Sniper Elite is a game based towards the end of World War II, the beginning of the Cold War. You are a sniper and your mission is to abolish the Germans. You are caught up in the life and death struggle between the Soviets and the Germans in war torn Berlin. Your character is a lone American OSS Sniper, where you act as a German and you risk your life working behind enemy lines.

There aren't that many games that are completely focused on sniping and I think this is a shame, as Sniper Elite proves that it works very well. The environments are usually destroyed buildings with dark, misty skies and the city has been created so well that it feels like you are actually in a newly destroyed part of the world. This game is a third person shooter, which is quite a refreshing change, as most war games are first person. For the majority of the time you are kneeling or lying prone, which works well as it increases your accuracy greatly, while also reducing the risk of being seen by the enemy. Patience is a key requirement with Sniper Elite; some missions require you to lie prone in an area for some time to spot and remove enemy snipers. This can take a while; running and gunning simply isn't an option with this game. Sometimes you are required to explode truck fuel tanks with a good shot straight to the vital spot. With some missions, failure isn't an option either; if you fail to assassinate an important enemy, you will have to start again, no matter how long it took you.

I will admit though, it isn't the single player that has kept my attention for as long as the Xbox Live mode. Up to ten players can inhabit a single map, with the usual modes of deathmatch and team deathmatch. Personally I prefer the deathmatch, as you can sometimes mistake allies for enemies because their gamertag fails to pop up over their head at times. The tip with online play is never to stay in one area for too long; if you kill someone in a certain spot, move at once! They are likely to spawn nearby and will be craving revenge. When you find your next area, scan the surroundings using your binoculars before watching for prey; if it's a busy area, it's likely there will be other snipers also hiding nearby. I suppose now you're wondering how to protect yourself from crafty players who sneak up behind you and pop one in your back. Well, you can set some dynamite not too far from you and if another player comes within a certain radius of it, BOOM! Then that's another point for you and a few more minutes of safety. This works well but obviously it isn't great if you're on the receiving end and this will happen a lot.

Graphically this game isn't the best ever; graphics are grainy in places and I frequently thought parts of the scenery were enemies. The draw distance is superb though; with a good shot you can shoot anyone from any distance. Pop-up isn't welcome in games like this and thankfully it isn't present here, while the frame rate keeps up with the action, so no slowdown occurs during those crucial times that could fail a mission. The graphics work well and create a real atmosphere in the game, maybe more so during online play, but like I said, there are some blocky moments in Sniper Elite and while the Xbox has a bright and almost glossed graphical appearance, look underneath that and this is simply an enhanced PS2 game.

The sound in Sniper Elite isn't really outstanding, but it's good enough; background generally includes shouting, tanks in the distance and of course your character walking over the remains of bombed out buildings. Gun effects are good, with a nice solid bang when you hit that right trigger to attempt to bring down those pesky Germans. The right trigger is your weapon trigger, while the left trigger activates a great and essential feature - the binoculars, which are the sniper's best friend. Use them frequently and wisely to scan your surrounding and keep a good look out for enemy snipers lurking in buildings that have been destroyed but are still standing.

The realism in Sniper Elite has been well thought out; placing your scope onto a enemy and expecting to hit them isn't enough. You have to consider the effect that gravity will have on the bullet and therefore placing the scope slightly over the head of your target is going to make an instant kill more likely. You may play some online matches where the host simply turns off gravity, making instant kills easy and quite unsatisfying. Both the scope and binoculars have a powerful zoom that is adjusted using the D-pad, while pressing X allows you to hold your breath for more accuracy - but be swift, as you can't hold your breath forever! Another tip: when aiming, try to get either a head shot or put a bullet in your foe's chest; shooting them in the leg may not kill them and they will either retaliate or run away. This aspect I found most essential when playing the game on Xbox Live; as I've already stated, running and gunning will get you killed quickly, so take my advice if you want to live! There are close contact weapons available, such as machine guns and pistols, but these are clunky to use and show that the game engine is really only designed for sniping.

Sniper Elite is a fantastic war game with a difference, focusing almost entirely on the slow-paced nature of sniping. Xbox Live really is something I recommend you check out with this game, as the satisfaction of bringing someone down with a long distance shot really does make it one that you will come back to again and again. It shouldn't cost more than £19.99 and for the money, you're getting a real bargain and plenty of longevity. The less patient and more action-oriented gamers might not warm to it so much, but if you're the kind of gamer that enjoys the chance to get a good sniping spot on your favourite online shooter, then this really is one game you must play. Now if you'll excuse me - some hapless soul has just wandered into my sights…

Reviewed by Tom Kersley for AceGamez (All Rights Reserved).