aids them in their mission to repel the Nazis and the NKVD throughout the game. Many of the GR agents work undercover as spies in order to gain the upper hand on their enemies.

Spin-offs

Rebellion's book imprint Abaddon Books is releasing a series of books based on "Sniper Elite" which include:

* "Sniper Elite: The Spear of Destiny" (Jaspre Bark, Abaddon Books, August 2006, ISBN 1-905437-04-8)

References

External links

* [http://www.microids.com/en/catalogue/28/sniper-elite-berlin-1945.html "Sniper Elite"] at [http://www.microids.com Microïds]
* [http://www.rebellion.co.uk/sniperelite.htm Rebellion's official "Sniper Elite" website]
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