Sniper Elite III [Ultimate Edition] - Boxed - PS3

Sniper Elite III is the third main game in the tactical shooter series centred on a sniper. Karl Fairburne, an officer of the Office of Strategic Services, is once again the protagonist, but this title takes place before the events of the previous game, Sniper Elite V2. It is part of the North Africa campaign and he is sent behind enemy lines during the Second World War to target a secret weapons programme run by Nazi troops. The bright and colourful African settings differ greatly from the dark Berlin ruins of the previous game.

The core gameplay is similar. Fairburne must complete objectives across eight sprawling levels using melee weapons, pistols, (sub-)machine guns, his sniper rifle, booby traps, landmines and explosives. Direct action is possible, but not encouraged, in order to fully complete the levels. The X-ray kill cam typical of sniper bullets is still present and has been extended to vehicles, which can be taken apart piece by piece until they explode. The biggest difference in design is the level of freedom. The game moves away from narrow corridors towards a non-linear approach in a more open environment with various options for progressing. Exploration is encouraged in order to discover side objectives. Because of the setting, there are more elements to use for cover, such as foliage. During missions, Fairburne earns experience for achieving objectives, the circumstances of shots and collecting secrets. This experience is used to customise the playable character, acquire better weapons and other upgrades. It is earned across all available game modes. A loadout can be set, and additional weapons are picked up from defeated enemies.

The game's stealth system has been reworked. There is now an eye icon that shows whether the enemy can spot Fairburne. A circular indicator above enemies' heads shows their alertness. There are various status indicators, for example when they have heard a shot or discovered a body but are not sure exactly where Fairburne is. A noise indicator shows when a silent shot is possible thanks to noise masking, for example from a passing aircraft. The game advises against staying in the same spot for too long. After a series of shots, enemies will know the exact location. A ghost image then appears showing the approximate position, and the player has a limited time to move to a new location. The game's difficulty can be adjusted to make sniping harder, remove aids and give other elements such as gravity, breathing, heartbeat, wind and ballistics greater importance.

Regular multiplayer games are supported as Deathmatch and Team Deathmatch. There is also Distant King (free-for-all or in teams), in which players are rewarded for the cumulative distance of their shots rather than the number of kills. In the "No Cross" mode, each player is placed on one side of the map to focus more on sniping than on regular combat. The co-op Overwatch mode returns, in which a sniper and a spotter work together across two missions. Players can also team up in a survival mode, and the entire campaign can be played co-operatively. Players earn medals and ribbons in multiplayer games. More