Beginning all the way back in 2005, theSniper Elitefranchise has never really been known for innovation. From that first game, the gameplay loop for the entire franchise was essentially set in stone. With the release ofSniper Elite V2in 2012, that loop was only cemented even further. Since then, everySniper Elitegame since has retained pretty much the same general gameplay formula, albeit with some mechanical and technical improvements over the years. While the same can largely be said for the recently releasedSniper Elite 5, it does bring one big new feature to the game.
While the moment-to-moment gameplay ofSniper Elite 5will be instantly familiar with fans of the series, being a mix of stealth and visceral sniping, there is one new mechanic that has the potential to drastically alter theSniper Eliteformula and keep even the most veteran players on their toes. Inspired byFromSoftware’sDark Soulsseries,Sniper Elite 5’s “Axis Invasions” feature adds a competitive, dynamic edge to the game, one which the series hasn’t had before.
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Sniper Elite 5’s Axis Invasions Explained
Sniper Elite 5’s Axis Invasions function very similarly toDark SoulsandElden Ring’s invasion mechanic, whereby a player invades another player’s world and is tasked with hunting them down or stopping their progress by any means necessary. InSniper Elite 5, the invading player, called the Sniper Jager, is dropped somewhere on their opponent’s map and will need to use a range of abilities and weapons to find and kill their rival.
Sniper Jagers currently have nine different skillsto choose from when entering another player’s world. These range from abilities that are designed to trap the enemy, extra offensive tools, and a slew of skills that reveal the enemy’s location. Some of the most useful skills in the game are from the latter category, particularly Eagle Eyes skill, which alerts the invader to the player’s location when they’ve been spotted by the AI. A good skill to use with this is the Stay Sharp skill, which increases the awareness trait of all nearby AI, making it harder for the player to sneak around undetected.
While the invader has a slight advantage over the player, having the entire AI army on their side, the player does have access to all of their unlocked tools, allowing a skilled enough player to make short work of their pursuer. When two skilled players are matched up together, anintense game of cat and mouseis sure to take place, with deceitful tactics being used frequently to try and lure the other out.
When it comes to strategy, one of the best routes for the invader is to locate their target and simply hide in a building along their intended path. Booby trapping the building’s entrances will keep the invader safe, and the elevated position should give them a good overview of the area andthe perfect spot to snipe from. On the other side of the coin, a player that’s being invaded can take one of two main routes; either they carry on with their objective and hope their opponent exposes themselves, or they become a hunter and attempt to lure out their opponent.
Once invaded, the player can find Invasion Phones across the map. These reveal the invader’s location for a brief time, giving the player just a momentary advantage over their adversary. However, players should bear in mind thatthese Invasion Phones can be sabotagedby invaders, which will result in the player’s position being revealed.Sniper Elite 5’s Axis Invasions don’t reinvent the series' formula, but they do add a level of tension and urgency that the series was lacking before.
Sniper Elite 5is available on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
