Sniper: Ghost Warrior
Encyclopedia
Sniper: Ghost Warrior is a tactical
first-person shooter
for Microsoft Windows
, Xbox 360
and PlayStation 3
and the second installment of the Sniper:-series. It was released on June 24, 2010 for Microsoft Windows
via Steam with the Xbox 360
version released on June 29, 2010 and the PlayStation 3
version on April 28, 2011. The game is based around the role of the military sniper, which the developer has noted that the public interest of which has increased thanks in large parts to shows on channels like the History Channel or the Military Channel. The game's objective is to insert players into the role of an elite sniper team sent into a hostile area in an attempt to help the rebels of Isla Trueno, a fictitious Latin American country, fight against the force who has toppled their government in a coup d'état
. A sequel, titled Sniper: Ghost Warrior 2 was announced to be in development and is expected to be released sometime in 2012.
Undercover Agent Mike Rodriguez infiltrates the entourage of General Vasquez in order to set up a shot for the sniper-spotter team Alpha Nine. Killing the general would put an end to the regime on Isla Trueno. During the assassination attempt, Agent Rodriguez is compromised and captured, and General Vasquez escapes. After a series of missions, the assault team Delta Three, supported by sniper unit Razor Six Four, manages to free Agent Rodriguez from an enemy camp.
With Vasquez on the loose, Delta Three and Razor Six Four are sent to set up an air strike on a cocaine plantation. After the successful destruction of the plantation, the evacuation chopper comes under attack and has to leave. Razor Six Four makes his way through enemy territory in order to reach the new evacuation point from where he is extracted.
Agent Rodriguez teams up with Sergeant Tyler Wells to steal plans of a nuclear warhead from an enemy camp. The mission is a success, but Agent Rodriguez turns out to be a traitor. He takes the data and leaves Sergeant Wells to be shot by the enemy. A rebel leader called El Tejon rescues Sergeant Wells, who then tracks down Rodriguez, kills him and retrieves the data.
Because the data files are incomplete, the Alpha Nine sniper-spotter team steals the rest of the data from the enemy. Together with Razor Six Four, Alpha Nine then eliminates Ernesto Salazar, General Vasquez' advisor. Decryption of the stolen data uncovers the location of a secret uranium mine on Isla Trueno. Delta Three and Razor Six Four enter the mine facilities in an enemy truck, free the civilian workers and destroy the compound. To fully dissolve the now weakened regime, a second attempt is made to kill General Vasquez. Razor Six Four completes the assignment successfully.
The main weapons used in the game are silenced pistols, knives and various types of sniper rifles. In missions that are played with characters who are not snipers, the stealth aspect is dropped in favor of faster-paced "run and gun" scenarios. An exception to this are spotting missions, in which the primary objective consists of marking targets for a computer-controlled sniper character.
Most of the game takes place in a dense jungle environment. Waypoint overlays at all times display the correct routes through the areas players must traverse. While these routes need not be followed exactly, the level design usually ensures an overall linear path due to obstacle placement and invisible walls
. Many waypoints trigger scripted mission events, and some waypoints act as checkpoints, which automatically save the game.
The single player campaign of Sniper: Ghost Warrior is made up of four separate acts, each of which deals with a different conflict. All acts are split up into various missions, which usually depict the same event from different points of view. For example, in one segment players may be participating in an infantry assault on an enemy camp, while the next segment has them assuming the role of a supporting sniper who backs up the assault. There is downloadable content
available for the title that seamlessly continues the story line with three additional campaign missions.
, which had previously been used on Techland's
Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood
. The engine renders lush jungles with large draw distances. Several missions in the game take place during rainfall or nighttime, and various types of animals, such as crocodiles or cows, populate the tropical environment.
The artificial intelligence of enemies attempts to simulate a human field of vision. This allows players to crawl through tall grass or hide behind brush without being spotted.
average of 54%. IGN gave the game a 5.5, praising the game's sniping mechanics but criticizing the game's design and running-and-gunning scenarios. IGN
gave the Playstation 3
version a 4.5 out of 10 rating. Stating that it looks and runs worse, and fails to address the hyper-linear level design that doomed the original release to the bargain bin. GameSpot also gave Sniper a score of 5.5, praising the game's visuals and satisfying sniper cams, but criticizing the game's absurd difficulty in some areas particularly the enemy AI "that ranges from mindless to so magical it can spot you instantly." Eurogamer gave the game a 2 out of 10, citing graphical problems and unforgiving AI. GameZone gave the game a 4.5 out of 10, saying "The single-player campaign is a decent length, and there’s even an online multiplayer (if you can find anyone to play with). Unfortunately, Sniper is a “meh” experience with a very limited appeal; gamers with extreme patience and a passion for sniper rifles might enjoy themselves." G4's X-Play, gave the game a two out of five, saying that its gameplay concept is interesting. However enemy A.I. is either very low, or very high, and also the game has a number of glitches, some of which can cause the player to die should they occur. GameInformer gave it a 7.5 out of 10, stating that "the visual graphics and sniping mechanics really spot on." Also saying, "the story is very deep and keeps you on the edge."
