During E3 2019, we stopped by the Rebellion booth to check out what the studio behind my favorite game of 2018, Strange Brigade, had in its future. For those that think virtual reality gaming is a dying gimmick, Rebellion wants you to blow away Nazis in one of the most real feeling experiences the medium has had to date in Sniper Elite VR.
Developed in partnership with Just Add Water, Sniper Elite VR takes you to the incredible setting of World War 2 Italy. It’s set prior the events of Sniper Elite 4, featuring a brand new story by Tony Schumacher, author of the acclaimed John Rossett novels.
In Sniper Elite VR you’re fighting for the Italian resistance to rid Sicily of the Nazi U-boat menace. You’ll take on missions in an array of stunning new Italian maps. You’ll be able to use free movement, employ stealth and tactics to suit your play style, and use an array of authentic World War 2 weaponry to take out your targets.
We tested out Sniper Elite on PSVR using the platform’s unique PSVR Aim controller. For a game that’s just about to hit early alpha Rebellion already have a fair amount of polish. It runs smooth on the mechanically inferior to PC, PSVR hardware. Most games in which players need to bring the move controllers up to the headset to aim a weapon often deliver buggy experiences. While I loved titles such as Gun Club on VR, this is superior just by delivering the experience Rebellion is known for.
You’ll utilize fluid movement through large scale action set pieces just as with the studios non-VR Sniper Elite entries. The addition of VR puts players in a true to the battle war film. We ducked behind cover and leaned around walls, nearly tipping over from how intense and immersive the fight was. Just as with any Sniper Elite game, the X-ray kill cam is here. While I’d like to see myself actually traveling with the bullet in VR, the new covered in blood view satisfies like no Sniper Elite before.
Where Rebellion excelled in this VR game was aiming in the headset. Most people while aiming down the sight of a weapon, close one eye. In VR, the half blackout effect you see because of it often jars you out of the experience. Sniper Elite VR compensates in the headset. It felt as though my one eye could still see 3/4’s of the reticle without causing me eyestrain.
Sniper Elite VR is off to an incredible development start. Check out the video above detailing Rebellion’s progress. The game launches for PSVR and other major VR platforms sometime in 2020.
