Title: Sniper Ghost Warrior Contracts 2
Developer: Underdog Studio
Publisher: CI Games S.A.
Genre: Action
Price: $39.99
Sniper Ghost Warrior Contracts 2 is quite a mouthful insofar as titles go, and it certainly sticks out, which is perfect for a game like this. Playing as a sniper contractor where you're assigned to take down targets at extreme range is not a type of game you'll commonly see anymore.
But it’s at the heart of the game: You’re out to take down foes with extreme precision. Armed with your trusty sniper rifle, it's up to you to land your highly lethal shots into the cranium of foes willing to stick their head out of cover.
To do this, you're going to have to line your shots up properly. Sniper Ghost Warrior Contracts 2 prides itself in simulating its bullet physics properly, meaning your sniper rifle doesn't function as a hit-scan weapon so much as a highly deadly projectile weapon. Close range shots are still pretty easy, often landing exactly where you point it at, but shots taken at extreme ranges work differently, being weighed down by gravity and held back by air resistance, causing extreme bullet drop. It might seem like a frustrating mechanic, but this is where most of the core gameplay comes in.
See, Sniper Ghost Warrior Contracts 2's premise is simple. You have a rifle, you have targets to take down, and you have to do it efficiently. What this brief description doesn’t really elaborate on, though, is the amount of thought you have to put into the game to really succeed. Positioning is key here, and so you need to search for safe vantage points to take your shots from while not exposed to enemy fire. Proper timing is also important, necessitating patience and understanding on how bullet drop works. What's more, shooting your target directly isn't often the only way to proceed. Environmental objects and hazards can be used to your advantage, shooting at them to expose enemies from cover or flush them out of position. All of these are animated to underscore gratuitous violence, with limbs flying off and slow-motion camera work to celebrate your near-impossible shots.
On the Sony PlayStation 5, Sniper Ghost Warrior Contracts 2 runs beautifully on a consistent 60 frames per second in Performance Mode. While it does sacrifice some graphical fidelity, it still manages to look better than its PS4 release while also playing much smoother. Load times are also faster, allowing you to get to missions quicker. The PS5 edition also comes with additional free DLC for you to sink your teeth into if the base campaign isn't enough.
If you like the prospect of taking difficult shots and delivering death from afar with ruthless efficiency, consider picking up Sniper Ghost Warrior Contracts 2. It's a niche game because of its pacing and what it asks of its players, and it may be a tad short in length, but you'll find it stays true to what it intends to deliver.
THE GOOD
- Excellent sniper simulation, with a keen focus on proper shooting and aim
- Good variety of levels to enjoy, with some freedom to approach levels as you please
- Gratuitous and cinematic slow-mos make taking difficult shots feel extra satisfying
THE BAD
- Learning curve can be tough in terms of estimating the bullet drop
- A bit slow-paced, relying on methodical movement and positioning
- Feels a little short overall
RATING: 8/10
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