Tactical shooter
A tactical shooter is a subgenre of shooter game that includes both first-person shooters and third-person shooters. These games typically simulate realistic combat, thus making tactics and caution more important than quick reflexes in other action games...
first-person shooter
First-person shooter
First-person shooter is a video game genre that centers the gameplay on gun and projectile weapon-based combat through first-person perspective; i.e., the player experiences the action through the eyes of a protagonist. Generally speaking, the first-person shooter shares common traits with other...
for Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
, Xbox 360
Xbox 360
The Xbox 360 is the second video game console produced by Microsoft and the successor to the Xbox. The Xbox 360 competes with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
and PlayStation 3
PlayStation 3
The is the third home video game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment and the successor to the PlayStation 2 as part of the PlayStation series. The PlayStation 3 competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
and the second installment of the Sniper:-series. It was released on June 24, 2010 for Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
via Steam with the Xbox 360
Xbox 360
The Xbox 360 is the second video game console produced by Microsoft and the successor to the Xbox. The Xbox 360 competes with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
version released on June 29, 2010 and the PlayStation 3
PlayStation 3
The is the third home video game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment and the successor to the PlayStation 2 as part of the PlayStation series. The PlayStation 3 competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
version on April 28, 2011. The game is based around the role of the military sniper, which the developer has noted that the public interest of which has increased thanks in large parts to shows on channels like the History Channel or the Military Channel. The game's objective is to insert players into the role of an elite sniper team sent into a hostile area in an attempt to help the rebels of Isla Trueno, a fictitious Latin American country, fight against the force who has toppled their government in a coup d'état
Coup d'état
A coup d'état state, literally: strike/blow of state)—also known as a coup, putsch, and overthrow—is the sudden, extrajudicial deposition of a government, usually by a small group of the existing state establishment—typically the military—to replace the deposed government with another body; either...
. A sequel, titled Sniper: Ghost Warrior 2 was announced to be in development and is expected to be released sometime in 2012.
Story
In the game, players take the role of various characters for different missions. Among them are a sniper, Sergeant Tyler Wells, for long range missions and stealth assignments, a Delta Force operator, Private Anderson, as well as a Mexican rebel, El Tejon, for missions involving direct firefights. The main plot centers around a highly trained special ops unit that is sent into the fictional country of Isla Trueno, whose democratic government has been overthrown by a hostile force.Undercover Agent Mike Rodriguez infiltrates the entourage of General Vasquez in order to set up a shot for the sniper-spotter team Alpha Nine. Killing the general would put an end to the regime on Isla Trueno. During the assassination attempt, Agent Rodriguez is compromised and captured, and General Vasquez escapes. After a series of missions, the assault team Delta Three, supported by sniper unit Razor Six Four, manages to free Agent Rodriguez from an enemy camp.
With Vasquez on the loose, Delta Three and Razor Six Four are sent to set up an air strike on a cocaine plantation. After the successful destruction of the plantation, the evacuation chopper comes under attack and has to leave. Razor Six Four makes his way through enemy territory in order to reach the new evacuation point from where he is extracted.
Agent Rodriguez teams up with Sergeant Tyler Wells to steal plans of a nuclear warhead from an enemy camp. The mission is a success, but Agent Rodriguez turns out to be a traitor. He takes the data and leaves Sergeant Wells to be shot by the enemy. A rebel leader called El Tejon rescues Sergeant Wells, who then tracks down Rodriguez, kills him and retrieves the data.
Because the data files are incomplete, the Alpha Nine sniper-spotter team steals the rest of the data from the enemy. Together with Razor Six Four, Alpha Nine then eliminates Ernesto Salazar, General Vasquez' advisor. Decryption of the stolen data uncovers the location of a secret uranium mine on Isla Trueno. Delta Three and Razor Six Four enter the mine facilities in an enemy truck, free the civilian workers and destroy the compound. To fully dissolve the now weakened regime, a second attempt is made to kill General Vasquez. Razor Six Four completes the assignment successfully.
Gameplay
The game is played from a first person perspective. As the title suggests, a large portion of the game consists of stealth, staking out targets and firing sniper rifles. Bullet trajectories are subject to wind, gravity and flight time, all of which players must account for when taking shots. To simplify this procedure, easier difficulty settings contain indicators that highlight enemies and show precisely where a bullet will hit.The main weapons used in the game are silenced pistols, knives and various types of sniper rifles. In missions that are played with characters who are not snipers, the stealth aspect is dropped in favor of faster-paced "run and gun" scenarios. An exception to this are spotting missions, in which the primary objective consists of marking targets for a computer-controlled sniper character.
Most of the game takes place in a dense jungle environment. Waypoint overlays at all times display the correct routes through the areas players must traverse. While these routes need not be followed exactly, the level design usually ensures an overall linear path due to obstacle placement and invisible walls
Invisible wall
An invisible wall is a video game term for a boundary that limits where a player can go in a certain area, but doesn't appear in-game as any kind of visible obstacle, or as an obstacle that in reality could easily be bypassed, such as a mid-sized rock or short fence...
. Many waypoints trigger scripted mission events, and some waypoints act as checkpoints, which automatically save the game.
The single player campaign of Sniper: Ghost Warrior is made up of four separate acts, each of which deals with a different conflict. All acts are split up into various missions, which usually depict the same event from different points of view. For example, in one segment players may be participating in an infantry assault on an enemy camp, while the next segment has them assuming the role of a supporting sniper who backs up the assault. There is downloadable content
Downloadable content
Downloadable content is official additional content for a video game distributed through the Internet. Downloadable content can be of several types, ranging from a single in-game outfit to an entirely new, extensive storyline, similarly to an expansion pack. As such, DLC may add new game modes,...
available for the title that seamlessly continues the story line with three additional campaign missions.
Technology
Sniper: Ghost Warrior takes advantage of Chrome Engine 4Chrome Engine
Chrome Engine is a 3D game engine developed by Techland. The current version, Chrome Engine 5, supports Microsoft Windows, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3.Chrome Engine evolved through over nine years of development...
, which had previously been used on Techland's
Techland
Techland is a Polish video game developer, founded in 1991 by Paweł Marchewka. They are most famous for developing Call of Juarez, a Western-themed first-person shooter, released for Microsoft Windows in 2006, and later ported to Xbox 360 in June 2007...
Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood
Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood
Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood is a Western themed first-person shooter video game set in the years of 1864-1866. Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood was announced on January 14, 2009 and uses the Chrome Engine 4, the fourth generation of Techland's game engine.Developed by Techland and published by...
. The engine renders lush jungles with large draw distances. Several missions in the game take place during rainfall or nighttime, and various types of animals, such as crocodiles or cows, populate the tropical environment.
The artificial intelligence of enemies attempts to simulate a human field of vision. This allows players to crawl through tall grass or hide behind brush without being spotted.
Reception
Sniper: Ghost Warrior has received mixed feedback from critics, with a MetacriticMetacritic
Metacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...
average of 54%. IGN gave the game a 5.5, praising the game's sniping mechanics but criticizing the game's design and running-and-gunning scenarios. IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
gave the Playstation 3
PlayStation 3
The is the third home video game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment and the successor to the PlayStation 2 as part of the PlayStation series. The PlayStation 3 competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
version a 4.5 out of 10 rating. Stating that it looks and runs worse, and fails to address the hyper-linear level design that doomed the original release to the bargain bin. GameSpot also gave Sniper a score of 5.5, praising the game's visuals and satisfying sniper cams, but criticizing the game's absurd difficulty in some areas particularly the enemy AI "that ranges from mindless to so magical it can spot you instantly." Eurogamer gave the game a 2 out of 10, citing graphical problems and unforgiving AI. GameZone gave the game a 4.5 out of 10, saying "The single-player campaign is a decent length, and there’s even an online multiplayer (if you can find anyone to play with). Unfortunately, Sniper is a “meh” experience with a very limited appeal; gamers with extreme patience and a passion for sniper rifles might enjoy themselves." G4's X-Play, gave the game a two out of five, saying that its gameplay concept is interesting. However enemy A.I. is either very low, or very high, and also the game has a number of glitches, some of which can cause the player to die should they occur. GameInformer gave it a 7.5 out of 10, stating that "the visual graphics and sniping mechanics really spot on." Also saying, "the story is very deep and keeps you on the edge."